Make no mistake about it, the Chicago Bears defense has been embarrassed the last five quarters of play and especially in Week 2 against the Detroit Lions.
A lot of blame can go around for the reason why, but the biggest issue defensively in Chicago is the lack of pass rush, something any fan can be aware of watching the game.
Another frustrating trend from the entire team as a whole is the usage of the rookie class. Which leads us to second-round defensive tackle Shemar Turner. After being a healthy inactive in each of the last two weeks, fans have rightfully been annoyed and the struggles up-front have added to it.
While speaking to the media on Thursday ahead of the Week 3 matchup with the Dallas Cowboys, defensive coordinator Dennis Allen finally addressed what the hold up is with getting Turner on the field to help on the defensive line.
"I think really it's just continue to work and practice," Allen told reporters on Thursday. "I think he's had a couple of good weeks of practice. He missed a lot of time in the offseason and training camp. I think he's starting to turn the corner a little bit. We've been impressed with some of the things we've seen. It's really about doing it in practice and then when he gets his opportunity, taking advantage of it when we get to game day."
Should Ben Johnson and his staff make changes in the Bears' depth chart to hold players accountable?@BradBiggs thinks they should consider activating rookie DT Shemar Turner to give the defensive line a spark. pic.twitter.com/9hhf34tahx
— 670 The Score (@670TheScore) September 15, 2025
When the Bears drafted Turner in the second-round, it was clear the team was targeting an aggressive playmaker who's energy and mentality could rub off on the other players.
He's similar in style to Grady Jarrett, the veteran free agent signing the team made for having pretty much the exact same traits. By having Jarrett as a starter, plus the missed time Turner had during camp when the defensive scheme was being installed, it's clear why Turner hasn't been used. It's worth noting Jarrett didn't practice on Wednesday and was limited on Thursday due to a knee injury he played through in Week 2.
Whether or not Jarrett plays on Sunday, based on how the last five quarters have gone defensively, Turner is a player the unit could certainly use to play with a little more fire up-front and help bring more pressure to the quarterback.
"We haven't affected the quarterback on a consistent level yet in these first two games," head coach Ben Johnson explained on Wednesday. "That's something that we're focused on and how do we get that done. We have a number of guys that have the ability to win one-on-ones and we just need them to do that more consistently. And there'll be times, maybe we pressure a little bit more too."
Creating pressure inside has been an issue as well, beyond the issues with winning off the edge. On the interior, Jarrett and Gervon Dexter Sr. have combined for five total pressures in two weeks. Backup defensive tackles Andrew Billings and Chris Williams have yet to record a single pressure despite playing a combined 29 pass rushing snaps.
This week especially, the Bears will need to get after quarterback Dak Prescott to avoid being torched defensively for the third week in a row.
"I think [Prescott's] an outstanding player. I think he's playing at a really high level," Allen added. "Certainly got total command of their offense. We're going to have to try to do some things to get him uncomfortable in the pocket."
Could Turner be the answer? Maybe? But the team won't know until they can trust him enough to put him on the field. That's something he needs to earn in practice and we'll see if Week 3 is the finally the chance for him to make his debut.
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