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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – NOVEMBER 23: Tyrique Stevenson #29 of the Chicago Bears takes the field prior to a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Soldier Field on November 23, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
Among the vast number of problems the Chicago Bears had in Sunday’s loss to the Detroit Lions, one went under the radar: the soft benching of cornerback Tyrique Stevenson.
Stevenson, who returned in Week 15 vs. the Cleveland Browns after suffering a hip injury in the win against the Pittsburgh Steelers, expressed his excitement about getting back on the field with the rest of the team before the matchup vs. Cleveland.
“It feels great [to be back],” Stevenson said. “It felt bad just sitting at home watching and not being out there with those guys I’ve been putting in work all year with… I just want to get my foot back in the door so I can go out there and win with them.”
Well, fast-forward to the recent game against the Lions, Stevenson did not play a single snap, despite being healthy, which could signal an abrupt end to his tenure in Chicago.
Ben Johnson Comments on Tyrique Stevenson’s Absence in Matchup vs. Lions
GettyHead coach Ben Johnson of the Chicago Bears looks on in the second quarter against the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field.
Ben Johnson is usually a very straightforward person, and it’s been a refreshing change from the days of Matt Eberflus at the podium. However, his comments on why Stevenson did not play against the Lions don’t appear to tell the full story.
“We felt good about where Shonny and Jaylon were and we wanted those guys to take a bulk of the snaps.”
The Bears have slowly taken away starting snaps from Stevenson ever since he returned from injury, playing just 58% of the snaps vs. Cleveland, 38% of the snaps in Week 16 vs. Green Bay, and 25% of the snaps in Week 17 vs. the San Francisco 49ers.
Plus, it wasn’t like he was playing badly either. During that three-game stretch, Stevenson was targeted seven times and allowed just three receptions for 20 yards.
So, why bench him in Week 18? It’s not like the cornerbacks on the field were dominating either.
Jaylon Johnson allowed six receptions for 81 yards, Nahshon Wright allowed four catches for 68 yards, and C.J. Gardner-Johnson gave up six receptions for 93 yards.
Tyrique Stevenson not getting a single snap in today’s game is REALLY alarming…
When our secondary is getting torn to shreds why would we still not put him in?
Is he hurt? So odd… #DaBears
What’s the Future Looking Like for Stevenson?
It’s confusing, and the hope is that there will be more information that comes out on why Stevenson was quietly benched, but there could be several potential answers.
Either he was dealing with an injury or some personal matter, or the Bears decided they want to move on from the former second-round pick. Because not having Stevenson in the game when the rest of the corners were struggling is puzzling.
He’s set to enter the final year of his rookie deal in 2026, and the Bears could look to trade him this offseason. Stevenson has had his inconsistencies, sure, but he’s also not a bad corner by any means. Teams are always looking for help in the secondary, and he could net the Bears a fifth or sixth-round pick in return.
Regardless of why the Bears decided not to play him, let’s see if Stevenson makes an appearance this Saturday in a Wild Card matchup against the Packers.
Isaac Zuniga is a sports reporter covering the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Chicago Bears, Los Angeles Rams, Los Angeles Chargers, and Las Vegas Raiders. More about Isaac Zuniga
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