Chicago Bears training camp is just around the corner, which means it’s time to start looking ahead at the roster the team is bringing to Lake Forest.
We’re unveiling our Bears 2025 training camp position previews, where we’re breaking down every player by position and examining the biggest question facing the group.
Next up on defense, we’re looking at a position that has some question marks: Safety. Both Kevin Byard III and Jaquan Brisker are entering contract years and facing big questions about their future. Will Byard earn an extension? Can Brisker stay healthy for an entire season and stick around in Chicago?
Let’s take a look at the Bears’ safeties heading into training camp:
Jaquan Brisker
Jaquan Brisker, when healthy, is the best safety on the Bears. But he needs to prove he can stay healthy for an entire season, something he’s been unable to do in his first three years. After missing most of last season with a concussion, his third in as many years, Brisker enters a contract year with plenty to prove — and it’s more about his health than play. Brisker is one of the players Chicago has in the defensive backfield who can disrupt the passing game at a high level. With Dennis Allen as the new defensive coordinator, Brisker should thrive as an all situation player.
Kevin Byard III
Kevin Byard, who is entering the final year of his contract with the Bears, would love to have a good enough year to earn himself another deal in Chicago. Byard was one of the better players on defense last season during the Bears’ disastrous season, as well as a leader in a young locker room. While Byard knows that a long-term deal is unlikely for him at this stage, he’s acknowledged that he would like to play with Chicago through the end of his NFL career. The 2025 season will determine a lot about his future in town.
Elijah Hicks
During the 2024 season, Elijah Hicks overtook Jonathan Owens as the guy who replaced Brisker when he went down with a concussion for a year. Eventually, Hicks was also hurt, and Owens played in that role anyway. If he can stay healthy, however, Hicks proved that he may be worth considering for some playing time throughout the season. A strong training camp would go a long way.
Jonathan Owens
Jonathan Owens is a good player, too. Hicks overtook him as the backup to Brisker in 2024, but that doesn’t mean that Owens did a bad job once his shoulder was tapped. Whether it is in a safety role or on special teams, the Bears have two solid options as secondary safeties on their team.
Tarvarius Moore
If you play well for the Bears on special teams, Ryan Poles is going to reward you. That’s the case for Tarvarius Moore, who played exactly zero snaps on defense for Chicago in 2025. He did play just under half of the special teams snaps, though, which makes him a valuable depth guy at safety. With 72 games played in the NFL, he brings experience that can lead some of the younger players on and off the field. But will it be enough to earn a spot on the 53-man roster?
Alex Cook
Alex Cook doesn’t have a high likelihood of jumping over Hicks or Owens on the depth chart, but he will come to training camp looking to surprise as he looks to contend for a roster spot. At a minimum, he’d like to be a practice squad player for Chicago in 2025 until someone gives him a chance.
Major Burns
Major Burns, an undrafted free agent out of LSU, isn’t expected to contend for a spot on the 53-man roster. But he has a chance to prove himself worthy of a spot on the practice squad. Burns has good size and is a fast player who was a starter at a school like LSU.
Tysheem Johnson
Like Burns, Tysheem Johnson is an undrafted free agent who the Bears signed this offseason. He also has size, but not as much speed. The thing that may make Johnson work in Dennis Allen’s defense is his ability to play all over the field. That could give him a chance at making the practice squad.
Big Question: Can Jaquan Brisker stay healthy for the entire season?
Brisker has been the definition of a physical player on this Bears defense, but that’s unfortunately come with its repercussions as he’s yet to play an entire season due to injury. Last season, Brisker suffered his third concussion in as many seasons, missing 12 games to end a disappointing 5-12 year. It had some folks wondering if he’d even play again. While Brisker has been cleared — and has been on the practice field — the question is whether he can stay healthy for an entire season and put faith in Chicago to sign him to a long-term extension. If Brisker can play for the entire 2025 season under Dennis Allen, he could have a career year. That would certainly help the Bears secondary play at the level that they need in order to be a playoff-caliber defense and keep Brisker in Chicago.
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Chicago Bears training camp preview: Safety
Reporting by Vincent Parise, Bears Wire / Bears Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
