Ben Johnson singles out one DE after win against Browns

Saturday’s preseason game against the Cleveland Browns allowed Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson and his staff to experiment with different combinations. They gave multiple players, including rookies and backups, some playing time to apply what they trained for in actual games. One of them was defensive end Jamree Kromah.

The 26-year-old signed with the Bears after he went undrafted in the 2024 NFL Draft. The Bears kept him off the active roster but retained him with the practice squad. Kromah then joined the New England Patriots but they released him after just one month. He signed with Chicago as a reserve in January.

Kromah recorded six combined tackles, including five solo efforts in the 34-10 win. He also registered two sacks, leaving a strong impression on Johnson and his staff.

Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson speaks during Minicamp at Halas Hall.

Ben Johnson speaks highly on Bears DE Jamree Kromah

Kromah received praise from his head coach for his strong performance versus Cleveland. Johnson highlighted the development he has shown and how he applied his learnings from training camp to a preseason game.

“You see it in the springtime, the new techniques we’re coaching with and he’s flashing, but you wonder if this is when he turns it on,” Johnson sad. “In a game like this, you see the get-off, the relentlessness, and you feel his presence every snap. The D-linemen were hooting and hollering for him because they see him making plays. He’s such a hard worker who’s been in the program for a minute, so seeing him have success on the field is huge.”

Ben Johnson on Jamree Kromah’s Performance following Today’s Preseason Game:

“You see it in the springtime, the new techniques we’re coaching with and he’s flashing, but you wonder if this is when he turns it on. In a game like this, you see the get-off, the relentlessness, and… pic.twitter.com/qy3S2Wt6rq

— BearsMuse (@ChiBearsMuse) August 15, 2026

During his postgame availability, Kromah emphasized that he feels stronger than ever despite losing weight. He put a lot of work into practices, and his dedication is paying off.

Chicago has two more preseason games left. If Kromah builds on his strong game on Saturday, he will leave Johnson and the coaches with a tough decision to make about his future.