​Bears DE Austin Booker Prepared to Seize Year 3 Opportunity

Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears' offense were driving down the field in the team's final two-minute drill at the end of Thursday's fully padded training camp practice. The first-team offense created four straight plays of positive gains. 

The defense needed a stop. Austin Booker provided one. 

The Bears' defensive end split a double team block from tight end Colston Loveland and wide receiver Kalif Raymond and made a tackle in the backfield on running back D'Andre Swift. 

“Obviously getting a sack’s great, but getting a TFL is even better," Booker said. "You have to work even harder for it. Just getting off and being aggressive at the point of the contact, that’s been a big emphasis this year."

Chicago's first-team offense ended up recovering from Booker's negative play by finishing the drive with a touchdown, but his run stop is the type of plays that the Bear' defense needs from the third-year player, especially from a defensive line that struggled to stop the run and rush the quarterback for a majority of last season. 

Despite the unit's struggles in 2025, the Bears didn't add any new edge rushers this offseason. That means defensive coordinator Dennis Allen will have to rely on his current group.

“I’m blessed for the opportunity for sure," Booker said. "But my mentality is the same as every year. I’m going to get better and I’m going to do my part as best as I can.”

During the Bears' first fully padded practice on Monday, Booker showed off his pass-rushing moves during one-on-one drills. He beat left tackle Braxton Jones with a strong long-arm, knocking the veteran off balance. In two winning reps against Kiran Amegadjie, Booker displayed his bend around the edge and then a quick move to beat the offensive tackle inside.                                            

Coming into this training camp, Booker told reporters on Thursday that he put on some muscle mass, weighing 250 plus pounds. The 23-year-old pass rusher placed an emphasis on increasing his lower body strength and get-off in the offseason.

Head coach Ben Johnson said on Thursday that the Bears' defensive ends toggle between a 9 and 6 technique -- alignments for the defensive linemen. Johnson is looking for consistent pad level in these training camp practices

"But he's approached this offseason really well, like what he looks like from a body standpoint," Johnson said. "When you're long-legged like that, it's a little bit lower or harder to get low in your stance, and I think he's really making that a mission of his to be able to do that and be explosive, and so I like where he's at right now, and we'll continue to see how it goes over the next few weeks."

The Bears' ceiling this season hinges on Booker and the rest of the pass rush. While the offense has the firepower to put up points, Chicago won't take that next step as a team without a defense that can can close out games and consistently get off the field. 

"We're blessed to have the offense that we have, and I know the offense feels the same about us," Booker said. "We just got to compliment each other this year. I think we all see that."