4 Chicago Bears Who Need a Strong Debut in Preseason Week 1 vs Browns

The 2026 NFL preseason slate of games is finally upon us, and the Chicago Bears are set to host the Cleveland Browns at Soldier Field on Saturday. We don't know yet how much time the starters will get in this game, if any at all, but we're sure to get a long look at the backups and rookies. Roster cutdown day is fast approaching, and the coaches will have some tough decisions to make at that point. No doubt they're hoping to gain some clarity on these decisions during this preseason Week 1 game against the Browns.

This extended look at players who are fighting for roster spots is what makes these preseason games so intriguing. No final decisions will be made just yet, but this is one of the players' last best chances to convince the coaches that they've earned a spot on the team. With that in mind, here are four players who need an especially strong showing on Saturday.

1. Tyrique Stevenson

Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen said at the start of training camp that Tyrique Stevenson needs to show more consistency, along with the rest of the defense, but we haven't got much of that from the fourth-year cornerback. According to Bears reporter Herb Howard, who spoke with FOX Chicago's Devan Kaney during Week 2 of training camp, Stevenson's good plays have consistently been followed by some pretty bad ones.

Stevenson's case for a roster spot has been largely bolstered by a rash of injuries over the past week, especially in the secondary, but if he wants to make an emphatic case for himself, he'll need to show up in a big way on Saturday during however many snaps he gets.

2. Ruben Hyppolite II

We finally got some proof-of-life from Hyppolite on Day 10 of Bears training camp, but one good practice is hardly enough to guarantee a spot on the 53-man roster. Hyppolite was a healthy scratch more often than not last year, and when he did play he was almost a complete non-factor, even in the preseason. It's not his fault that he was drafted far above where he was expected to go, but Hyppolite has utterly failed to even come close to validating Ryan Poles' trust.

Making matters worse, the Bears' linebacker room is surprisingly stacked. TJ Edwards returns for his fourth season in Chicago, where he'll be starting alongside free agency acquisition and former first-round pick Devin Bush. Behind them you have D'Marco Jackson, who re-signed with the Bears on a two-year deal, fan-favorite Jack Sanborn, and rookie Keyshaun Elliott, who the Bears are very excited about.

For Hyppolite to beat out any one of these guys for a roster spot, he's going to need a monster preseason performance, and that starts on Saturday.

3. Jordan van den Berg

The early hype around rookie Jordan van den Beg has ebbed and waned throughout the summer, but he still looms large as a potential draft gem on this needy Bears' defensive line. After a rough performance during spring OTAs, van den Berg's training camp surge has caught everyone's attention and is taking his hype to new levels. He's even been getting some reps with the starters on defense.

Of course, training camp hype is one thing. Performing in a game, even a preseason game, is something else. Van den Berg doesn't need to dominate Cleveland's offensive line on Saturday, but a solid showing would serve as proof of concept for the kid from South Africa.

4. Dillon Thieneman

The Bears' highly regarded first-round rookie has quietly had a disastrous training camp. I don't say that to alarm Bears fans, but it's simply the truth. Almost every day in practice, Thieneman has been getting burned for touchdowns or big plays. However, in fairness to the rookie, he's playing a very tough position to learn at the NFL level and is going up against such dynamic playmakers like Luther Burden III and Colston Loveland. This is what they call a 'baptism by fire'

Again, I don't say this to alarm Bears fans, and they shouldn't be alarmed anyway. It's totally normal for rookie safeties who are immediately thrust into starting roles to struggle in August. And remember, this Bears offense is supposed to be very, very good. However, it would probably be good for the nerves of Bears fans, as well as his own confidence, for Thieneman to come out on Saturday and make a splashy play or two against the Browns.

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