Chicago Bears Rookie Is Quietly Showing Rapid Improvement

It’s difficult to find anything positive to say about the Chicago Bears this season. Everything seems to have gone wrong. Justin Fields appears to have regressed at quarterback. Offensive coordinator Luke Getsy is under fire for questionable scheming. The defense is again one of the worst in the NFL. Their pass rush can’t get to the quarterback, and now the secondary is down three starters. Things look bleak. Even so, there are always one or two bright spots, even on terrible teams. One name worth mentioning is Gervon Dexter.

The 2nd round pick out of Florida started slow this year. He didn’t have much impact in the opener against Green Bay. However, things have steadily changed over the past two weeks. He’s starting to make his presence known as a run defender and showcased his first real flash as an interior pass rusher with a hit on the quarterback in Kansas City. He has five run stops over that two-game span despite only 15 total snaps in those situations. The Football Scout, a prominent film study channel on YouTube, noted how rapidly Dexter’s technique is improving.

The Chicago Bears must stay patient with Dexter.

Trying to rush him will only have detrimental effects. He is going through a learning experience right now. People anxious about statistical output don’t understand the nature of his position. It often takes time for interior defensive linemen to start putting up numbers. That is especially true for Dexter. Don’t forget he’s learning a totally new style of play. He isn’t used to playing more up the field. It requires different assignments, responsibilities, and techniques. The fact he’s showing signs of progress already is a good thing.

He isn’t the only one. Right tackle Darnell Wright has also shown promising ability under challenging circumstances. The Bears have left him in one-on-one blocking situations 56 times this season. More than any other rookie tackle. He’s allowed only four total pressures on the quarterback. If he and Dexter can play well toward the second half of this season, it might take some of the heat off Chicago Bears GM Ryan Poles. Any small victory for him at this point is essential.