Sanborn on Bears defense, Will Levis in Week 1, impression of Williams |
LAKE FOREST, I.L. - Linebacker
Jack Sanborn joined the Chicago Bears during one of the worst seasons in franchise history back in 2022 when the team only won three games and had the lowest winning percentage out of any team in the league.
Now, they are a playoff contender and have a defense that is expected to pick up right where they left off last season. “I think we’re just kind of hitting the ground where we sort of left off from last year. Obviously, coming in and you got a long break going to (organized team activities) OTAs and then coming back here for camp,” Sanborn said. “But, just seems like everybody’s very confident. Everybody has a good understanding of what we’re trying to do and what we’re doing and then just building off that and using camp to kind of build off that and going into the season so we’re ready come week one.” Chicago finished last season tied for the most interceptions in the league with 22, led by cornerbacks Jaylon Johnson and Tyrique Stevenson who each had four. Sanborn also had an interception last season against the Kansas City Chiefs, which he returned 42 yards. Because of stats from last season and the fact that some of the Bears’ top playmakers are still with the team, they are expected to be a top-five defense. However, Sanborn maintains that the Bears have not proven themselves yet and need to improve more before the season opener against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, Sept. 8 (Noon / FOX). “I think you got to prove it every single week, and we haven’t proved (anything). The season hasn’t even started yet,” Sanborn said. “So, nothing’s been proven, and in the NFL, you got to prove it each week, and starting week one, we still have a long way to go up until that first game and in that time, there’s a lot of improvement that can be made, and I think that’s kind of where we’re at and just improving, building that trust with every single person on the defense and, coaching included, (so) we’re ready come week one to prove who we are.” The season opener is looking a little different now. The Titans’ top receiver, DeAndre Hopkins, suffered a knee injury in camp that is expected to keep him out for four to six weeks. His availability for the opener is in question, which will surely change some of the defensive strategy going into that game. However, given defensive coordinator Eric Washington’s background working with defensive linemen, Hopkins’ injury is not going to change how much pressure Sanborn and the rest of the Bears defense puts on Titans quarterback Will Levis who was sacked 28 times in nine games last season. “Obviously, very, very big with the d-line and (that’s) his background, coming from that in Buffalo, and you can just tell kind of the instant impact that he’s had, and (one) of his big goals is to really help that d-line and create that four-man rush like we’ve been talking about,” Sanborn said. On the other side of the ball for the Bears is rookie quarterback Caleb Williams. Going against a top-tier defense is certain to benefit any quarterback, but especially someone who is new to the league. Even going against some of the premier defenders in the league, particularly in the secondary with Johnson and Stevenson, Williams has managed to impress Sanborn and others with his throws. “He’s made some impressive throws,” Sanborn said. “As a defense, even when he makes throws on us, it’s tough when it first happens, but you got to kind of sit back and say, ‘We’re happy that he’s on our side,’ and just the strides that he’s kind of made from OTAs now into training camp and just kind of setting the offense up and being confident out there and looking like he knows what he’s doing and how everything’s supposed to be (truly) running an NFL offense. I think it’s been encouraging … Still a long way to go (until) week one. So, I’m excited to see how he continues (to improve).” Neither Sanborn nor Williams or any of the other starters appeared in Chicago’s 21-17 victory over the Houston Texans in the Hall of Fame game. However, a decision does not appear to have been reached on who will play in the Bears’ second preseason game against the Buffalo Bills on Sat. Aug. 10 (Noon / NFL Network).
