Beanie Bishop's Two-Interception Debut Creates a Tough Decision for the Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears' secondary is a mess. The entire unit, from cornerbacks to safeties, has been hit with injuries. But it all started with nickel cornerback Kyler Gordon, who has been dealing with soft-tissue injuries since last season. Even though he was expected to return for OTAs, he sustained another injury and hasn't seen the field at all.
The nickel cornerback position quickly became one of the more intriguing roster battles entering training camp. Chicago, however, may have stumbled into an unexpected answer, although it's not quite that simple.
Beanie Bishop Could Steal a Roster Spot
Injuries throughout the secondary have forced the Bears to frequently add players to the unit during training camp. Nickel cornerback Beanie Bishop is one of the team's latest additions.
Bishop started his career as an undrafted free agent with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2024 and battled his way onto the roster. That season, he started four games and played in all 17, recording four interceptions.
After spending last season on the New Orleans Saints practice squad, Bishop found his way to Chicago in the middle of camp. The 26-year-old cornerback made his impact quickly in his first preseason game.
On Saturday against the Cleveland Browns, he recorded two interceptions and a nice pass breakup. Although it was against the Browns' backups, that's still quite the impact.
More importantly, Bishop showed the type of playmaking ability the Bears emphasize on defense. Chicago's defense was the NFL's best at creating turnovers in 2024. While that's hard to do year over year, Bishop's ability to find the football could make him an intriguing fit in the secondary.
That said, Bishop has a looming suspension that could impact whether he makes the team.
How Beanie Bishop's Suspension Impacts His Ability to Make the Roster
In March, CBS Sports reported that Bishop will be suspended for the first three games of the 2026 season for violating the league's substance abuse policy. This could significantly impact his chances of making the Bears' 53-man roster.
Currently, rookie Malik Muhammad is the favorite to win the nickel cornerback job if Gordon isn't healthy. Muhammad had an up-and-down performance in his preseason debut. Still, he showed enough to prove why he was the frontrunner before they signed Bishop.
With Bishop in the mix, things get interesting. If the 26-year-old continues to outperform Muhammad, it will be difficult to have an argument as to why he shouldn't be named the starter if Gordon isn't healthy.
That would mean Muhammad would have to start the first three games because of Bishop's suspension. Is keeping Bishop if he continues to play well, knowing he will miss the first three games of the season, a good idea?
The alternative would be to name Muhammad the starter and let him develop over an entire season. That could impact the Bears' chances of winning early on, though.
These are all aspects Chicago's coaching staff needs to assess before making a decision. Bishop's two-interception performance certainly made the decision more complicated, but if he continues making plays throughout the preseason, the Bears may have a difficult time letting that talent walk away.
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