Edge rusher Dayo Odeyingbo could have anticipated a very difficult debut at Soldier Field come Monday night, Sept. 8.
Perhaps it will be a bit softer launch point.
According to a report by The Athletic's Alec Lewis , the idea of starting Minnesota Vikings left tackle Christian Darrisaw returning to face the Bears in the opener is "probably a rosy expectation.
After his rookie year of 2021, Darrisaw graded out as the second-, eighth- and 11th-best tackle in the NFL. He suffered a torn ACL and MCL last October. It looked like a devastating injury for the Vikings at the time but they were able to trade for Jacksonville's Cam Robinson as a replacement.
Do you have confidence in the EDGE room lead by Montez Sweat and Dayo Odeyingbo to generate enough pressure this season? pic.twitter.com/hz0v50zgYP
— Bears Zone (@chibearszone) June 30, 2025
The problem for Minnesota is Robinson signed as a free agent with the Houston Texans. The Vikings could be protecting the blind side of rookie J.J. McCarthy with a journeyman backup tackle.
The Vikings backup left tackle now is Justin Skule. He started half of his games as a rookie for the 49ers in 2019 but has been only a backup since then. Skule started five games last year for the Buccaneers as a replacement. He has 17 starts in five seasons.
Dayo Odeyingbo is still figuring things out as a pass rusher but the raw potential is there. So powerful at the point of attack pic.twitter.com/xSvnADtPeU
— Zach Hicks (@ZachHicks2) August 15, 2022
They also have rookie Logan Brown on their depth chart as a backup on the other side. He is an undrafted free agent.
Odeyingbo's strength is supposed to be stopping the run but the Bears saw him as a rising pass rusher when they signed him for $48 million over three years in free agency.
Dayo Odeyingbo
— Nick Whalen (@_NickWhalen) March 10, 2025
6'5 1/8"
285 lbs
35 1/4" arm length
Cam Jordan
6'4 1/8"
287 lbs
35" arm length
We have to trust Dennis Allen here that he can develop Dayo into a Cam Jordan type for the Bears defense pic.twitter.com/9IFR4O7Xj5
Odeyingbo a quiet game last year going against Minnesota's Robinson and right tackle Brian O'Neill. He made two tackles with no sacks.
Jonathan Harrison of Minnesota Vikings On SI writes, "The veteran Skule seems likely to start at least a couple games for Minnesota to begin this season."
2- He registered Sacks on the 2nd and 3rd Possessions, as well, beating RT Justin Skule on an array of moves before the Bucs finally dedicated a chip/double to his side.#Lions #DetroitLions #Detroit pic.twitter.com/iphYu8SKFC
— All 22 Films (@All_22_NFL_Cuts) September 16, 2024
Skule is graded by PFF as a much better pass blocker now than when he was graded 118th of 125 tackles and 126 of 135 tackles as a pass blocker during his first two seasons. His 212 reps last year were his most since his rookie year.
The Vikings would want to be cautious at so early a point in the season.
The Bears could also make things more uncomfortable for Skule by moving Montez Sweat to that side of the line on occasion.
While Darrisaw has been unable to practice while he rehabs from his knee surgery, Odeyingbo himself hasn't exactly been out gearing up for the season. He missed almost all of the offseason work with an unspecified injury.
Montez Sweat is a bad dude.
— Robert Schmitz (@robertkschmitz) December 1, 2023
Eberflus calls a sweet stunt that weaponizes both Sweat & Yannick's athleticism well -- Sweat is long enough to engage the RG (nearly getting Yannick free) and fast enough to rip around the edge in time for a big 3rd down sack.
Nice pic.twitter.com/2m46yt8MSj
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