Chicago Bears: 3 winners and losers from their preseason win over the Tennessee Titans

The Bears traded the number one pick for D.J. Moore, and draft picks this offseason. It didn’t take long for Moore to showcase skills that have had beat reporters excited since training camp started. Justin Fields threw a poor pass that was low and behind Moore on a screen, but the veteran wide receiver turned it into a 62-yard touchdown.

Moore isn’t on the roster bubble, but his play Saturday should make an impact on offensive coordinator Luke Getsy’s play design for him. Moore was thought to be a deep ball threat for the Bears. But the Bears will need to creatively get the ball into Moore’s hands, even if it’s behind the line of scrimmage.

2. Kyler Gordon

Kyler Gordon had an up-and-down rookie season in 2022. The Bears traded up to draft cornerback Tyrique Stevenson. There was talk this spring Stevenson could potentially take Gordon’s job on the chart.

Gordon has had a terrific start in training camp this year. He proved he’s progressing in year two with his electric play on the Bears’ opening drive on defense. He forced an incompletion and made an electric hit in the open field after Stevenson bit on the bootleg.

1. Terrell Lewis

Terrell Lewis, who was signed to the Chicago Bears practice squad last December, had a terrific day for the Bears Saturday. He made a strong case he deserves to make the 53-man roster.

Lewis’s name has often been mentioned by beat reporters in OTAs and training camp as he’s been disruptive during passing plays, often recording sacks. He recorded two sacks against the Titans’ offense on Saturday.

Lewis came off the bench Saturday after Rasheem Green and Dominique Robinson left the game. (The Bears starters at defensive end, Yannick Ngakoue and DeMarcus Walker did not play Saturday.) Green and Robinson did okay, but Lewis’ play warrants rotation into the first-team lineup. I’d like to see how Lewis plays against starters.

Honorable mention:

Overall, Tyrique Stevenson had a solid day. He led the team in tackles with seven total tackles. His rookie cornerback colleague, UDFA Bralen Trahan, sealed the Bears’ victory with an interception.

UDFA Tyson Bagent made the throw of the day, a 25-yard pass to Daurice Fountain on fourth-and-seven.

Chicago Bears losers

3. Gervon Dexter

Reports came out early in training camp that second-round rookie Gervon Dexter is struggling to get off the snap. Unfortunately, that was evident against the Tennessee Titans. Dexter was consistently the last lineman to move after the snap.

General manager Ryan Poles said they drafted Dexter for his ability to flash off the ball. He didn’t show that Saturday. Dexter will need to work on that before the Bears play the Indianapolis Colts next week.

2. P.J. Walker

One word to describe the Bears’ backup quarterback situation: Yikes.

P.J. Walker looked bad Saturday. Walker finished his day four-of-eight passing for 19 yards and an interception. He overthrew EQ St. Brown on a pass that turned into an interception.

Unfortunately for the Bears, that throw has not been an anomaly for Walker during training camp. As Greg Braggs Jr. with CHGO noted, Walker has been making those throws all during camp.

1. Velus Jones Jr.

Velus Jones Jr.’s goal for the rest of preseason is to put up good tape for the next team who calls him for a tryout this season. Jones struggled last season holding on to the football during special teams last year. That continued Saturday.

Jones tried to catch a punt that bounced in front of him while a defender was tracking him down and wound up coughing it up near the Bears’ 30-yard line. Jones has to know by now that he needs to get away from the ball in that situation and let his teammates know they need to be alert and stay away from the ball as well.

That play should seal his fate in Chicago.