The Chicago Bears are preparing for their second game of the 2026 preseason and the second NFL contest of rookie first-round draft pick Dillon Thieneman’s career.
Thieneman started the Bears’ win over the Cleveland Browns in Preseason Week 1.
He acclimated himself quite well, showing that the changing personnel around him has not hindered his development to this point. Next, he will face a far more potent offense against the Cincinnati Bengals in a joint practice and a preseason contest.
Dillon Thieneman’s Bears Debut Bodes Well for Face-Off With Bengals
Bears’ Dillon Thieneman Gets Honest After Preseason Debut
Thieneman, the 25th overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft, spoke candidly after the Bears’ 34-10 victory over the Browns.
“It was incredible. I loved being out there. It’s kind of everything you’ve been working towards up until this point, going through this whole year. Right when the season ends, going through training, prep, all that stuff. So, to be out there was awesome,” Thieneman told Clocker Sports after the game before reviewing his performance.
Thieneman was credited with one total tackle, but he flashed in other ways.
“I would say it was pretty good,” Thieneman told Clocker Sports. “Not a lot of opportunities there. But definitely areas I can still improve, even in limited plays that I got. So smaller stuff, footwork stuff, make sure my eyes are in the right spot.”
Getting the victory made it even better, even one that will not count toward the standings on a team with much grander aspirations.
Thieneman told Clocker Sports that “it was awesome.”
“Like Coach [Ben Johnson] was saying, it doesn’t matter, but it matters,” the former Oregon Ducks (and Purdue Boilermakers) safety told Clocker Sports. “So, just to get a W, I think we could just keep building off it, keep moving forward.”
Dillon Thieneman Praises Beanie Bishop
Thieneman also spoke highly about the Bears’ newcomers in the secondary, including former Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Beanie Bishop.
He logged 2 interceptions against the Browns.
“We’ve had a lot of new guys to the team, and to the secondary, especially with some of the other guys going down. But just to see Beanie go out there and perform like it’s exactly what we’re being coached to and being told to do. So, he was a great player out there.”
Thieneman figures to get tested more against a high-powered passing attack of the Bengals, led by quarterback Joe Burrow and wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.
Leave a Reply