Earlier this week, we asked you guys which Chicago Bears player you are most excited to see vs. the Cleveland Browns, and more than half of you said rookie defensive tackle Jordan van den Berg.
I asked our WCG staff a broader version of this question when I asked them this.
Who are you most looking forward to seeing play for the Bears in the preseason?
And here’s what we had to say.
Mongo Peanut: Devin Bush. I think his speed is going to be a massive part of the Bears’ improvement, and not enough people are talking about it. I’m really excited to see that speed on display.
TJ Starman: I’m very much looking forward to seeing Zavion Thomas play this preseason. His draft selection surprised quite a lot of people with how early he came off the board, but word out of camp has been pretty positive so far, and that combination has created a very solid amount of intrigue for the rookie WR out of LSU. Let’s see what that speed can do on an NFL field!
Sam Householder: The answer for me is always rookies. But this year, I want to see the left tackle competition. Who plays with the starters, which backups look good, and who is playing more to get reps as a possible swing tackle. That’s what I’ll be looking at this year. Oh, I would also love to see Zavion Thomas torch some second- or third-stringers.
Josh Sunderbruch: I’m just happy to see the laundry, but I’ll say all of the UDFAs. I want to see the uncovered gems do their thing.
ECD: There’s a good list of newcomers that I’m excited to see. Rookies like Malik Muhammad and Logan Jones get their opportunities to compete for jobs in their respective roles. Dillon Thieneman, the Bears’ first-rounder this year, will transform their safety position for years to come. And I cannot wait to see him play more than anyone else.
Jeff Berckes: The obvious answer is Dillon Thieneman with the starters, but I really want to see Jordan van den Berg in action. The big rookie is making some waves in training camp, and he’s got a clear path to getting rotation DT snaps this season if he can prove he belongs.
Donald Gooch: I am most looking forward to seeing Jordan van den Berg on the gridiron. I was excited when the Bears moved up in the draft to get him, and the interior defensive line is the most obvious and significant weakness on this team. He was literally the only defensive lineman to average hitting the ball carrier behind the line of scrimmage last season in college. If JVB is a player, the sky is the limit for the Bears this season.
Gary Baugher Jr.: The Bears have a big class of rookies that are all slated to be potentially important contributors in the 2026 season, so seeing the rookie class in live action is the “who” I’m looking most forward to seeing play.
Lester A. Wiltfong Jr.: I’ll be watching the trenches closely all preseason. The three-headed left tackle battle will have my attention. Logan Jones at center will be fun to watch, as will second-year pro Luke Newman, and UDFA Caden Barnett. On defense, I need to see if Austin Booker has taken a step, and of course I want all the van den Berg hype, but also UDFA Jayden Loving will have a chance to shine.
Who are you most looking forward to seeing play for the Bears in the three preseason games?