Chicago Bears

0-0Power Rank#140

AI Summary

The Bears enter Ben Johnson's second season off an 11-6, NFC North-winning 2025 campaign, but that first-place finish saddled them with the NFL's toughest projected 2026 schedule (opponents' .550 winning percentage). Chicago overhauled its safety room and center spot this offseason, signing Coby Bryant and Devin Bush and trading for Garrett Bradbury after Drew Dalman's surprise retirement, while also dealing longtime WR1 DJ Moore to Buffalo and handing that role to Rome Odunze. Camp has been shadowed by a serious training-camp knee injury to Bryant that will keep him out for the start of the season, though left tackle Ozzy Trapilo has made a notably fast return from a ruptured patellar tendon. Oddsmakers have set Chicago's win total at 9.5 and list the Bears as only the third choice in the NFC North behind Green Bay and Detroit.

Researched by Team Research Desk · last updated August 20, 2026

Key Storylines

S Coby Bryant, signed this offseason to a 3-year, $40M deal, suffered a hyperextended knee, bone bruise and small fracture in an early-August camp practice and needed knee surgery that is expected to sideline him roughly 4-6 months, costing him the start of the season
Chicago carries the NFL's hardest 2026 strength of schedule (opponents' .550 win percentage) as a result of a first-place schedule following its 11-6, NFC North title season under first-year coach Ben Johnson
DJ Moore was traded to the Buffalo Bills, opening the WR1 job for Rome Odunze; 2025 rookie standout Luther Burden III is being held out of the rest of the preseason with a groin injury
Center Drew Dalman's surprise retirement prompted Chicago to trade a 2027 fifth-round pick to New England for center Garrett Bradbury
LT Ozzy Trapilo was activated from the PUP list in mid-August, an unusually fast recovery from the ruptured patellar tendon he suffered in the January playoff win over Green Bay, while Kiran Amegadjie and Jedrick Wills Jr. have been splitting left tackle reps with the first team

Injury Report

Coby Bryant · S
Out (recovering from surgery)
Suffered a hyperextended knee, bone bruise and small fracture in an early-August training camp practice; underwent knee surgery and is expected to miss roughly 4-6 months, including the start of the regular season.
Luther Burden III · WR
Out for remainder of preseason
Being held out of the rest of the preseason with a groin injury as a precaution.
Ozzy Trapilo · OT
Activated from PUP list
Returned to practice in mid-August, well ahead of typical recovery timelines, after rupturing his patellar tendon during Chicago's January playoff win over Green Bay.