KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Nahshon Wright has been one of the most impressive players during training camp, and just at the right time — the Bears have been looking for someone to push cornerback Tyrique Stevenson opposite two-time Pro Bowl player Jaylon Johnson, provided he’s healthy.
Wright’s final push for the starting job didn’t go well Friday night.
The first ball that Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw resulted in a Bears calamity. His pass to Rashee Rice along the left sideline was ruled incomplete under tight coverage — but Wright was flagged for pass interference. Along the way, he grabbed Rice’s facemask — and was whistled for both penalties. The 14-yard pass interference penalty, coupled with a 15-yard personal foul, gave the Chiefs a 29-yard gain. Seven plays later, the Chiefs punched in a two-yard touchdown.
The second possession went worse for Wright. Mahomes launched a 58-yard pass down the left sideline to Tyquan Thornton, who simply sprinted past Wright and was wide open. The Chiefs ended that drive with a field goal.
His first quarter kept going downhill. With less than a minute to play in the frame, he was flagged for an illegal hands to the face penalty, tacking on another five yards to Patrick Mahomes’ 18-yard scramble. The Chiefs scored a touchdown two plays later.
Wright’s stellar play in practice hasn’t translated to preseason games — entering Friday, he’d allowed a 116.7 passer rating when he was targeted this preseason. That ranked 158th out of 180 cornerbacks, per Pro Football Focus.
Stevenson was in coverage when Mahomes threw a four-yard jump ball touchdown to Rice on the first play of the second quarter. He ranked 135th in passer rating allowed before Friday.
Attendance report
For the third-straight week, the Bears played without their two oldest — and, perhaps, most respected — players. Guard Joe Thuney, who won two Super Bowls with the Chiefs, and defensive tackle Grady Jarrett both sat out despite being healthy.
Linebacker Tremaine Edmunds and cornerbacks Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon were the other starters who did not play. Johnson is recovering from a leg injury, while Gordon practiced for the first time Wednesday since hurting his hamstring. Edmunds left practice early Wednesday with an undisclosed injury but warmed up and was in full uniform Friday.
Rookie Luke Newman, who has impressed the Bears in camp, started in place of Thuney for the second consecutive game. Chris Williams started at nose tackle for Jarrett and rookie Ruben Hyppolite II played linebacker in place of Edmunds.
Notes
• As expected, Braxton Jones started at left tackle and played the first half with the Bears’ starters. Jones is the favorite to win the starting job after a disappointing training camp by the veteran himself — who was recovering from a broken ankle — as well as second-round pick Ozzy Trapilo. Theo Benedet, who was undrafted out of Canada a year ago, has been left tackle behind Jones for two weeks.
• D’Andre Swift drew oohs from the crowd when he hurdled cornerback Trent McDuffie on a checkdown pass in the first quarter. He saw his first action of the preseason. Fellow running backs Ian Wheeler, Kyle Monangai, Roschon Johnson and Travis Homer all sat out with injuries. Brittain Brown, whom the Bears signed last week, served as the second-stringer.
• The Bears will begin to cut players soon. NFL teams must trim their roster from 90 to 53 players by 3 p.m. Tuesday. The next day, teams can begin assembling a practice squad roster of 16 players — or 17 if they add an international player.
