Bears starter makes honest Darnell Wright admission amid training camp

Darnell Wright and the Chicago Bears are busy preparing for the upcoming season. They are fine tuning details with the start of the 2026 regular season inching closer. The offensive tackle has also been receiving a lot of praise for his performance at training camp.

Wright entered the NFL as the 10th overall pick in 2023. The Bears selected him to address their need at the position and add a young OT who they can rely on for years to come. He has repaid the franchise’s trust, playing and starting 49 regular-season games and participating in at least 95% of snaps each year.

Chicago rewarded the 25-year-old with a four-year, $116 million contract extension on Aug. 4. His deal includes $93 million guaranteed, which is the most for an offensive lineman in league history.

Chicago Bears offensive tackle Darnell Wright (58) during the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field.

Darnell Wright receives huge praise from veteran teammate

Montez Sweat has seen firsthand how Wright has continued to develop his game. The one-time Pro Bowl offensive lineman discussed how Wright continues to further improve his skill set, along with an honest admission.

“The strides that Darnell has made, his technique, work ethic, just the way he goes around the building is tremendous from when I got here to where he’s at now,” Sweat said. “I don’t think I’ve beaten him in a 1-on-1 rep yet, honestly. It started off with me making him better, now it’s the other way around. He’s making me better.”

Montez Sweat says he hasn’t beaten Darnell Wright in a 1-on-1 rep so far this training camp and is impressed with his growth:

“The strides that Darnell has made — his technique, work ethic, just the way he goes around the building — is tremendous from when I got here to where… pic.twitter.com/l51bigEO5k

— Bearsszn (@bearszn) August 18, 2026

Sweat is a one-time Pro Bowler who was drafted at No. 16 in 2019. He joined Chicago in 2023 and has been a key piece of the defensive line.

Wright, Sweat and the Bears will play their second preseason game on Saturday against the Cincinnati Bengals. However, they will likely not play a lot of snaps, giving the backups and rookies to take center stage. That will chance once the regular season begins as they will play key roles on both ends of the field. Many expect a lot from them, especially Wright, as he looks to justify his lucrative extension.