Bears Rookie Update: Gervon Dexter and Zacch Pickens Strive to Improve as Regular Season Approaches
Gervon Dexter was a prominent figure in the first quarter of the Bears' 24-17 preseason loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium.
In a crucial third-and-long play, the Bears' second-round pick showcased his potential by pushing the interior line and getting a good look at backup quarterback Gardner Minshew. Although Dexter missed the sack by overrunning Minshew, his pressure forced Minshew to make a short pass and bring out the punt team.
"It was an experience I needed," Dexter reflected after the game. "I'll be more careful with my angles and make sure to get my pads down to finish the play."
After a lackluster preseason opener against the Tennessee Titans, Dexter worked on his get-off and pad level. He displayed improvements against the Colts but knows he still has a lot to do before the regular season.
"I'm really excited," Dexter said. "I'm progressing week by week. Repetition and fixing my mistakes are making me better."
Zacch Pickens, another rookie defensive tackle, has also made strides in the preseason. He focused on improving his run defense after the Titans game and was pleased with his performance against the Colts.
"I'm feeling more comfortable now," Pickens said. "The game is slowing down for me, and I'm just trying to elevate my game daily."
Pickens' mentorship by veteran Andrew Billings has helped him learn the nose guard position more quickly. His close relationship with Dexter, whom he calls his "twin," is also boosting their development.
Roschon Johnson, the fourth-round pick running back, had seven carries for 32 yards in the loss against the Colts. He played a vital role in the 92-yard touchdown drive led by undrafted rookie quarterback Tyson Bagent in the second quarter.
Tyrique Stevenson, a rookie cornerback, is also gaining valuable experience. He gave up a 30-yard completion in his first snap against the Titans but responded well overall. He received a talking-to from Coach Eberflus after an unnecessary roughness penalty against the Colts. Later, Stevenson missed an interception opportunity that ended in a Colts touchdown.
Terell Smith, another rookie cornerback, played 13 snaps in the loss after returning from injury last week. Noah Sewell, a rookie linebacker, played 49% of the snaps but missed two tackles.
Travis Bell, a seventh-round pick defensive tackle, played 54% of the snaps and had two tackles. Kendall Williamson, a safety, led all Bears defenders with 39 snaps and had four tackles.
Tyson Bagent, the undrafted rookie quarterback, made a case for the backup role with a strong performance, going 9-for-10 for 76 yards.
Overall, the Bears' rookies continue to progress and learn from their experiences, eager to make an impact in the upcoming regular season.
| POLL | ||
22 AOUT | 44 ANSWERS Bears Rookie Update: Gervon Dexter and Zacch Pickens Strive to Improve as Regular Season Approaches How would you rate the Bears pre-season rookie performance so far? | ||
| Yes | 30 | 68.2 % |
| No | 14 | 31.8 % |
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