The biggest question surrounding the Chicago Bears defense heading into the 2024 season was the level of depth on the defensive line.
Against the Buffalo Bills during the team’s second preseason game, the young players on the Bears’ defensive line put an end to all those questions.
The Bears defensive line, without Pro Bowler Montez Sweat, finished the game with eight total sacks and nine tackles for a loss leading to a dominating 33-6 victory.
The star of the game for the defense was fifth-round rookie pass rusher Austin Booker, who finished the game with 2.5 sacks, three QB hits, two tackles for a loss, and five combined tackles. The entire Bears building has been raving about Booker’s development all summer and his skills were on full display on Saturday.
“His ability to move surprises me,” head coach Matt Eberflus said about Booker after the game. “His ability to move in the pocket, and adjust his arm angle, to deliver good strikes is really impressive. He’s exciting to watch.”
Booker wasn’t the only member of defensive coordinator Eric Washington’s defensive front to come away with multiple sacks. Third-year edge rusher Daniel Hardy also finished the game with 2.5 sacks along with three QB hits.
“Those guys gotta ascend,” Eberflus said about the defensive line depth. “They gotta show that they can do it with the big guys. They’re going a good job with one-on-ones when they’re able to go against our starters. It was good to see them today get some production, for sure.”
The Bears defense as a whole looked strong the entire day and never allowed the Bills into the end zone. The unit was especially strong on third-down, allowing only six conversions on 17 attempts, including a three-and-out on the opening drive against quarterback Josh Allen and the rest of the Bills starting offense.
The biggest play of the game defensively came from backup linebacker Micah Baskerville who jumped a pass intended for running back Frank Gore Jr. and then returned it for a 53-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter.
Second-year defensive tackle Zacch Pickens, pass rusher Khalid Kareem, and linebacker Amen Ogbongbemiga each ended the game with a sack as well. One player everyone was eager to see on the defensive line in today’s matchup was second-year defensive tackle Gervon Dexter Sr. following his transformative offseason. Dexter was able to get into the backfield for a tackle and added one QB hit.
Overall, it was a strong showing by the Bears entire front, led by their new defensive coordinator making his first appearance in Buffalo after being plucked by Chicago.
