Former Tennessee Vols offensive lineman Darnell Wright challenged with improving his ‘inconsistent’ play heading into third NFL season
His new coaches are starting to apply some pressure.
Since being drafted by the Chicago Bears with the 10th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, former Tennessee Vols offensive tackle Darnell Wright has largely been able to live up to his draft status.
Wright became an immediate starter for the Bears and has continued to hold down the right tackle position. In his first two years, Wright started 33 total games and has one missed one game due to injury.
Reliability has been a staple of his game, and something the Bears have counted on the last two seasons. Unlocking the next level of his career will come from improving his consistency on the field.
Going into his third NFL season with the Bears, Wright will be playing on a new coaching staff led by head coach Ben Johnson, along with some highly experienced assistants, including new offensive line coach Dan Roushar.
The former New Orleans Saints and Tulane assistant has produced high-caliber offensive linemen for over three decades and didn’t hold back when asked about how Wright has looked going into a critical 2025 season.
“A little bit too inconsistent,” Roushar told reporters on Wednesday. “There’s moments where – as we look at it – when he loses focus or fatigue starts to set in, we see decline in play. But, when he’s on point, I’ve seen Darnell do some things that you get excited about. . .”
“He’s just not been able to stack it play-after-play-after-play, which isn’t uncommon for a young player. But, right now, I feel like there’s been moments where I’ve seen this growth. Is this as fast as I want it to be, or where he wants it to be, no. My job is to inspire, to get him there to understand exactly what we’re doing and to challenge him when it’s not right.”
Playing at a more consistent level is a necessity for Wright. Over the last two seasons, the Bears right tackle has allowed 13 sacks and 81 pressures, jaw-dropping numbers when you actually see it on paper.
This is the exact kind of coaching and push Wright needed from his positional coach and it couldn’t have come at a better time. After the 2025 season, Wright will be eligible for his first contract extension with the team after being selected in the first-round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
This new staff has some high expectations for what Wright can become anchoring the right side of the offensive line. If he can manage to live up to those lofty goals, he’ll continue to start in Chicago for years to come.
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