Chicago's secondary is in disarray with Jaylon Johnson out and Kyler Gordon sidelined, forcing Tyrique Stevenson into a major role. He’s become the biggest QB target, yielding a 158.3 passer rating when targeted, with seven receptions on eight looks for 124 yards and a TD. The Bears’ defense, under new coordinators Dennis Allen and Al Harris, has struggled early, forcing Stevenson to anchor a vulnerable unit as injuries mount.

Kansas City rests a handful of veterans in Week 3 preseason against Chicago, with several depth pieces not slated to play. Chiefs inactive list includes Nazeeh Johnson, Jake Briningstool, Jack Cochrane, Omarr Norman-Lott, Ethan Driskell, plus Jaylen Royals and Mike Edwards. Chicago mirrors that approach, keeping Deion Hankins, Jaylon Johnson, Terell Smith, Shaun Wade, Kyler Gordon, Austin Booker and Dominique Robinson sidelined. Inactives emphasize rest and evaluation over injury, and rosters must disclose who sits about 90 minutes before kickoff. Fantasy takeaway: this is the weekend to watch untested backups seize reps and potentially carve roles behind the top units.

Expect Briningstool and Cochrane to get looks that could foreshadow later usage, while Norman-Lott and Driskell bubble up opportunities on the Chiefs’ interior line and depth chart. For Chicago, the absence of the starting DBs sharpens the spotlight on reserve corners and versatile linemen, which can tilt snap shares for those chasing late-round DFS angles. In other words, Week 3 becomes a stage for rookies and depth players to prove themselves and potentially alter late-season fantasy plans.

Overall, the matchup serves as a practical lab for evaluating depth and future rotation shifts, with inactives signaling thoughtful rest rather than injury. Both franchises leverage the game to test cohesion and identify hidden value among backups, a reminder that preseason results often illuminate future fantasy opportunities more than box-score highlights.

Terrell Smith left the Bears’ preseason tilt with Buffalo late in the first half, carted off with a knee injury and ruled out for the game. Chicago later confirmed the setback, a development that tightens the team’s cornerback depth as camp carries on. The moment also casts a clearer light on the Bears’ defensive back rotation and which reserves could earn elevated reps early in the season.

Smith is a 2023 fifth-rounder headed into his third season in Chicago. His absence in August creates opportunities for the Bears’ depth charts to be tested, with fantasy managers watching how coaches deploy backups at corner. Buffalo, meanwhile, saw Mike White under center in this tune-up, a reminder of the Bills’ QB depth behind Josh Allen and how preseason reps might influence fantasy and betting angles as August winds down.

Austin Booker’s knee injury in Sunday night’s Bears-Bills game compounds Chicago’s growing list of health concerns as teams trim rosters. Booker had emerged as a preseason standout, collecting a sack, a QB hit and two tackles against Buffalo after a three-sack opener versus Miami. His exit leaves Chicago shorthanded at edge and could shuffle the Bears’ rotation as they evaluate depth in the trenches ahead of Week 1 preparations.

With Booker sidelined and Terell Smith carted off with a non-contact injury, plus Deion Hankins and Dominique Robinson leaving the field, Chicago’s defensive roster faces immediate stress. Fantasy managers should monitor snap shares in Chicago’s front seven and secondary, as backups may absorb more reps in coming preseason tuneups, potentially lifting the value of a few depth pieces if injuries linger or shift roles.