The Chicago Bears and Cleveland Browns took two different approaches to this game. The Bears sat many of their starters, including quarterback Caleb Williams, while the Browns trotted out most of their ones to start the game and played QB Deshaun Watson the entire first half.
The Bears’ first-string offense did get in some work, though, as head coach Ben Johnson said they got in a “phenomenal throwing session” and ran over 60 plays. He added he’s not sure if they’ll play the starters in the next preseason
game, and that he’s “happy with what the offense looks like right now.”
But back to yesterday’s game.
The Bears put up 34 unanswered points after falling behind 10-0, and they coasted to a 34-10 win. Ben Johnson’s Bears have yet to lose a preseason game.
Chicago had more total yards (430 to 314) and more first downs (22 to 13), but the Browns had the time-of-possession edge (34:03 to 25:57).
The Browns also had more penalties, with 5 for 42 yards to just 2 for 10 for the Bears, something Johnson discussed in his opening remarks at his postgame presser.
“Proud of our guys and how they played,” he said. “We talked about being disciplined in all three phases, and we really saw it today. I think two penalties on the day from all three phases. We haven’t had a practice yet where we’ve had that few fouls. So that was really encouraging to see.”
Before we get into some more numbers, here are all the Bears who did not play against the Browns.
And here is how the Bears started the day on both sides of the ball.
Here are the Bears’ playing time breakdowns and a few individual stats.
Offense
With so many players participating for the Bears in the preseason, I’ll split the snap count lists into two for both the offense and the defense. Also, keep in mind that special teams snaps in these preseason games often indicate the reserve players coaches have in mind for the third phase, either on the 53-man roster or for the practice squad.
- Tyson Bagent got the start and was 13 of 22 (59.1%), for 169 passing yards, with 1 touchdown, 1 interception, and a 79.5 passer rating.
- Kaden Davis led the Bears in receiving with 4 receptions for 88 yards.
- Roschon Johnson led the Bears in rushing with 8 attempts for 34 yards. He added a 3-yard catch.
- QB3 Case Keenum came in and went 9 of 10 for 151 yards, with 2 TDs and a perfect 158.3 passer rating.
- Running back Salvon Ahmed had 72 yards from scrimmage, including a 49-yard touchdown off a screen from Keenum.
- Be sure you take a moment to appreciate the blocking on that play above.
- Wideout Maurice Alexander had 3 grabs for 42 yards and a TD.
- Running back Brittain Brown rushed 5 times for 8 yards and had 2 receptions for 12 yards and a TD.
- UDFA running back Coleman Bennett had 4 runs for 19 yards and a TD.
- Qadry Ismail (1 catch, 8 yards), who is listed as a WR above, is actually a tight end, so did you notice the starting lineup the Bears opened up with was 14 personnel (1 RB/4 tight ends)?
Defense
Defensive end Jamree Kromah, who spent part of 2024 and all of 2o25 on the Bears practice squad, had a huge day with 6 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery.
Head coach Ben Johnson said that Kromah had a nice springtime taking to the coaching and new techniques, and was flashing then, but wondered, “Is this the time he’s going to turn it on? And you don’t know.”
“And then you go into a game like this, and you see the get off, you see the relentlessness,” Johnson said about Kromah. “I mean, you could feel his presence every single snap, and I’m standing close to the d-lineman, and they’re just hooting and hollering and cheering for him because they’re as excited as he is cuz they’re seeing him going out there making plays and making an impact like that. He’s such a hard worker. I know he’s been in the program now for a minute, and to see him have some success on the field like that, that was huge.”
“One thing I did for sure was I changed my body, changed my nutrition, because I was much heavier last year,” Kromah said via chicagobears.com. “So I wanted to make some changes by losing weight. I lost over 20 pounds, but got stronger and then put more lean mass on. So this is the best I have felt … I had to look at the man in the mirror and be true to myself, and come up with a real plan.”
- Linebacker Ruben Hyppolite II, who left the game with a shoulder injury, led the Bears with 7 tackles, while adding a TFL and a pass defended.
- Defensive tackle Neville Gallimore had 3 tackles and 2 TFLs.
- Defensive lineman James Lynch got reps at both end and tackle, and while he had a sack negated by a penalty, he had 2 tackles, a QB hit, and a PD.
- Rookie corner Malik Muhammad II got the start at nickel and had 5 tackles.
- Cornerback Beanie Bishop Jr. had 2 interceptions, 3 PD, and 2 tackles.
- Defensive end Jeremiah Martin had 2 tackles, a TFL, and a sack on a nice zone blitz where the Bears sent two defensive backs off either side while dropping both defensive tackles into coverage,
Special Teams
*The above image has players who only played in the third phase.
- Cairo Santos was 2 for 3 on field goals with a long of 51, and was 4 for 4 on extra points.
- Tory Taylor had 4 punts and a 47.0 average (32.3 net), with 1 punt inside the twenty.
- Receiver Kaden Davis had a 23-yard punt return.
- Corner Dontae Manning had 3 special teams tackles.
- Wideout Jahdae Walker and tight end Hayden Large each had 2 special teams tackles.
To check out the full Bears vs. Browns box score, ESPN has an easy-to-navigate site.
All statistics, snap counts, and accompanying pictures are taken directly from the NFL’s Game Statistics and Information System.
