Bear Digest

Another Bears Tackle Makes All-Rookie

Bears tackle Darnell Wright landed on the PFWA All-Rookie Team, the second straight year a Bears tackle earned this honor.
Gene Chamberlain|
Another Bears Tackle Makes All-Rookie
Another Bears Tackle Makes All-Rookie

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Chicago Bears

Tackle Darnell Wright had a strong start to his first Bears season and gradually began to level off.

In the end, it was enough to earn him a spot on the PFWA All-Rookie Team.

It's the second straight year the Bears had a tackle make the all-rookie team. Last year Braxton Jones was on it.

Wright, chosen 10th overall out of Tennessee by the Bears after they traded down twice, was joined at tackle on the team by Cleveland's Dawand Jones.

Just like with Jones, Wright played every game of his rookie season. He allowed seven sacks with 11 penalties. Pro Football Focus graded Wright 53rd overall among 83 tackles in the league with an overall mark of 62.4.

The rest of the rookie team offense was Houston QB C.J. Stroud, Lions RB Jaymyr Gibbs and Atlanta RB Bijan Robinson, Vikings WR Jordan Addison and Rams WR Puka Nacua, Lions tight end Sam LaPorta, Jets center Joe Tippman and guards Steve Avila from the Rams and O'Cyrus Torrance from the Bills.

The all-rookie defense is edge rusher Will Anderson from Houston, DT Jalen Carter from Philadelphia, edge Tuli Tuipulotu from the Chargers and Rams nose tackle Kobie Turner on the line. The linebackers are Jack Campbell from the Lions, Ivan Pace Jr. from the Vikings and Byron Young from the Rams. The secondary is cornerback Joey Porter Jr. from Pittsburgh, cornerback Devon Witherspoon from Seattle, safety Jordan Battle from the Bengals and safety Ji'Ayier Brown from the 49ers.

A good case could have been built for Tyrique Stevenson making it instead of Witherspoon. Stevenson had four interceptions and Witherspoon one. Witherspoon had one more pass defense (17) than Stevenson, and a lower passer rating against according to Sportradar (87.9-93.7).  Porter had  only one interception, too, but had a tremendous 70.1 passer rating against when targeted and allowed less than 50% completions (47.6%).

Stroud was the rookie of the year and offensive rookie of the year while Houston made it a sweep with Anderson winning defensive rookie of the year.

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Gene Chamberlain
GENE CHAMBERLAIN

Gene Chamberlain has covered the Chicago Bears full time as a beat writer since 1994 and prior to this on a part-time basis for 10 years. He covered the Bears as a beat writer for Suburban Chicago Newspapers, the Daily Southtown, Copley News Service and has been a contributor for the Daily Herald, the Associated Press, Bear Report, CBS Sports.com and The Sporting News. He also has worked a prep sports writer for Tribune Newspapers and Sun-Times newspapers.

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