Nahshon Wright’s bid to earn a starting cornerback job has become one of the more intriguing storylines at Halas Hall this summer.
At 6-foot-4 with unusually long arms for a corner, Wright has always had the measurables to be an intriguing player, but after bouncing between Dallas and Minnesota over his first four years in the league, he arrived in Chicago with very few expectations.
By the middle of training camp, though, Wright had managed to turn himself into a legitimate contender to take the CB2 role from last year’s starter, Tyrique Stevenson. That may have changed in the Bears’ preseason finale against the Kansas City Chiefs, though.
On the very first pass of the game, Wright was flagged for both pass interference and a face mask penalty while trying to defend wideout Rashee Rice, gifting Kansas City 29 yards in penalties while setting up an opening-drive touchdown. Things didn’t get much better on the next series, when Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes dropped a 58-yard strike bomb the left sideline to Tyquan Thornton, who beat Wright badly in coverage.
Later in the first quarter, Wright committed yet another costly mistake, drawing an illegal hands-to-the-face penalty.
Wright’s Career Has Been Unremarkable Thus Far
GettyDid CB Nahshon Wright of the Chicago Bears play himself out of being a starter vs. the Chiefs?
A third-round pick by the Cowboys in 2021, Wright saw limited action in their defense across three seasons, instead carving out his niche on kick coverage units. He appeared in 33 games with three starts, finishing with one interception and five pass breakups. In 2024, he spent time with the Vikings before hitting free agency again.
When Wright landed in Chicago, injuries to Johnson and Gordon led defensive coordinator Dennis Allen to give Wright first-team reps, and he ran with the opportunity.
He played relatively well in Chicago’s first two preseason games, but his struggles against Kansas City were glaring. Were they insurmountable?
Did Nahshon Wright Lose Starting CB Job After Shaky Performance vs. Chiefs?
For a player trying to close the gap on Stevenson in the CB2 competition, Wright’s outing against the Chiefs came at the worst possible time. Coaches grade every rep during the preseason, and penalties—especially avoidable ones like grabbing at the top of a route—can carry significant weight in those evaluations.
The long completion to Thornton once again raised the biggest question around Wright: Can he hold up against speed when isolated on the outside in man coverage?
“Granted, Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon were both out for the game, but seeing Tyrique Stevenson and Nahshon Wright – two players competing for a starting cornerback spot – both get burnt in coverage was worrisome,” Windy City Gridiron’s Jacob Infante wrote on August 22.
That doesn’t mean his August surge is erased. Wright’s length, experience and special-teams value give him a strong case to make the roster. But with Terell Smith going down for the year, the Bears’ depth at corner is thinning.
Ultimately, Wright’s preseason finale may be remembered as a reality check. He’s shown he belongs in the conversation after weeks of strong practice work, but one bad night under the lights reminded everyone how thin the line between starters and backups is.
If he can clean up the penalties and prove he can handle vertical routes, his 2025 reemergence could still carry into September.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Bears DB’s Rough Night vs. Chiefs Could Cost Him a Starting Job appeared first on Heavy Sports.