{"id":495511,"date":"2026-01-06T02:56:10","date_gmt":"2026-01-06T02:56:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/495511\/"},"modified":"2026-01-06T02:56:10","modified_gmt":"2026-01-06T02:56:10","slug":"the-chicago-bears-have-a-massive-tyrique-stevenson-problem","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/495511\/","title":{"rendered":"The Chicago Bears Have a Massive Tyrique Stevenson Problem"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\"Tyrique\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGetty\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

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)<\/p>\n

Among the vast number of problems the Chicago Bears<\/a> had in Sunday\u2019s loss to the Detroit Lions,<\/a> one went under the radar: the soft benching of cornerback Tyrique Stevenson.<\/p>\n

Stevenson, who returned in Week 15 vs. the Cleveland Browns<\/a> after suffering a hip injury in the win against the Pittsburgh Steelers,<\/a> expressed his excitement<\/a> about getting back on the field with the rest of the team before the matchup vs. Cleveland.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt feels great [to be back],\u201d Stevenson said. \u201cIt felt bad just sitting at home watching and not being out there with those guys I\u2019ve been putting in work all year with\u2026 I just want to get my foot back in the door so I can go out there and win with them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Well, fast-forward to the recent game against the Lions, Stevenson did not play<\/a> a single snap, despite being healthy, which could signal an abrupt end to his tenure in Chicago.<\/p>\n

Ben Johnson Comments on Tyrique Stevenson\u2019s Absence in Matchup vs. Lions\"Ben<\/p>\n

GettyHead coach Ben Johnson of the Chicago Bears looks on in the second quarter against the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field.<\/p>\n

Ben Johnson is usually a very straightforward person, and it\u2019s been a refreshing change from the days of Matt Eberflus at the podium. However, his comments<\/a> on why Stevenson did not play against the Lions don\u2019t appear to tell the full story.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe felt good about where Shonny and Jaylon were and we wanted those guys to take a bulk of the snaps.\u201d<\/p>\n

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.<\/a><\/p>\n

Plus, it wasn\u2019t like he was playing badly either. During that three-game stretch, Stevenson was targeted seven times and allowed just three receptions for 20 yards.<\/p>\n

So, why bench him in Week 18? It\u2019s not like the cornerbacks on the field were dominating either.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Tyrique Stevenson not getting a single snap in today\u2019s game is REALLY alarming\u2026<\/p>\n

When our secondary is getting torn to shreds why would we still not put him in?<\/p>\n

Is he hurt? So odd\u2026 #DaBears<\/a> <\/p>\n

What\u2019s the Future Looking Like for Stevenson?<\/p>\n

It\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s set to enter the final year of his rookie deal<\/a> in 2026, and the Bears could look to trade him this offseason. Stevenson has had his inconsistencies, sure, but he\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

Regardless of why the Bears decided not to play him, let\u2019s see if Stevenson makes an appearance this Saturday in a Wild Card matchup against the Packers<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tIsaac Zuniga<\/strong><\/a> 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<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n

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