Bears Defensive Sleepers Could SAVE 2026… But Is The Pass Rush Enough?

The Chicago Bears are just days away from training camp, and the defense has major questions to answer before the 2026 season begins.

On today’s episode of Chicago Bears Central, Haize breaks down one defensive sleeper to watch at every position heading into Bears training camp, including Shemar Turner, Neville Gallimore, Keyshaun Elliott, Terell Smith and Skyler Thomas. Can Shemar Turner finally find his role at defensive end? Can Gallimore give the Bears interior pass-rush juice? Could Keyshaun Elliott become this year’s surprise linebacker story? And should Bears fans be sleeping on Terell Smith in a crowded cornerback room?

Haize also dives into the biggest question facing Dennis Allen’s defense: will the Bears’ pass rush, run defense and new-look secondary be good enough in 2026? Chicago got younger, faster and more aggressive with additions like Devin Bush, Coby Bryant and Dillon Thieneman, but the pass rush still has to prove it after struggling last season. If Austin Booker, Dayo Odeyingbo and Shemar Turner do not show enough once the pads come on, could the Bears look to free agency for help?

Plus, Haize reacts to voicemails about Dennis Allen’s accountability, Rome Odunze’s extension outlook, why it is too early to predict the NFC North, which Bears players could break out, and why Tyrique Stevenson, Terell Smith and Malik Muhammad could make the cornerback battle one of the most interesting storylines of camp.

Topics include: Chicago Bears training camp, Bears defense, Dennis Allen, Shemar Turner, Austin Booker, Dayo Odeyingbo, Neville Gallimore, Keyshaun Elliott, Terell Smith, Skyler Thomas, Devin Bush, Coby Bryant, Dillon Thieneman, Tyrique Stevenson, Malik Muhammad, Rome Odunze, Caleb Williams, Bears pass rush, Bears free agency, Chicago Bears Central.

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