Dennis Allen expresses confidence in Bears defensive line ahead of season opener

Chicago defensive coordinator Dennis Allen stated he remains confident in the defensive line roster heading into the September 13 season opener against the Carolina Panthers. The unit enters the season following the trade of Gervon Dexter to the Atlanta Falcons shortly before the finalization of the 53-man roster. While Dexter provided significant sack totals for the team in 2024 and 2025, coaching staff members are evaluating potential replacements such as Kentavius Street and Dayo Odeyingbo. The team also added Jordan van den Berg, a sixth-round selection in the 2026 NFL Draft, to the group during the offseason. Allen described the defensive line as a deep position group, though he acknowledged that the team could pursue additional personnel via trades or free agency if performance struggles occur early in the schedule.

• 4:45 PMYahoo Sports — Dennis Allen sounds off on confidence in Bears' defensive line