LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- In less than two weeks, the Chicago Bears will begin their 2026 NFL training camp with a handful of position battles that will ignite the physical brand of practices that have become common under coach Ben Johnson.
While spring workouts provided a peak at how the veteran talent will mesh with plenty of new faces, particularly on defense, late July and August will go a long way in determining the futures of a handful of players coming off injury, those entering contract years and others aiming to win jobs back that they once lost.
Here's a look at five Bears players who have the most at stake entering training camp (rookies report July 25 and veterans July 28).
Tyrique Stevenson, CB
Stevenson once again faces a competition for the No. 2 cornerback spot in camp. Fourth-round rookie Malik Muhammad was handpicked by defensive coordinator Dennis Allen and will push Stevenson for the role he had to fight for last season with Nahshon Wright.
Pressure like that has drummed up a different level of motivation for Stevenson.
"The young man that reported last year is so totally different than the young man that's reporting this year," Bears cornerbacks coach Al Harris said. "He's focused in, he's locked in."
During the spring, Stevenson said he spoke with offensive coaches to get tips on how they would strategize to play against him in coverage. With so many new faces in the secondary, Stevenson has an opportunity to be a leader on the back end of the defense that will have to replace a significant amount of takeaway production (a league-high 33) that left with players in free agency.
He's also entering a contract year with the aim of proving to a defensive staff that did not draft him that he can fit into their long-term plans.
"The best thing I could do is come out here, be available, and be a good teammate, and also go out and do my job," Stevenson said. "And, honestly, that's how I'm looking at it."
Kyler Gordon, CB
Despite being under contract through the 2028 season, Gordon arguably has more to prove than anyone entering training camp.