Context:

Facing a long-standing weakness on the interior, the Bears traded Gervon Dexter Sr. and leaned on two unheralded rookies, Jordan van den Berg and Jayden Loving, to spark a dormant pass rush. In the preseason, the duo displayed disruptive athleticism and consistent effort, drawing praise from coaches and national analysts and prompting the front office to pivot from the veteran with 11 sacks over the past two seasons. Their early impact has reshaped Chicago’s defensive-line expectations and the team’s draft-era approach, hinting at a possible internal solution. If this momentum holds into the regular season, it could influence resource allocation and rotation dynamics on the D-line. While still unproven at game speed, the initial buzz is sizable and momentum could either build or stall after further evals.

Dive Deeper:

• The Bears traded veteran defensive tackle Gervon Dexter Sr. to Atlanta for a fifth-round pick and backup Clark Phillips III, signaling a shift away from a player who was expected to play a major role in 2026 despite entering the final year of his rookie contract.

• Jordan van den Berg, a sixth-round pick, has stood out in all three preseason contests with a rare athletic profile and dueling effects against blockers, including plays lined up over the center and sideline-to-sideline hustle that impressed observers.

• Jayden Loving, an undrafted rookie, has also been disruptive, collapsing pockets and contributing in the passing game, leading the Bears to keep him on the roster rather than risk losing him on waivers.

• Coach Ben Johnson publicly praised the interior rotation as underrated and notably improved, suggesting these rookies are part of a plan rather than situational depth, while veteran Grady Jarrett highlighted Loving’s work ethic and athletic potential.

• Connections to the national spotlight, including praise from analysts and viral social posts about van den Berg, amplified the sense that Chicago may have uncovered a long-sought internal fix—should their preseason performance translate to regular-season production.

• Despite only a few hundred preseason snaps, the emergence of the rookies contributed to a broader recalibration of the Bears’ defensive-line confidence and raised questions about the durability of Dexter’s absence and the team’s draft prioritization.