The Good, The Bad, and The “It’s Only Preseason” from Bears-Dolphins

Bears vs. Dolphins: Preseason Opener Takeaways

The Bears opened their preseason against the Dolphins, and while it ended in a 24-24 tie, there was still plenty to take away from the game. Preseason is about evaluation, experimentation, and laying the groundwork for the regular season — and this game checked all those boxes.

No Caleb Williams — and the Waiting Game

I’ll admit it — not seeing Caleb Williams on the field was a bit of a letdown. I understand keeping your starting quarterback healthy is a top priority, but I’m curious how much we’ll actually see him this preseason. Snaps in August can help build rhythm heading into Week 1, and I wonder if a light preseason workload could impact his start to the year.

Kyle Monangai Could Be a Key Piece

One bright spot was rookie running back Kyle Monangai. He showed flashes that he could contribute not just in the backfield but also on special teams. In a crowded RB room, that versatility might be his ticket to a significant role this season. As of right now it looks like he is listed third on the Bears roster behind Swift and Johnson, but Johnson's role is more short down and more of the power running back so this could mean Monangai would be the replacement to Swift.

Expedited Replay Review: Faster, But Will It Matter?

The NFL’s new expedited replay review was put to the test, and I have to admit, it was interesting to see it in action. It definitely speeds things up, but I’m curious how it will hold up in key regular-season moments when every second — and every call — matters.

Tyson Bagent’s Up-and-Down Night

Backup quarterback Tyson Bagent had some highs and lows. I would have liked to see him test the deep ball more on a couple of plays. At times, it felt like he didn’t fully trust either his arm or his receivers downfield.

Searching for CB2

Finding the cornerback to line up opposite Jaylon Johnson seems to be trickier than expected. Right now, it still looks like Tyrique Stevenson holds that spot, but I wouldn’t be surprised if this changes as the preseason progresses.

Austin Booker’s Big Step

Austin Booker looks like a different player from last year. His biggest knock as a rookie was that he might have left college a year too soon, but on Saturday, he was stronger, faster, and involved in a lot of plays. If this keeps up, we’ll see him in the rotation a lot more in 2025.

Cairo Santos Brings the Leg

Cairo Santos drilled a 57-yard field goal, and what stood out most wasn’t just the distance — it was the trajectory. Last year, his deeper kicks often had a lower launch angle, which led to some being blocked. This kick had a much higher arc, which is a good sign heading into the season.

Run Defense Concerns

Even with it being preseason, the Bears’ defensive line run defense raised an eyebrow. Not many starters played, but we saw this same issue last year when injuries hit — especially when Andrew Billings was out. Stopping the run up the middle needs to be a priority.

Ian Wheeler’s Comeback Effort

Ian Wheeler looked strong in his first game action since tearing his ACL last preseason. Unfortunately for him, the RB room is deep, and there’s a chance he finds himself in a different uniform before the year’s over.

Fourth-Down Aggression

Preseason is the time to test limits, and the Bears showed a bit of aggression on fourth down. I wonder if Ben Johnson plans to carry that mindset into the regular season.

Final Thoughts

Overall, it was a solid first preseason showing. The tie wasn’t the most satisfying way to end it, but there were enough positives — and enough questions — to keep Bears fans engaged as we head into the next matchup.