Chicago Bears rookie might already be in some hot water

Imagn Images

Chicago Bears rookie might already be in some hot water

Originally posted on ChiCitySports | By Matthew Schmidt | Last updated May 31, 2026 9:59 AM ET

The Chicago Bears had what many would consider to be a rather awkward NFL Draft, but they certainly seem to be excited about all of their incoming rookies.

One player in particular just on whom everyone seems to be in universal agreement is safety Dillon Thieneman, who was selected by the Bears with the 25th overall pick.

Thieneman had an impressive run at Purdue and Oregon and saw his stock skyrocket in the weeks leading up to the draft, and he ended up being the second safety off the board after Ohio State standout Caleb Downs.

The general consensus is that Thieneman will be starting for Chicago come Week 1, especially considering the Bears largely overhauled their secondary this offseason.

However, the early returns on Thieneman have not been incredibly impressive, and he may be feeling the heat at organized team activities.

Chicago Bears safety Dillon Thieneman off to a rough start

May 8, 2026; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears defensive back Dillon Thieneman (31) speaks during Rookie Minicamp at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

Thieneman has not gotten off to the most auspicious start, and Anthony Miller of Bear Goggles On has dubbed the team’s loser of the first week of OTAs.

“Not only was Thieneman taking second-team reps, but he also dropped an interception at OTAs that forced him to do push-ups,” Miller wrote. “It’s early and just one week of work, so a lot can change and probably will since he should be a Day 1 starter. Still, it’s something to monitor over the next two weeks to see how much he can improve before Week 1 of the NFL regular season.”

That Thieneman is taking second-team reps isn’t a huge deal just yet. He’s a rookie, after all, and head coach Ben Johnson has made it clear that he needs to earn his keep. But he apparently isn’t doing a very good job of that thus far.

Free-agent addition Coby Bryant is guaranteed a starting job at one of the two safety spots, but Thieneman will have to beat out the likes of Cam Lewis and Elijah Hicks to earn the second slot. He flashed incredible athleticism during the Scouting Combine and is coming off of a 2025 campaign in which he registered 96 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, a sack and five passes defended at Oregon.

The 21-year-old spent his first two collegiate seasons at Purdue before transferring.

We’ll see if Thieneman can ultimately win a starting job and make a positive impact on the Bears’ defensive backfield in 2026.

This article first appeared on ChiCitySports and was syndicated with permission.

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