The bye week is going to be a quiet one for the Chicago Bears, as the team is off to a 7-2 start, but that doesn't mean there are players who might have a lot to lose.
This will be a big stretch of games for some players on the Bears' roster who are looking to stay long-term with the team or hold on to their starting jobs. Any poor performances in the future could hurt their chances of being key franchise players.
We will take a look at five Bears players who have the most to lose after the bye week. What could be on the line for them? Here's a look.
Which Bears have the most to lose after the bye week?
Tyrique Stevenson, CB
No Bears player will be under more pressure in the second half of the season than Stevenson. He has had a rough start to 2026, allowing a 55.9% completion percentage, a 129.5 QB rating, four touchdowns, and averaging 17.9 yards per reception.
Rookie Malik Muhammad will be coming back from his toe injury, which could open the door for the Bears to put him in the starting lineup. If not, Stevenson will have to prove that he can still be the CB2 on the team, or he might be looking for a new home this offseason, and it won't be for a starting job elsewhere.
Theo Benedet, OT
Benedet has had a strong 2026 season, showing improvement as a pass blocker and becoming elite in the run game. He has allowed 18 pressures, three quarterback hits, and one sack in 267 pass-blocking snaps.
The biggest question is when the Bears will put Ozzy Trapilo in the starting lineup at left tackle. For now, they don't seem to be rushing Benedet off the field, but he might be on a short leash and lose his job to Trapilo if he slips up even once.
Dayo Odeyingbo, DE
Before his injury against the Green Bay Packers, Odeyingbo was already showing great improvement from his 2025 performance with the Bears. In five games, he recorded three quarterback hits, three tackles for loss, three sacks, and two pass deflections.
The hope is that Odeyingbo will be off IR after the bye week and can return to the lineup. Still, the Bears discovered that Daniel Hardy is pretty good and has been getting more reps with Austin Booker and Montez Sweat. That leaves some pressure on Odeyingbo to prove his worth, or the offseason could change that quickly.
Garrett Bradbury, C
It's already been a lackluster 2026 season for Bradbury compared to the rest of the offensive line, as the unit's eyesore. He's been praised by his coaching staff and teammates, but fans all notice the same thing: he's holding them back from being elite.
In 373 pass-blocking snaps, Bradbury has allowed 16 pressure, one quarterback hit, and one sack. PFF gave him an overall grade of 60.8, the lowest among the Bears' starting offensive linemen, and he ranks 22nd out of 36 eligible centers. He also has a pass-blocking grade of 51.9 (ranked 26th) and a run-blocking grade of 64.6 (ranked 16th).
Chicago is doing everything it can to keep rookie Logan Jones as a starter. Still, it's clear that Bradbury is their weakest run blocker and mirrors the struggles that Benedet has had in pass protection. Not only is Bradbury potentially playing to keep his job in the second half of the year, but he's also auditioning for other teams in 2027 to start at center.
Read more: NFC Playoff Picture: Vikings do Bears a favor heading into bye week
Kalif Raymond, WR
The first three weeks were great for Raymond as the leading receiver for the Bears, grabbing 19 catches for 214 yards and one touchdown. Since then, he has had 13 receptions for 76 yards.
While Raymond's numbers have somewhat gone up since Caleb Williams has returned, it is clear that Rome Odunze, Luther Burden III, and Colston Loveland are his top three targets in the offense. There may not be much for Raymond to work with, as his season could be getting very quiet in the final eight games.
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