Pro Football Rumors
Tyrique Stevenson was a full-time starter through the early portion of his Bears career. 2025 saw his playing time drop, though, and a first-team gig is not assured entering training camp.
Stevenson will compete for a starting position with fourth-round rookie Malik Muhammad, ESPN’s Courtney Cronin writes. Chicago still has Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon in place on the cornerback depth chart, but the free agent departure of Nahshon Wright has vacated a key role on the perimeter. Stevenson has 40 starts to his name, something which should of course give him an advantage this summer.
“The best thing I could do is come out here, be available, and be a good teammate, and also go out and do my job,” the 26-year-old said of his approach to the coming season. “And, honestly, that’s how I’m looking at it.”
2026 is critical in Stevenson’s case, since it marks the final year of his rookie contract. The current coaching staff is not the one which was in place when he was drafted in the second round, a factor which could prove to be key in deciding whether or not he is retained next spring. Muhammad, as Cronin notes, was “handpicked” by Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen. It will be interesting to see how his usage takes shape through camp and the preseason as a result.
Stevenson has posted at least 10 pass deflections each season to date in his career. The Miami product has endured inconsistencies in coverage, however, and his actions at the end of a Week 8 loss to the Commanders resulted in a temporary demotion last season. A backup gig could become permanent for 2026 depending on how things play out over the coming weeks, so Stevenson and Muhammad will be worth watching closely as training camp unfolds.
