This is our morning online newsletter, Bear Necessities – weekly off-season edition. subscribe to get the latest Bears news delivered to your inbox every day.
Bears safety Jaquan Brisker played a key defensive role as a rookie, where he helped bolster the defensive backfield alongside veteran Eddie Jackson.
Brisker moved all over defensively, whether it was in the box, battling slot or blitz receivers. He led the team with 4.0 sacks and had the second most tackles (104). Brisker has been solid against the run and in coverage, though a lot of improvement is needed as a tackler.
NFL.com’s Nick Shook dubbed Brisker the Bears’ unsung hero for the 2022 season, citing his production and potential as part of Chicago’s backend on defense.
I love what the Bears have in their secondary. Brisker and nickelback Kyler Gordon (Gordon was drafted 39th overall and Brisker was drafted 48th, both in the second round) are talented defensemen who have beefed up Chicago’s back end and are ready to play for years to come. Brisker finished with just one interception to Gordon’s three, but anyone who has watched the Bears on a weekly basis is well aware of the safety’s exciting potential. The team site even named him Chicago Rookie of the Year. I agree with that designation and can’t wait to see how it plays out.
Brisker was the perfect complement to Jackson, who was able to return to his natural free safety position and have a Pro Bowl-level season (before suffering a season-ending injury).
There is no question that Brisker was general manager Ryan Poles’ top draft pick. Penn State’s second-rounder has established himself as a physical safety with all the tools to be a defensive cornerstone for years to come.
Revision 2022
-
15 Most Impactful Bears of 2022: Cole Kmet (9), Jack Sanborn (8), Jaquan Brisker (7), Teven Jenkins (6), Ryan Poles (5), Luke Getsy (4), Matt Eberflus (3)
-
Position Reviews 2022: Offensive Line, Inside Defensive Line, Edge Rusher, Linebacker, Cornerback, Safety, Special Teams
-
Bears 2022 Year-End Awards: Choose MVP, Player of the Year, and more
-
7 Bears players who stepped up in 2022
-
Revisiting our bold 2022 season predictions
The story continues
Project coverage
Other titles
The story originally appeared in Bears Wire
