Bears pass rushers emerging as early training camp winners

One of the biggest storylines to follow throughout 2024 training camp is how well how the Chicago Bears are ruffling the feathers of rookie quarterback Caleb Williams. The Bears recorded a 31st-ranked 30.0 sacks last season. Heading into the 2024 campaign, the question marks surrounding the pass rush’s overall effectiveness is the team’s largest roster-based concern.

That’s precisely why it was so great to hear that the second team period during Monday’s practice was dominated by the defense. Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic noted that, “if the pads were on and the Chicago Bears defense could hit and tackle Caleb Williams, then the second team period of practice Monday would have been a grueling, maybe painful, one for the rookie quarterback.”

Fishbain noted that Montez Sweat was especially dominant. It’s worth noting the Bears aren’t practicing in pads yet, and things will become significantly clearer when both offensive and defensive linemen are in complete uniform later this weekend. But seeing Sweat dominate is an expected outcome, pads or not, after he totaled a team-high six sacks in nine regular-season appearances in 2023.

“Williams scrambled or threw the ball away on all five snaps in that period,” Fishbain wrote. “Back-to-back plays certainly would have been sacks.”

Today’s Bears camp report from Halas Hall, with @adamjahns…what we heard from DeMarcus Walker and Teven Jenkins, plus practice observations https://t.co/2RFI0CwlyO

— Kevin Fishbain (@kfishbain) July 22, 2024

Another notable observation from Fishbain’s article is that defensive end DeMarcus Walker kicked inside next to defensive tackle Gervon Dexter on third down. The big-bodied Walker is large and versatile enough to play inside on third-and-obvious pass-rushing downs, and his veteran presence is a good thing for the developing Dexter. The Bears are looking to get more production from both defenders this season.

If Walker and Dexter could help support Sweat throughout the 2023, then the Bears’ pass-rush will be better than the general public expects. It sounds like Sweat, Walker, and Sweat formed a formidable trio throughout Monday’s second team-period practice.

That’s a welcomed development for head coach Matt Eberflus and defensive coordinator Eric Washington.