Bears Rookie Wants Bryce Young to Target Him in Week 1
· Yahoo Sports
The Chicago Bears have not officially named their starting nickel cornerback for Sunday’s season opener against the Carolina Panthers. But rookie Malik Muhammad II is not ducking the possibility that the job — and an opponent’s attention — could land in his lap. And that’s precisely what he wants.
“If they want to pick on a rookie defensive back, I’m all for it,” Muhammad said this week. “Honestly, I want that to happen. That’ll raise my chances to win Defensive Rookie of the Year. I want that to happen.”
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That is an audacious stance from a fourth-round rookie who spent most of his college career at Texas on the outside. But it also captures the unusual reality of Chicago’s Week 1 secondary. The Bears will begin the season without nickel corner Kyler Gordon, who is sidelined on the physically unable to perform list for at least four games, and a murky future beyond that timeline. Coby Bryant, the veteran safety signed in free agency, is on injured reserve after knee surgery. It’s time for the good-old next-man-up mentality.
Texas Longhorns defensive back Malik Muhammad (5) and defensive back Jelani McDonald (4) react after Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) dropped a pass in the second half at Ohio Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025 in Columbus, Ohio.Suddenly, Muhammad is not simply a developmental player who can be eased into the league. He could be one of the most important unknowns in a defense trying to prove it can withstand major turnover.
Muhammad spent much of the second half of training camp working with the first-team defense in the slot. The Bears have options, including veteran Cam Lewis, who is listed as the starting nickelback on the unofficial depth chart. But Lewis also spent the latter part of camp at safety after Bryant’s injury, and Xavier Woods — the likely starter beside first-round pick Dillon Thieneman — was limited Thursday with a groin injury.
That makes Muhammad’s readiness more than a nice preseason development. Chicago may need it immediately. The rookie has made clear he does not see playing inside as an excuse. He sees it as an opportunity.
“With the coaches being able to put their trust in me and to throw me out there with the ones with me being a rookie, that boosts my confidence too,” Muhammad said. “At the end of the day it’s football, but with me learning a new position and catching on so fast, I will say my confidence has risen.”
That confidence will get a real test in Charlotte.
Aug 15, 2026; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (9) looks on from the sidelines during the first half against the Buffalo Bills at New Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn ImagesThe Panthers are not the same rebuilding team the Bears overwhelmed in 2024. Carolina won the NFC South last season, reached the playoffs and pushed the Rams in a close wild-card loss. Bryce Young has developed into a more composed quarterback, and Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen called him a “vastly improved player” this week.
Young also understands the elementary math of an NFL game plan. Teams do not voluntarily challenge Jaylon Johnson if they can avoid it. The Bears’ Pro Bowl-caliber outside corner can take away a top receiver, which means offenses will test the other matchups. If Muhammad sees extended snaps at nickel, the Panthers could try to isolate him with quick option routes, slot fades, motions and layered concepts designed to force a rookie to make fast coverage and communication decisions.
Muhammad is inviting that challenge. The Bears drafted him because they believed his traits could travel from outside corner to the slot. Allen saw a smart, instinctive defender with speed and coverage ability on Muhammad’s Texas tape. The staff then put that evaluation to the test during camp.
“Anytime you get a rookie in here, you really want to throw a lot at them and see what they can handle,” Allen said. “And he’s been able to handle a pretty good amount.”
That does not mean the Bears should expect a flawless debut. The jump from preseason football to a regular-season road opener is steep, especially in the slot. Nickel corners must fit the run, cover shifty receivers in space, communicate with safeties and linebackers, and process motion before the snap without the luxury of a long runway.
But Chicago does not need Muhammad to be Gordon in Week 1. That would be unfair. The Bears need him to play fast, tackle reliably, communicate clearly and avoid the kind of assignment errors that hand opponents explosive plays.
His mentality suggests he understands the assignment.
Jan 1, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; New Orleans Saints head coach Dennis Allen on the sidelines during the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY SportsMuhammad is not talking about surviving Sunday. He is talking about turning targets into opportunities. That attitude matters for a defense that has spent much of the summer absorbing bad news. Gordon’s uncertain recovery has deprived Chicago of one of its most versatile defenders. Bryant’s knee injury forced the team to remake the safety plan. Woods’ groin issue is now another variable days before kickoff.
The Bears still have experience in Johnson, Lewis and Woods if he is healthy. They have a high-upside first-round safety in Thieneman. They also have Allen, a veteran coordinator who has repeatedly emphasized that young defenders should trust the defense’s rules and simply play football.
Now Muhammad may have the chance to do exactly that.
Sunday will not decide whether he becomes a long-term answer at nickel. But it could reveal how quickly the Bears can trust him with meaningful snaps. And if Bryce Young decides the rookie is the matchup to attack, Muhammad has already delivered his response.
Bring it on.
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