Chicago’s Defense Gears Up: Brisker’s return with Jarrett’s impact

Ariana Pensy · Correspondent · 1 day ago

CHICAGO - With all the talent Chicago has on defense this season, they seem poised to potentially be one of the best in the league this year. The return of safety Jaquan Brisker is a huge part of that.

Only five games into the season in 2024, Brisker matched the number of tackles for loss he had in 2023. He was also on track to have this third season with over 100 tackles before suffering his concussion against the Carolina Panthers last year.

Allen said that if he is able to remain healthy, Brisker is going to have a big impact in this defense.

“Number one, he plays with a lot of energy. He’s a physical player, plays with a lot of energy, showed great range today. There’s a lot of good things that he does,” Allen said. “One of the things that we talked about in the offseason is just being available and he’s been available throughout training camp. He’s continued to get better and if we can keep him healthy, then I expect him to be a good player for us.”

Perhaps the biggest offseason addition for the Bears was adding defensive lineman Grady Jarrett who is listed as one of the starting defensive tackles on Chicago’s first depth chart. Despite only being named to two Pro Bowls, Jarrett has a reputation in the league as one of the best and consistent linemen.

He is also known for his energy and preparation, something he has brought with him to Chicago.

“I like him better on our team. He’s a great leader. He’s an outstanding professional. He’s a great example for all of the young guys. I don’t care whether you’re on offense, defense, defensive line, DBs, whatever the case may be,” Allen said. “There’s a certain way that pros conduct their business and he does it as well as anybody. His practice habits are outstanding. His meeting habits are outstanding. He’s one of the most attentive in all of the meetings. He’s hanging on every single word and I think that’s how you become a guy that can play at a very high level for double-digit years in our league and so, I’m really pleased with where he’s at. I’m glad that we have him and excited for what I think he can do for us.”

The presence of Jarrett can also help other players develop their craft and learn from him, such as defensive lineman Dominique Robinson. Robinson is entering his fourth year with the Bears. After this season, he is set to become an unrestricted free agent.

However, he has caught Allen’s eye in training camp so far and could play a strong role in Chicago’s defense this season.

“I’ve been impressed with what he’s able to do. I think (he’s) still learning how to play the defensive end position and everyday, he comes out here, he works extremely hard,” Allen said. “He’s smart and he has ability and so, if you’re smart and you have ability and you’re willing to work, you’re going to get better and I think he’s done that and so, I’m anxious to see him play in games and see what that looks like.”

Another such player who should benefit from Jarrett’s presence is defensive lineman Austin Booker. Booker played in every game last season and finished the season with four quarterback hits and three tackles for loss.

While Allen said he still needs to develop, he has seen flashes of what Booker is capable of.

“(I’ve seen) a lot of flash plays from him. I think there’s some things from a fundamental standpoint and from an assignment standpoint that we still got to get cleaned up with him. But, I do see a really good athlete playing at the end position, a guy that’s got some good rush ability and when he plays his fundamentals and technique right, he’s able to set edges, which is critical for us in terms of what we do defensively. So, I think he’s doing some good things. I think the biggest thing is we just still got to work with a little bit more consistency.”