Chicago Bears: Could suprise rookie be forced into major Week 1 role?

The Chicago Bears will begin their season in just a few days, traveling to North Carolina to take on the Carolina Panthers.

This will be a battle between two former No. 1 overall picks, quarterbacks Caleb Williams and Bryce Young.

Both squads are coming off impressive seasons, winning their respective division in 2025-26. While the NFC South may not be the most competitive group of four, the Panthers have a solid defense and will look to make life tough for Williams on Sunday.

Offensively, Carolina will be out to prove his worth again, as questions still linger about the former Alabama standout.

Chicago’s defense has a great chance to get off to a hot start, facing a low-tier offense. However, many concerns have been raised about this unit during the preseason, as injuries begin to pile up.

Cornerback Kyler Gordon is out until further notice, and no one seems to understand what is going on with his rehab.

Additonally, the defensive front has a lot of new faces, including one rookie who has had a great camp.

The Bears have found something in rookie Jordan van den Berg. The sixth-round pick out of Georgia Tech has been disruptive in the preseason.

The South African is a freak athletically and you can see it translate to the field. Clocked a 1.61 10-yard split, 36” vert, 9’11” broad pic.twitter.com/3oParcxi11

— Bobby Football (@Rob__Paul) August 23, 2026

Defensive tackle Jordan van den Berg has turned heads this summer with his impressive motor and athleticism.

The former Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket could be relied on heavily once the season begins, especially in a group that is lacking young talent. This makes the recent Gervon Dexter trade confusing to some. New faces will need to step up and do it rather quickly if this unit is to improve.

Even with his impressive start, van den Berg will need to prove himself once he gets meaningful snaps. The question remains: how many of those snaps will he be in for when Week 1 is finally here?

Chicago Bears beat reporter Brad Biggs on Jordan van den Berg: “My guess is, he’ll be active, and if so, that means he will play”

NFL rookies tend to have a massive chance early in their careers, as opposed to other professional leagues. This is due to the nature of the league, where players are constantly in and out of injury, and contracts are not always guaranteed.

If drafted in the early rounds, the chances of early playing time are high.

However, approximately 30% to 50%  of sixth-round NFL draft picks are cut or fail to make an initial 53-man roster for their first season. The odds were, and are still, against van den Berg.

Today, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune was asked in his mailbag about the current defensive line situation. The reader asked, Is Jordan van den Berg expected to play early in the season, or is Kentavius Street going to take those snaps until the coaching staff sees him as ready?

“It’s unlikely all six defensive tackles on the roster will be active for any game, so we have to see who’s in uniform Sunday at Carolina.” Biggs added, “My guess is van den Berg will be active, and if so, that means he will play.”

With the former sixth-rounder gaining attention in camp, the coaching staff likely wants to see what they have early and often.

Even with that being said, the chances of him being inactive for Week 1 are still high, as many late-round rookies are scratched in the beginning of the season. However, the Bears may not have that luxury, as this defensive line group may struggle.

Biggs continued, “As I have said many times, it’s better to focus on playing time than starting status for defensive linemen. You could have a reserve get just as many snaps as a starter. I think Street probably starts, but I’d be surprised if van den Berg doesn’t see action. As the season unfolds, the coaches lean on the players in the rotation they believe give them the best chance for success.”

With Street being a veteran, it makes sense for him to get the nod on the road, against a run-heavy Panthers attack.

If van den Berg can capitalize on his opportunities (when he gets them), it would be massive for this Chicago Bears defense.

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Source: https://www.chicitysports.com/chicago-bears-jordan-van-den-berg-nfl/