5 Bears with everything to lose during training camp

The Chicago Bears are preparing for the start of training camp, where head coach Ben Johnson will get his team prepared for a 2026 season where Chicago is defending its NFC North title.

While the Bears found immediate success under Johnson last season, they'll need to prove themselves once again in a tough division. There are some exciting young prospects on the roster, especially on offense with quarterback Caleb Williams, tight end Colston Loveland, receiver Luther Burden III and right tackle Darnell Wright. But there are some players who still need to prove themselves.

There are several players who have plenty to lose heading into training camp, whether it's a depth spot or their future beyond 2026. We examined the players under the most pressure to perform this summer, who should all be key to Chicago's success.

DE Dayo Odeyingbo

The Bears signed an unproven Dayo Odeyingbo to a hefty three-year, $48 million (with $32 million guaranteed) contract last offseason, and he was a huge disappointment in his first season. Odeyingbo played in just eight games, totaling 21 tackles, including two tackles for loss, one sack, four QB hits, 10 pressures before tearing his Achilles in a Week 9 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. Chicago is banking on their returning cast of injured players to elevate the pass rush in 2026. But there's no player under more pressure to perform on that defensive line than Odeyingbo, especially with Austin Booker emerging as the favorite to start opposite Montez Sweat.

WR Rome Odunze

Following the departure of veteran DJ Moore this offseason, third-year wideout Rome Odunze is primed for an expanded role as the Bears' No. 1 receiver. Last year, Odunze appeared poised for a breakout season after a fast start in the first five games, where he totaled 24 receptions for 296 yards and five touchdowns. But a lingering foot injury, which forced him to miss some time, halted that potential breakout year. He also struggled with drops throughout the season. While Odunze is back healthy, he'll face some competition for that WR1 spot from second-year pro Luther Burden III, who's coming off an impressive rookie campaign. Odunze needs to prove he can be the top option for quarterback Caleb Williams, especially heading into a crucial third season for the former first-round pick.

CB Kyler Gordon

There's probably no player under more critical eyes heading into this season than cornerback Kyler Gordon, who, when healthy, is one of the best nickels in the NFL on top of elevating Chicago's defense. But the problem is he can't seem to stay healthy. In four years, Gordon has yet to play a full season, due to injury, and his absence in 2025 was noticeable. Gordon missed 14 games and had two stints on injured reserve last season amid a slew of soft tissue issues including groin, hamstring and calf injuries. There was a report that he's been dealing with another soft tissue injury, and he was limited during the offseason program. It's not what you want to hear from your young, injury-prone cornerback who's supposed to a key part of your defensive success. If Gordon can't stay healthy, the Bears might turn to fourth-round rookie Malik Muhammad, who saw some work inside, as well as outside, during the offseason.

LT Braxton Jones

Following Ozzy Trapilo's ruptured patellar tendon, veteran Braxton Jones got another opportunity to start for the Bears at left tackle in 2026. With Trapilo expected to miss most of 2026, it made sense for Chicago to re-sign Jones to a one-year deal, given he was a solid three-year starter before last season. The key for Jones is health, as he's been a reliable starter in the past. While it's easy to look at his struggles last season and write him off, Jones was still rehabbing from injury and never got back to where he was. For the second consecutive summer, Jones enters a competition for the starting left tackle job. And, once again, he'll be the favorite to win the job ahead of Jedrick Wills Jr. and Theo Benedet. The hope is this year Jones will be able to bring stability to the position along a top offensive line.

CB Tyrique Stevenson

Cornerback will be one of the more intriguing battles to watch this summer, both opposite Jaylon Johnson on the outside and at nickel. For Tyrique Stevenson, he has everything on the line this season in the final year of his rookie deal, where he's looking to prove his worth on defense. Right now, he's the favorite to win the starting job, but he'll face competition from fourth-round rookie Malik Muhammad, who's gotten work on the outside, as well as the inside. Stevenson bounced back under Ben Johnson and Dennis Allen last season, but he still needs to prove he can be a consistent contributor in the secondary.

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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: 5 Bears with everything to lose during training camp