The Chicago Bears are heading into the 2026 season ready to defend their NFC North title, but man, they’ve got some serious hurdles to clear before Week 1. They’re looking for a return trip to the playoffs in head coach Ben Johnson’s second year, but with a ton of roster changes and a key new guy already sidelined, it’s gonna be a grind right from the jump.
Bears Shake-Up: Who’s Out, Who’s In
The offseason has hit the Bears hard with some serious notable departures. We’re talking wide receiver DJ Moore, center Drew Dalman, defensive tackle Gervon Dexter, safeties Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker, and linebacker Tremaine Edmunds all gone. And as if that wasn’t enough, cornerback Kyler Gordon is starting the season on the PUP list! That’s a lot of veteran talent walking out the door, leaving big shoes to fill.
But it’s not all bad news on the roster front, right? The Bears did bring in some new blood. They welcomed linebacker Devin Bush and a whole rookie draft class including safety Dillon Thieneman, tight end Sam Roush, receiver Zavion Thomas, cornerback Malik Muhammad, and defensive tackle Jordan van den Berg. The bummer? New safety Coby Bryant, a guy they just brought in, will miss most of the 2026 season with an injury. Talk about a gut punch before the season even begins!
Counting Down to Our Clash with the Bears
While the Bears are figuring out their new identity, you know we’re always looking at how this impacts the rest of the league, especially when they’re on our schedule. The Bears kick off their season on Sunday, September 13, at 1 p.m. ET against the Carolina Panthers. That’s their first real test to see how this new-look squad gels.
Now, for the really important part for us in the Emerald City: mark your calendars for Monday, November 1, at 8:05 p.m. ET. That’s when the Bears roll into Lumen Field to face our Seattle Seahawks! Knowing they’re working through so many roster changes and dealing with significant injuries, it makes that Week 8 matchup even more interesting. Our Hawks will be ready, but seeing how the Bears adapt early on will be key intel. What kind of team will show up on our home turf?
So, the Bears have a lot to sort out with these roster shifts and injury woes, especially with their home opener against the Vikings coming up in Week 2, followed by games against the Eagles, Jets, and Packers. It’s a tough stretch for a team trying to find its footing. We’ll be watching how they handle this early season adversity, knowing they’re a team with playoff aspirations, and more importantly, knowing we get to see them battle it out against our Hawks later in the season. Let’s get it!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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