One Bears Player to Watch in Training Camp
Newsweek · C · trust 46/100
0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. The Chicago Bears may have found one of their more unassuming battles of training camp at cornerback, and rookie Malik Muhammad is making sure he isn't being overlooked.
Muhammad has been getting lots of looks early in camp, and it's not hard to see why. The former Texas standout arrived with plenty of experience against high-level competition, and now he's pushing for a bigger role in Chicago's secondary.
That role could be bigger than expected.
Tyrique Stevenson entered camp with a strong hold at starting cornerback spot, but the Bears aren't handing anything out. The coaching staff has been giving Muhammad chances, and the rookie has responded by showing why the team believed he could be an important addition.
For a young corner, that's the biggest thing: making people look twice.
Muhammad had a strong career at Texas, where he developed a reputation as a confident and competitive defender. Now the challenge is translating that success to the NFL , where receivers are faster, quarterbacks are smarter and mistakes get punished quickly.
But the early signs have been encouraging. Chicago has invested heavily in improving its defense, and finding another reliable corner would be really good. The Bears already have pieces they like in the secondary, but teams can never have enough players who can cover on the outside.
Muhammad has a chance to prove he belongs.
Of course, training camp is still just the beginning. Rookies have plenty of ups and downs as they adjust to the speed of the NFL, especially at cornerback. One good practice doesn't guarantee a starting job.
The Bears drafted Muhammad because they saw the potential for him to become more than just depth. If he continues making plays and keeps forcing the coaching staff to take notice, he could end up being one of the biggest additions from Chicago's draft class.
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