Bears could catch major Week 1 break vs. Vikings to open 2025 season

The Chicago Bears and new head coach Ben Johnson are looking to capitalize on any edge they can entering the 2025 NFL season, a pivotal year of transition. With Johnson at the helm, the Bears are beginning a new era focused on building a sustainable, long-term contender.

The best way to get players to buy into a new regime is by proving it can deliver wins, and there’s no better opportunity than a Week 1 showdown on Monday Night Football against an NFC North favorite.

The Bears will welcome the Minnesota Vikings to Soldier Field on opening weekend in a game that will showcase Caleb Williams’ debut under Johnson and Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy’s debut as an NFL starter.

The last thing Chicago needs is for McCarthy to outplay Williams on national television, and the odds of that happening went down quite a bit with the revelation that left tackle Christian Darrisaw is unlikely to be healthy in time for Week 1.

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Christian Darrisaw may not be ready for Week 1 vs. Bears

“Will he be back in time for Week 1?” The Athletic’s Alec Lewis asked. “That’s probably a rosy expectation at this point. Still, Darrisaw has attacked his rehab. The Vikings have commended his progress.”

A rosy expectation? The Chicago Bears will take that.

The trickle-down effect of Darrisaw potentially missing Week 1 is massive. It means new edge rusher Dayo Odeyingbo could have more favorable matchups as he jumps around the line of scrimmage. It also means the heat on McCarthy should be hotter than it would be with Darrisaw in the lineup. That’s stating the obvious.

We’ll learn more about Darrisaw’s health as training camp unfolds, but it’s unlikely the Vikings will rush him back simply because of a fun Week 1 matchup. Minnesota has playoff aspirations, and to get there, they’ll need Darrisaw to be fully healthy.

It seems like a long shot that he will be in Week 1, and that’s good news for Chicago.