As the Bears evaluate their roster and make a to-do list for the upcoming offseason, cornerback Tyrique Stevenson presents a concern.
Once thought to be a pillar of the Bears’ future in the secondary as a 2023 second-round pick, Stevenson has struggled to play consistently this season, was at the center of the season-wrecking Hail Mary against the Commanders and in the past week got fined nearly $20,000 for tripping Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams and gave up a touchdown pass in the Bears’ 38-13 loss to the 49ers.
In the fourth quarter of their loss to the Lions, Williams got an unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty for throwing the ball at Stevenson’s face. But Williams wasn’t fined. When the league reviewed the play, it ruled that Stevenson, who wasn’t in the game at the time, deliberately tripped Williams after he’d gone out of bounds. Stevenson then smiled and said something to Williams, who hit him in the face with the ball.
The NFL fined Stevenson $19,697 for unsportsmanlike conduct. He has the option to appeal.
On the opening drive Sunday against the 49ers, Stevenson bit on quarterback Brock Purdy’s play action and was not able to catch up to wide receiver Jauan Jennings as he ran free for the end zone and caught a seven-yard touchdown pass.
Stevenson played just 48% of the defensive snaps against the 49ers, continuing a trend as the Bears have given Terell Smith more of an opportunity. Smith played 54% of the snaps Sunday.
Stevenson won NFC Defensive Player of the Week in Week 1 with a pick-six to help beat the Titans and played most or all of the defensive snaps until the Commanders game in Week 7. He has not played more than 60% of the snaps in any of the last five games.
Opposing quarterbacks have had a 97.7 passer rating when throwing at Stevenson this season, according to Pro Football Reference, which is the worst among any of the Bears’ regular cornerbacks.