Chicago Bears Preseason Instant Reaction: Devin Bush and interior defensive line impresses, while the left tackle battle continues to spin
The Chicago Bears wrapped up their first preseason game against the Cleveland Browns on Saturday and we learned a lot about the depth on this roster, especially on defense and at the wide receiver position.
Preseason game 1 is in the books for the Chicago Bears, and the biggest takeaway from Saturday’s matchup against the Cleveland Browns is the level of depth this roster carries heading into 2026.
From the defensive interior to the wide receiver room, the Bears look far more comfortable with their depth than they did a year ago. Several players made strong cases for expanded roles, while one position battle took a notable turn.
Top takeaways from the Chicago Bears win over the
Devin Bush is primed to be an impact player for this defense
With safety Coby Bryant out for the next 4-6 months, someone needed to step up for this starting defense. It’s becoming more and more clear that someone is going to be linebacker Devin Bush, who made highlight plays working with the starting defense against the Browns.
On Cleveland’s opening drive, Bush helped force a quick 3-and-out by flying around the field with the kind of speed the Bears needed. The physicality he plays with and the quickness he showed on that first series speaks volumes about his readiness to handle a larger role for this unit as a leader while Bryant recovers. Dillon Thieneman didn’t get much action, but did have a nice play on an outside run showcasing his closing speed.
Malik Muhammad II flashes potential at nickel corner
Rookie cornerback Malik Muhammad II, the team’s fourth-round pick, got his first extended look in the nickel cornerback role during Saturday’s game.
Overall, it was an up-and-down day for Muhammad, which is to be expected from a rookie still adjusting to the position. His biggest highlight came on a screen pass where he shot out of a cannon and blew up the running back for a tackle for loss. He did have some issues in coverage as well, including a big play he allowed against a rub route, but he’s learning.
“That’s the thing about me is I don’t want to make any mistakes,” Muhammad said after the game. “Now I’m just talking to guys like Jaylon Johnson or Coby Bryant or even like Josh Blackwell – they just tell you man they’re getting paid just like you are. They’re not on a team for no reason. You’re going to make mistakes, you’re going to give up plays, just make the next play your best play.”
That right there shows Muhammad as the mentality it takes to thrive in this position. The tools are there, and it will be worth watching his development in that spot throughout the rest of the preseason, especially if Kyler Gordon continues to be sidelined.
The defensive interior was the most impressive unit on the field
The interior of the defensive line is what stood out the most to me on Saturday. James Lynch, Kentavius Street, Jordan van den Berg, and Jayden Loving all looked impressive working from the interior. The defensive tackle spot was an underrated part of this defense that the staff was looking forward to seeing in a live game setting, and Saturday’s performance showed exactly why.
Lynch was one of the biggest risers from this game. He was not a player who generated much buzz during camp so far, but his performance against the Browns put him firmly on the radar as a contributor worth monitoring going forward.
Wide receiver depth is going to be super competitive behind the starters
On the offensive side of the ball, the depth at wide receiver stood out all game long. Maurice Alexander, Scottie Miller, Kaden Davis, and Ray-Ray McCloud all made big-time catches during the win. There are still some drop issues the Bears need to work out, but the coaching staff has to feel good about the talent behind the five locks on the roster.
Davis led the team with 88 receiving yards on four receptions while Alexander scored the team’s first touchdown of the game. Davis, Alexander, and McCloud also handed the punt return duties. The push to earn the spot as the WR6 is heating up, assuming the Bears even choose to keep six on the active roster. At the very least, the practice squad will be very deep at the position this year.
The left tackle battle still leaves more questions than answers
The competition at left tackle continues to spin in its tracks, and Saturday’s game may have tilted the race in a direction few anticipated. Kiran Amegadjie got the start, while Jedrick Wills Jr. rotated in on a quarter-by-quarter basis.
Neither player had an encouraging day. Wills gave up a bad sack to Julian Okwara, and Amegadjie got beat on a spin move. The real winner in this battle from Saturday’s game was Braxton Jones, who didn’t even see the field.
This game was expected to be an opportunity for Amegadjie or Wills to pull ahead of the other before facing off against Jones. Instead, neither player seemed to make any headway based on my first watch.
