The Chicago Bears are coming off a disappointing 2019 season, which included an 8-8 record and a third-place finish in the NFC North. The sky-high expectations at the beginning of the year were dashed, and now the Bears find themselves looking to rebound with a return to the postseason amid several questions.
Last season, the Chicago Bears suffered some significant losses, especially on defense, which certainly hurt the team. But heading into training camp, those players are set to make their return for the 2020 season.
Our Bears Wire staff shares their thoughts on which Bears players are poised for a comeback season in 2020.
Alyssa: LB Roquan Smith
Coming off an encouraging rookie season, Roquan Smith’s sophomore campaign didn’t go as planned. Following a slow start, he stepped his game up, especially when Danny Trevathan got injured in Week 10, and he wound up leading the team with 101 tackles, including five tackles for loss, two sacks, two passes defensed and an interception. With Smith headed into his third season — second in Chuck Pagano’s scheme — he appears poised to take that next step.
While there aren’t many calling this a make-or-break year for Smith, he’s taking that pressure on himself. This is a prove-it year for the young Bears linebacker, and he’ll be playing for his next contract on a defense that’s one of the best in the NFL. Considering the luck that GM Ryan Pace has had with first-round draft picks over the years, Smith appears poised to break the mold and become a cornerstone of this defense for years to come.
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