Inconsistent play and the return of a promising player sets the Bears pass rush up for an intriguing evaluation game in Week 9

The defense of the Chicago Bears got some much needed additions to the unit this week and it couldn't have come at a better time following the Week 8 loss to the Baltimore Ravens and heading into the halfway point of the regular season.

This week, the Bears added a fiery defensive back in C.J. Gardner-Johnson to make up for the short-term loss of standout nickel Kyler Gordon and hope to have him in action as soon as Sunday. Chicago also activated second-year defensive end Austin Booker back to the active roster, a big boost to the defensive front after losing Dominique Robinson (short-term ankle) and Shemar Turner (season-ending knee) in last week's loss.

Both additions will be beneficial to the entire unit as a whole, but the pass rush will be the area under the microscope against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Can the Bears get the pass rush on track against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 9?

Through the first eight weeks of the season, the Bears have totaled 14 sacks, the 8th-fewest in the entire league, but there's more that goes into rushing the passer. Creating pressure on the quarterback is just as critical and something the Bears have largely be able to achieve, which has helped force turnovers in the backend.

Yet, it's still an area of the defense that can improve and be more consistent going forward.

“We’ve got to capitalize on the opportunities when guys get one-on-one on a tackle or on a guard," head coach Ben Johnson said earlier in the week. "That’s really what it comes down to. If it’s a play action, we’ve got to transition to rushers fast."

Looking at it situationally, on third-and-5+, the Bears have 11 pressures and 1.0 combined sacks this season (the fewest in the NFL entering Week 9). On play action plays, the Bears have 19 total pressures which is tied for the seventh-fewest in the league.

The return of Booker in Week 9 is one the Bears will be paying close attention to in this game on Sunday. Booker missed each of the first seven games with a knee injury he suffered in the preseason and has been back at practice gearing up to play since having his window opened on October 7th.

"The last couple weeks he has been outstanding in practice," defensive coordinator Dennis Allen said of Booker. "He'll get an opportunity, I think, to get out there this week. We'll see exactly what he can do, but I'm excited about watching him play, for sure."