Chicago Bears’ Starting Lineup Still a Puzzle: Only One Position Needs a Camp‑to‑Camp Decision

When the Chicago Bears rolled into training camp this week, the usual chatter about “who’s starting where” was louder than ever. Five positions remain in flux – the long snapper excluded – but only one of those battles carries enough weight that the coaching staff can’t simply decide it on paper.

Strong safety feels almost decided. Rookie Dillon Thieneman, a first‑round pick, has already been moving between starter and backup drills at minicamp. By protocol, a rookie with that pedigree starts the season, while Elijah Hicks serves as the obvious backup. The debate is mostly academic; Thieneman is expected to lock down the job within the first week of practice.

Left tackle is similarly settled. Braxton Jones, coming off an ankle surgery that robbed him of playing time last year, is now healthy and, according to Pro Football Focus, has posted better grades than his 2023 replacement Ozzy Trapilo. Teammates like Jonah Jackson have even praised his conditioning. Unless Jones re‑injures himself, the Bears will likely ride him as their starting left tackle, with Theo Benedet as a safety net.

Cornerback isn’t a mystery either, but it’s a nuance‑filled one. Second‑round veteran Tyrique Stevenson is expected to start, yet the Bears are hoping the rookie Malik Muhammad can soak up reps and eventually challenge for the role once Stevenson’s contract runs out. The real test for Muhammad is consistency in limiting big plays.

Center is another spot where the answer is “for now, Bradbury.” Veteran Garrett Bradbury, a former Super Bowl starter, will take the snap duties until Logan Jones proves he can handle the physical and mental demands of a starting center. That evaluation will likely stretch well beyond Day 1 of camp.

The only position that truly remains in limbo is the right defensive end. Austin Booker impressed late last season with a burst of pass‑rush productivity, but at 245 pounds he is undersized for Dennis Allen’s scheme, which favors a more robust edge rusher who can handle the run and stay on the field for the majority of snaps. Booker’s flashes of talent – 4½ sacks in his last six games – suggest a high ceiling, but the Bears need someone who can hold the line from the get‑go.

Enter Dayo Odeyingbo. The bigger, more conventional defensive end was slated to start before a Week 9 Achilles tendon tear derailed his progress. He’s been back in OTAs and minicamps, and the coaching staff will use the six‑week lead‑up to the regular season to gauge his health and readiness. If Odeyingbo shows he’s close to 100 percent, the Bears will likely hand him the starting nod, keeping Booker as a high‑energy reserve.

So while the Bears have a handful of questions on paper, the real “wait‑and‑see” drama will play out on the right side of the defensive line. The outcome of that battle could shape the team’s pass‑rush identity for the entire season.