Overview
- Thieneman moved into the top safety role after Coby Bryant suffered an injury that will keep Bryant out for the regular season and has started every game since then.
- He has led the Bears in tackles in each of the first three games, totaling 23 tackles and three pass defenses through three outings.
- On Monday night he helped stop Saquon Barkley twice near the goal line and then intercepted Andy Dalton on third-and-goal in the end zone for his first NFL pick.
- Bears coaches and GM Ryan Poles point to Thieneman’s 4.35-second 40-yard dash, college production and play speed as reasons they expected him to close on the ball and make plays.
- Other rookies have also contributed early, and Thieneman’s fast start could push the Bears to rely more on this young core as they reshape a safety room that lost veterans in the offseason.