Bears Open 2026 Season In Carolina As Ben Johnson Looks For Fast Start

CHICAGO — After months of offseason work, roster competition and talk about taking the next step, the Chicago Bears finally get to find out how much of it carries over when the games count.

The Bears open the 2026 regular season at noon Sunday, Sept. 13, against the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte. The game will air on FOX, with streaming available through NFL+ in the Chicago area.

For Coach Ben Johnson, the opener is as much about execution as it is about unveiling whatever new wrinkles the Bears have spent the offseason building.

Johnson said Friday the coaching staff has spent significant time studying how Chicago handled late-half situations last season, with an emphasis on creating scoring opportunities before halftime while limiting immediate responses from opponents.

"We did deep dive in that in the offseason," Johnson said. "Looking forward to hopefully hit the ground running here on Sunday."

Johnson also said he has been encouraged by the way the Bears have practiced entering Week 1.

"I made a comment last year about we're not practicing at a championship level yet, and I'm not saying that this year," Johnson said. "The work that they're putting in throughout the week, it doesn't guarantee you a win on Sunday, but it gives you a darn chance."

That will be tested immediately against Carolina.

Odunze Among Injury Questions

The Bears still have several injury situations to monitor heading into the opener.

Wide receiver Rome Odunze was limited Wednesday and Thursday with a calf injury, while offensive lineman Ozzy Trapilo was limited both days with a knee injury. Defensive back Xavier Woods was limited Thursday because of a groin injury.

Backup quarterback Tyson Bagent did not practice Wednesday or Thursday because of a back injury. Defensive lineman Grady Jarrett and offensive lineman Joe Thuney also sat out Thursday for rest.

Johnson said the plan was to get Odunze onto the field Wednesday and Thursday before reassessing him.

"He's looked good from my perspective, but we also got a long season coming up on us, and we want to do what's right for him for the long term as well," Johnson said.

Carolina linebacker Patrick Jones II has been ruled out after missing practice throughout the week with a back injury. Running back Jonathon Brooks and defensive tackle Bobby Brown III were full participants Friday and were not given game designations.

Johnson Returns To North Carolina

Sunday's opener also comes with a personal connection for Johnson, who grew up in North Carolina.

He said the significance of returning to his home state probably means more to his wife than it does to him as he prepares for the opener, though he did acknowledge growing up as a Panthers fan.

Johnson named Julius Peppers, Jake Delhomme and Muhsin Muhammad among his favorite Carolina players from his younger years.

Still, Johnson said his game-day approach is unlikely to leave much room for nostalgia.

He described Sunday mornings as deliberately quiet, saying he arrives at the stadium early and spends time alone in the head coach's office going through the game plan.

"I just feel a responsibility to those guys, to the coaching staff, and to those players," Johnson said. "I don't want to let them down."

Bears Looking For Growth

Johnson said one of the team's offseason priorities has been improving the coordination among offense, defense and special teams, particularly in situational football.

He also praised the defensive identity taking shape under coordinator Dennis Allen, saying players have embraced an emphasis on playing faster and more physically.

"We take a lot of pride in stopping football in practice, and we believe that that's going to carry over to game day as well," Johnson said.

Johnson also singled out tight end Cole Kmet, of Arlington Heights, as one of the team's stabilizing veteran presences.

"He's Chicago through and through, and he loves this place," Johnson said, calling Kmet "a vital part of our operation" and one of the team's "glue guys."

How To Watch Bears-Panthers

Kickoff is set for noon Sunday, Sept. 13, at Carolina.

The game will air on FOX with Adam Amin on play-by-play, Drew Brees as analyst and Kristina Pink reporting from the sideline.

Radio coverage will air on ESPN Chicago at 1000 AM and 100.3 FM HD2, with Jeff Joniak, Tom Thayer and Jason McKie on the call. Spanish-language coverage will air on Latino Mix 93.5 FM.

FOX 32's Bears pregame show begins at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, while ESPN Chicago's radio pregame show begins at 10 a.m.

Another Season At Soldier Field — For Now

The opener comes as the Bears enter another season with uncertainty surrounding their long-term stadium future.

The Bears will play their first regular-season home game Sept. 20 against Minnesota at Soldier Field, where attending a game remains among the most expensive NFL experiences for fans.

An Action Network analysis published in August estimated that a family of four attending a Bears game could spend about $2,170, second-highest in the NFL. Four tickets alone were estimated at more than $2,000.

RELATED: Bears Tickets Among Most Expensive In NFL As Soldier Field Future Hangs In Balance: Study

Meanwhile, Bears President and CEO Kevin Warren said last month the franchise's "sole focus" is advancing plans for a new stadium and mixed-use development in Hammond, Indiana.

Warren said the organization has been conducting site studies and assembling land needed for the project after the Bears board voted in June to advance the Hammond proposal.

RELATED: Bears' 'Sole Focus' Is Hammond Stadium Project, Kevin Warren Says

For Johnson and the players, though, those larger franchise questions take a back seat Sunday.

Week 1 provides the first real measure of whether the progress Johnson has seen throughout the offseason translates when the Bears finally take the field.