12 causes for concern: To best prepare for Bears season, set expectations to low
Look, every sports fan is happy the NFL is back and preseason football will be played at Soldier Field on Sunday afternoon.
But it feels like a necessary public service around here to gently tamp down expectations for Bears season.
Thinking Ben Johnson is a can't-miss head coach seems like a reasonable opinion backed by science. But we've seen excitement spill over the sides too many times.
Remember the “Hard Knocks” euphoria from a year ago. In retrospect, coach Matt Eberflus' expensive haircut was not an accurate forecast of last season. Or maybe it was.
People were excited about Justin Fields before that, several other coaching changes, and things never seem to pan out for the Bears.
So just to be helpful, here is a list of reasons to be pessimistic about the Bears' 2025 season. It could work out the other way, but better to prepare for the worst-case scenario, right? This team is coming off a 5-12 campaign and hasn't won a playoff game since January, 2011.
Keep in mind, these opinions were formed from studying game film, not only of the Bears but also their new acquisitions. So here goes:
1. Quarterback Caleb Williams had issues with reading defenses and being indecisive as a rookie. Now he's got to consume a brand-new offense. A step forward is not automatic.
2. There were changes on the offensive line, but the tackles are basically the same. Darnell Wright and Braxton Jones move well but are better run blockers than pass blockers and can get overwhelmed by quality edge rushers. And starting rookie Ozzie Trapilo at left tackle isn't a win. If Williams doesn't trust the protection, bad outcomes will follow.
3. Joe Thuney was last seen getting destroyed by Josh Sweat in the Super Bowl. He played tackle in that game, not his natural left guard, so maybe it will be OK?
4. The Rams signed guard Jonah Jackson to a large free-agent deal last year, then benched him. This has potential to be Nate Davis 2.0, but more expensive.
5. Depth across the offensive line is a major concern if anyone is lost to injury.
6. No matter how good the receivers look on paper, they won't be as productive without Keenan Allen, one of the NFL's best over the past decade.
7. The Bears don't seem certain about what's happening at running back. D'Andre Swift was good last year, but Roschon Johnson is taking red zone reps and there were reports of rookie Kyle Monangai working with the first string.
8. They still lack a second pass rusher. Free-agent addition Dayo Odeyingbo isn't the answer. He did most of his damage on the inside in Indianapolis, and that wasn't much. What are the chances of massive improvement from Dominque Robinson or Austin Booker?
9. The interior defensive line is deeper but will be undersized if anything happens to nose tackle Andrew Billings, which it did last year.
10. Cornerback Jaylon Johnson is still on the nonfootball injury list and the other corner was already a question mark. Has Tyrique Stevenson learned from past mistakes? If not, then what?
11. It's great to see Jaquon Brisker back on the field after so much time off. But please, everyone keep their fingers crossed another concussion doesn't happen.
12. The major reason to feel pessimistic is because it's the Bears, a team still run by the McCaskey family. Since the Mike Ditka era petered out in 1991, this franchise has won four playoff games in 33 seasons. They made the playoffs just seven times.
Ben Johnson might do a great job coaching, but the ship could sink because the team hired a cut-rate termite inspector. If something can go wrong, it usually does.
Sunday's preseason game isn't likely to be consequential. No reason to get too high or too low about anything that happens.
In general, just remember: This is the Bears, set expectations low and adjust from there.