{"id":900605,"date":"2026-05-25T06:06:24","date_gmt":"2026-05-25T06:06:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/900605\/"},"modified":"2026-05-25T06:06:24","modified_gmt":"2026-05-25T06:06:24","slug":"chicago-bears-coach-hypes-cb-ahead-of-2026-hes-locked-in","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/900605\/","title":{"rendered":"Chicago Bears coach hypes CB ahead of 2026: ‘He’s locked in’"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tyrique Stevenson won the Chicago Bears\u2019 CB2 battle ahead of the 2025 season. He began the season slowly but still started 10 games. The former Miami Hurricanes star suffered a hip injury that sidelined him for two games late in the campaign.<\/p>\n

He saw his role diminish upon his return, and coaches benched him in the last game of the regular season despite the 25-year-old being healthy. Stevenson appeared in the team\u2019s two playoff games and finished the year<\/a> with 54 combined tackles, 12 pass deflections and one interception.<\/p>\n

Nashon Wright\u2019s emergence significantly influenced his reduced role. However, Wright signed with the New York Jets on March 12, giving Stevenson a chance to bounce back and prove his worth in 2026.<\/p>\n

\"ChicagoChicago Bears Tyrique Stevenson takes the field \u2013 Credit: Mike Dinovo-Imagn Images
\nChicago Bears defensive backs coach Al Harris praises Tyrique Stevenson<\/p>\n

Stevenson has impressed in OTAs<\/a>, and observers have noticed changes in his demeanor. Bears defensive backs coach\/passing game coordinator Al Harris expects the 25-year-old to have his best season.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know what, I would say this for Riq: the young man that reported last year is so totally different than the young man that\u2019s reporting this year,\u201d Harris told reporters<\/a> on Thursday. \u201cHe\u2019s focused in, he\u2019s locked in.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThe small details, you can just tell by the questions that he\u2019s asking, the small details he\u2019s honing in on, whether it\u2019s his movements, whether it\u2019s, \u2018Hey coach, just get me to the ball,\u2019 he\u2019s asking the right questions and he\u2019s staying focused in. Not that he wasn\u2019t doing that, but I just see that level raised this year.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chicago\u2019s defense played a key role in reaching the Divisional Round last year. Having a rejuvenated Stevenson will work wonders for the team, and he could carve out a big role under head coach Ben Johnson. He is also in the last year of his contract, which may motivate him even more to perform at his best.<\/p>\n

\"Caleb<\/p>\n

Caleb Williams, Colston Loveland exchange words on social media
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