Story by
Chicago Bears Rookie Had NFL Preseason’s Fastest Play but Faces a Major Week 1 Question
- Story by
- Chicago Bears Rookie Had NFL Preseason’s Fastest Play but Faces a Major Week 1 Question
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Zavion Thomas did not merely have a good preseason debut for the Chicago Bears . He put together one of the most explosive plays of the entire NFL preseason.
On Chicago 's first offensive snap against the Tennessee Titans , Thomas sold a quick inside hitch, ran past the cornerback and turned Tyson Bagent 's deep throw into a 97-yard touchdown. The third-round rookie finished the night with five catches for 140 yards, a 39-yard punt return and a 22-yard kick return.
Advertisement
The NFL's preseason recap noted that Thomas reached 21.99 mph on the touchdown, the fastest speed by any ball carrier during the 2026 preseason.
That is the kind of play and the kind of speed that make every coach in the building start imagining possibilities.
But it does not guarantee Thomas a major offensive role when the Bears open the regular season Sept. 13 against the Carolina Panthers . Offensive coordinator Press Taylor made that clear a few days after the preseason finale.
While Taylor praised Thomas' game-breaking ability during his Thursday media availability , he also stressed that a 97-yard score cannot earn a player a weekly role by itself. Thomas still needs to prove he understands the offense, earns the coaches' trust and makes the most of every practice rep.
Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports
That is the central tension surrounding one of Chicago's most intriguing rookies. Thomas has rare raw tools. The Bears selected him with the 89th pick in the third round after he ran a 4.28-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. He started his college career at Mississippi State before transferring to LSU. His first meaningful preseason touch displayed why Chicago was willing to take him higher than much of the pre-draft consensus expected.
Advertisement
He can threaten a defense vertically, create after the catch and has return-game experience. Furthermore, his top speed is not a theoretical trait from a scouting report–it translated immediately when he got a chance to play.
But Thomas also missed more than a week of training camp with a knee injury, forcing him to sit out Chicago's first two preseason games. That absence matters for any rookie, particularly one learning Ben Johnson's layered offense while trying to establish himself in a crowded receiver room.
Taylor acknowledged that Thomas is still catching up after losing that developmental time. The coordinator said the talent had flashed since the rookie first arrived in Chicago, including a big screen touchdown in the spring, and added that the team's daily tracking data routinely shows Thomas clearing 20 mph.
The Bears know what type of athlete they have. The question is how quickly that athlete can become a complete, dependable NFL player. The good news is Thomas doesn't need to become a full-time starter immediately to make an impact.
Jan 10, 2026; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) warms up prior to an NFC Wild Card Round game against the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
Chicago kept only five receivers on its initial 53-man roster: Rome Odunze , Luther Burden , Kalif Raymond , Jahdae Walker and Thomas. Odunze and Burden will command substantial targets from Caleb Williams . Raymond brings veteran reliability and special-teams value. Walker has become a core special-teams player who flashed late last season.
Advertisement
That leaves Thomas competing for limited offensive snaps, but it also gives Johnson an obvious reason to find a package for him, as every single touch is dangerous when the speedster is on the field, whether it's a deep shot, a screen or a jet sweep. Any one of those can change a game when a player is capable of reaching 21.99 mph.
Thomas has also approached his rookie season the right way. Veteran receiver Kalif Raymond has become an important mentor, and Thomas said after the Titans game that the veterans in his position group have made the transition easier.
That mentorship shows up in the daily work. Thomas has followed Raymond in walk-throughs, arrived early, studied late and spent extra time catching passes after practice. Raymond believes that approach will help Thomas' ability show up faster than expected. The Bears should still resist the urge to assume one preseason game makes Thomas an established weapon.
The Titans played mostly backups. Thomas will face faster, more disciplined defenses in the regular season. He also needs to show he can execute the routine details that allow an offensive coordinator to trust him in high-leverage situations: route depth, alignment, blocking assignments, adjustments and ball security.
Advertisement
That is why Taylor's caution is important. Thomas' touchdown against Tennessee showed the ceiling. His role over the next several months will reveal the floor.
For Chicago, the ideal outcome is not asking Thomas to carry a major workload in September. It is using his speed and return ability while he continues to develop behind a talented group of receivers.
If he keeps absorbing the offense and creating the type of explosive plays he delivered in Nashville, the Bears will have a hard time keeping him off the field for long.
Related Headlines
