LAKE FOREST, Ill. — When Chicago Bears rookie minicamp ended, Dashaun Mallory didn’t want to leave the building. He took his time packing up, trying to soak it all in. As a tryout player, it could’ve been the beginning and end of his Bears career.
Then a trainer approached him in the locker room and said, “Mallory, we want to go do your physical.” Once he passed, he had an NFL contract to sign.
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“Ever since then, I’ve been trying to stay focused and make sure they know they made the right decision,” he told The Athletic after practice Tuesday. “Whenever I’m on the field, when my number is out there, what do I have to show for it? I think that’s the mindset I’ve been trying to have when I get called up to do anything.”
An undrafted rookie defensive tackle, Mallory acknowledged he was “pissed off” when he came to Bears rookie minicamp. He wanted to be drafted, or at least signed as an undrafted rookie — not a tryout player, the absolute bottom of the NFL ladder.
Hall of Fame Game: Bears vs. Texans
When: 7 p.m. CT Thursday.
Where:Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, Canton, Ohio.
Where to watch:ABC/ESPN.
But he impressed general manager Ryan Poles and the staff enough to earn a spot and could make his NFL debut on Thursday night in the Hall of Fame Game on ESPN.
Not bad for a Bolingbrook native who grew up a “die-hard” Bears fan.
“Pulling into the facility, when I see the ‘C’ it’s like a dream come true,” he said. “The security person says, ‘Good morning Mr. Mallory’ and I can’t believe they’re actually talking to me. Seeing the ‘C’ on my chest, on the front of the building, I want to pinch myself, but at the same time, I don’t, because I worked so hard to get into this position.”
Blessed for the opportunity. I’m coming home, not taking anything for granted.. but to be on a hometown team.. I’ll do what I must to show the ones younger than me.. it’s possible if you believe. #HomeTownHero👑 https://t.co/U1Gr4AfyVc
— Dashaun mallory (@DashaunMallory) May 22, 2024
Mallory began his college career at Michigan State before transferring to Arizona State for the 2023 season. He had 10 tackles for loss and two sacks for the Sun Devils. He likes the attacking-style defense in Chicago.
“They want the D-line to be the heart of the defense, the heart of the team,” he said. “I know what to do here. I know how to perform. And I know what’s expected playing these positions. If anything, I feel grateful to land in a spot that’s a great fit.”
GO DEEPERBears players grew up watching Devin Hester. Now they get to see him enter Hall of FameThe Bears have their top three interior defensive linemen. Mallory, fellow undrafted rookie Keith Randolph Jr. and vets Micahel Dwumfour and Byron Cowart figure to get some playing time on Thursday night. For Mallory, simply getting on the field would be a big moment.
“I’m just trying to get a job at the end of the day,” he said. “My family, my loved ones, they know how important this is to me. With the game coming up, I truly hope I play. I’ve been trying to study as much as possible.
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“Football is football. I understand the attention is a lot bigger. I understand that the stage is huge. For the first game to be the Hall of Fame Game is crazy. My first somewhat NFL game will be that, it brings a lot of emotion, but it doesn’t change that I’m here to get a job and earn a job.”
Here are 10 other Bears players to watch in the Hall of Fame Game:
DE Austin Booker
The Bears’ fifth-round pick will be one of the higher-profile players on the field. We’ve seen him get some reps with the starters on passing downs since Jacob Martin got hurt. How ready is Booker for NFL competition, albeit backups? “I want to see him hit the quarterback. Period,” defensive coordinator Eric Washington said. “I want to see him use his speed and everything that he’s been working on that’s been poured into him so far, the investment that he’s made, I want to see him put himself in position to hit the quarterback and take the ball away from him.”
.@austinbookerr is going to be a PROBLEM 😤 pic.twitter.com/MqweeXz7gU
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) April 28, 2024
KR/WR Velus Jones Jr.
The new kickoff rule was announced four months ago, but its unveiling will come Thursday night in Canton, with Jones set to return for the Bears. He’s been at his best in the NFL on kickoff returns, and he should benefit from this rule. This will be our first time to see it in live action, where the kickoff team is lined up at the opposing 40-yard line, unable to move until the ball is caught. DeAndre Carter has had a strong start to camp, and he has plenty of return experience, putting some pressure on Jones.
GO DEEPERBears' DJ Moore on his new contract, Caleb Williams and PopeyesCB Reddy Steward
The undrafted rookie out of Troy has gotten first-team reps as the nickel corner in Kyler Gordon’s absence. That’s quite the compliment, and he does have an interception in training camp. Steward had four interceptions last season. There probably isn’t room for another cornerback on the roster, but a strong preseason for Steward could make things interesting — at least giving him a leg up on a practice-squad spot.
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QB Tyson Bagent
Six years ago, Chase Daniel started for the Bears in Canton and played 28 snaps. How much do they need to see from Bagent? As the backup quarterback, it shouldn’t be much, but he can benefit from the reps. He didn’t get many last summer until mid-August, then he played in four games. Rookie starter Caleb Williams, understandably, gets a ton of snaps in practice. Bagent, Brett Rypien and Austin Reed can all use the preseason to make up for that.
.@tysbagent dives in for his first NFL touchdown 🙌
📺: #CHIvsIND on @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/5R324v96Lf
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) August 20, 2023
S Adrian Colbert, Elijah Hicks and Tarvarius Moore
With Jonathan Owens in Paris for the Olympics, and the starters sitting out, these three veteran safeties can use the Hall of Fame Game to vie for the No. 4 safety spot. Colbert has had a couple of picks in camp. Hicks, a 2022 draft pick, knows the defense best. Moore has 61 career games under his belt but hasn’t played since ’22. That’s a roster spot that seems to be up for grabs.
GO DEEPERSteve McMichael's Hall of Fame induction will highlight Bears family loveOL Ja’Tyre Carter, Bill Murray and Theo Benedet
These three, among others, will be competing for final offensive line roster spots, as well as the Bears’ practice squad. Carter has the versatility to play inside and out. Look for him to start at left tackle. Can he play well enough to supplant Larry Borom as the backup left tackle? Murray, who has the best name on the team, got some praise from coach Matt Eberflus on Tuesday. “Bill Murray has had a really good camp so far,” he said. “Just naming one guy, but he has done a really nice job. Done a nice job in pass pro. He’s learning it. He’s got the athletic ability to get it done.” The only rookie up front is Benedet, undrafted out of British Columbia. He’s worked at right guard, and Nate Davis’ availability question marks will highlight that spot. This will be a good test for Benedet and his transition to the NFL from Canada.
(Photo of Velus Jones Jr.: Nick Cammett / Diamond Images via Getty Images)
Kevin Fishbain is a senior writer for The Athletic covering the Chicago Bears. Previously, he spent the 2013-16 seasons on the Bears beat for Shaw Media publications. After graduating from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, he covered the NFL from 2010 to 2012 for Pro Football Weekly. Kevin was named the 2023 Illinois Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sports Media Association. Follow Kevin on Twitter @kfishbain
