​The Chicago Bears counted on a number of rookies to make meaningful contributions over the 2025 season. Colston Loveland emerged as a trusted target for Caleb Williams, finishing with a team-leading 58 receptions and 713 receiving yards, while also tying former Bears receiver DJ Moore with six touchdown catches. Luther Burden III consistently created explosive plays for the offense; ESPN noted that his 2.92 yards per route run tied A.J. Brown for the best rookie mark of the last 15 years.
Offensive tackle Ozzy Trapilo earned six starts in the regular season before suffering a ruptured patellar tendon in the wild-card game against the Green Bay Packers. The Bears leaned on most of their top draftees for significant playing time in their rookie year, with one notable exception: defensive lineman Shemar Turner. The second-round pick from Texas A&M appeared in only 74 defensive snaps. An ankle injury on the first day of training camp delayed his debut until Week 3, and in Week 5 against the Baltimore Ravens he tore his ACL, ending his season. He finished with six total tackles.
Although Turner didn’t appear on Pro Football Focus’s list of the top 10 players under the most pressure to perform in Year 2, most of the players who did make the cut were first-round selections. Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Benjamin Morrison—the 53rd overall pick from Notre Dame—appeared on the list after logging 360 defensive snaps, recording 23 total tackles, two pressures, and three pass breakups. Turner’s absence from that ranking doesn’t diminish the Bears’ need for immediate impact from him in 2026, especially given that the Bears’ defensive line was among the league’s least productive units last season.
Turner’s versatility could prove valuable, as defensive coordinator Dennis Allen could deploy him in multiple roles. However, before that can happen, he must demonstrate he can stay healthy. “We’ll see with Shemar; this summer’s going to be a big part for him,” coach Ben Johnson said during minicamp. “We’ll have a good six weeks off to see where he’s at when we come back to camp.” Among the Bears’ top 2025 draft picks, Turner stands out as the most notable outlier; he has yet to show the flashes of potential evident in his peers, and that uncertainty will follow him into his second season.
Turner does, however, have a prime opportunity ahead of him. In a defensive line that desperately needs production, the 6-foot-3, 293-pound defender can build trust with coaches and teammates by maximizing opportunities in 2026. If he can stay healthy and translate his traits into consistent production, Turner could become a key piece in a line that must improve to elevate the entire defense.