Only One Bears Rookie May Start Opening Day And It's Not Mitch

The Chicago Bears 2017 draft class came away with five players. Smart money says that on a team that just finished 3-13 at least one of them would work their way into the starting lineup. Would it be Mitch Trubisky, their prized #2 overall pick? At this point no. Or what about hulking tight end Adam Shaheen? Nope, not even him. As it turns out the name that is being fast-tracked towards a starting job at this point of the preseason is none other that safety Eddie Jackson. This has to come as a bit of a shock. For starters Jackson is a fourth round pick. Generally players selected higher get onto the field faster than mid and later rounders. Then there's the fact he's the only defensive player taken by the Bears this year. He's also the fourth safety they added dating back to last year. It started with Deon Bush and DeAndre Houston-Carson, followed by veteran Quintin Demps. Last but not least? Jackson came in still rehabbing from a broken leg he suffered halfway through 2016 at Alabama. By all rights he should've been considered the least likely to crack the starting lineup first. Yet everything points to that being the case.

Safety Eddie Jackson keeps endearing himself to Bears coaches

Mark Potash of the Chicago Sun-Times and others noticed the change following the first preseason game. It was there that Jackson performed well, making a number of impressive plays on defense as well as a 16-yard punt return. Apparently it went over well with the coaches, who elevated him to practicing with the first team defense.

"It seems like only a matter of time before Bears rookie Eddie Jackson supplants incumbent starter Adrian Amos at safety, especially after the fourth-round pick from Alabama took first-team reps with veteran Quintin Demps in a light practice in shorts Saturday. Jackson still has a lot to prove in the preseason to win the job, but he’s trending toward the starter’s role. Coach John Fox avoided addressing Jackson’s play at safety directly when asked about Jackson — often an indication that something’s up. Fox disdains addressing depth-chart movement or anything that might fuel speculation."

Let the process play out

Nick Saban himself said that Jackson was one of his favorite safeties he ever coaches. A number of experts have said that he would've been a top 50 player in the draft had he not suffered his leg injury. If true then the Bears got a potential stud for their back end at a discount price. That is good drafting 101. Of course there is plenty of proving left to do. People love to say one preseason game proves nothing. That's fine. Nonetheless things are starting to become clear. Jackson, of all people, may be the first and only rookie to start opening day. That's quite an accomplishment if it comes to pass.