Four months ago, Nahshon Wright was a backup.
Last month, he was the best defensive player in the NFC.
The Chicago Bears cornerback on Thursday earned NFC Defensive Player of the Month honors for November after recording three interceptions, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble in five games. He also had 19 tackles and six passes defended in the month.
During last week’s Black Friday win in Philadelphia, Wright flew in from the edge on the Eagles’ famed Tush Push play and ripped the ball out of quarterback Jalen Hurts’ hands. Wright then worked his way to the bottom of the pile and recovered the fumble too.
That takeaway proved to be a turning point in the 24-15 Bears victory. The Eagles had driven into the red zone with an opportunity to take the lead late in the third quarter. Instead, Wright stole the ball and the Bears offense drove down and scored to extend their lead to eight points.
“(Wright) did his job and then he saw an opportunity to go make a play and he went and did it,” Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen said. “So that was really all him.”
Coming into training camp, Wright was buried way down the depth chart at cornerback. But the Bears have been injury-riddled all season at the position. Terell Smith suffered a season-ending knee injury in the preseason. Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon have missed big chunks of the season because of injuries, and lately Tyrique Stevenson has been out too.
All of those injuries have afforded Wright the opportunity to start 11 of 12 games this season — and he has made the most of his opportunity. He has five interceptions on the season, tied for second in the NFL.
“It means a lot just to be recognized around the league,” Wright said Thursday. “It definitely means a lot coming from the journey I’ve had.”
Wright is the first Bears player to win NFC Defensive Player of the Month since Robert Quinn in November 2021. He’s the first Bear to win any player of the month honor since kicker Cairo Santos was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Month in November 2023.
Rome Odunze still sidelined
The Bears remained without wide receiver Rome Odunze (foot) and Stevenson (hip) during practice Thursday. Linebacker Ruben Hyppolite II (shoulder) and left guard Joe Thuney (rest) also sat out.
Running back Kyle Monangai (ankle), who was listed as “did not participate” in Wednesday’s estimated report, was a limited participant Thursday.
Also limited was linebacker T.J. Edwards (hand/hamstring), who is practicing this week for the first time in a month.
DJ Moore is Bears’ Man of the Year
Wide receiver DJ Moore is the Bears nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. He will be one of 32 nominees for the leaguewide award given out before the Super Bowl. The award recognizes one player from each team who demonstrates a commitment to making a positive impact off the field.
Moore’s nonprofit, the Moore2Life Foundation, empowers inner-city youth through health, wellness, education and recreation to help create long-term socioeconomic change.
“Most of the things we do is with kids, so I just put myself back in their shoes,” the Philadelphia native said Thursday. “No matter the problems they have going on in their life, I just try to go out there and be a big kid, make them smile, laugh. Just give back.”
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/04/chicago-bears-nahshon-wright-player-of-month/
