With Bears desperate for instant impact, rookie S Dillon Thieneman in ‘very good spot’

CINCINNATI — One of the best things the Bears’ defense has going for it amid a challenging training camp is the rapid progress of rookie safety Dillon Thieneman. They need him to make an instant impact, especially with Coby Bryant possibly out for the season, and he’s becoming a versatile weapon in their secondary.

There’s a lot of pressure on him, but he seems up for it. Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen has been tailoring his role at strong safety, playing him up in the box against the run and sticking him on tight ends in pass coverage, whether that’s Colston Loveland and Cole Kmet in normal practices, or the Bengals’ Mike Gesicki in the recent joint practice in Cincinnati.

“I’m at a very good spot,” Thieneman told the Sun-Times. “As we add stuff each week and do stuff for specific opponents, that might change, but that comes along with more practices. Right now, with the playbook, I feel very comfortable.

“I’m feeling more and more confident as I go. Going against some of the better tight ends has really helped me.”

Thieneman played 14 snaps on defense and two on special teams Saturday in the Bears’ 27-9 preseason loss to the Bengals. He got 14 plays defensively the week before against the Browns, too.

The best work he gets in pass coverage, though, comes against Loveland. He’s a monster at 6-foot-6, 241 pounds with great speed and has been a constant playmaker in training camp. In one series against the Bengals on Saturday, he broke free for what could’ve been a 27-yard touchdown, but quarterback Caleb Williams overthrew him.

“You’ve got to be on your Ps and Qs, dialed in on everything and ready to ball out,” Thieneman said of covering Loveland. “He’s a great player, very athletic, fast, long arms, so even if you’re in the right position, he still might make a great play. It just helps you get better and better.”