Bears CB Tyrique Stevenson focused on being good teammate after being benched

Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson has been told all week to be ready to be involved in Saturday’s game.

“I was told that last week,” he said, “and I didn’t get in.”

Speaking publicly for the first time since he played not a single snap in the season finale, Stevenson said he was “just rolling with the punches at this point” and focusing on being “the best teammate I can.”

Bears coach Ben Johnson said earlier this week that Stevenson was benched because the Bears believed two-time Pro Bowl player Jaylon Johnson and Nahshon Wright, who leads the NFL in takeaways, were the best options. Stevenson had been part of a rotation with the two — before his benching, he played between 25% and 58% of the Bears’ snaps the last three weeks.

“The best thing I can do,” he said, “is come here and be healthy and be ready for any opportunity I get.”

Notes

• Packers tackle Zach Tom was ruled questionable despite missing practice Friday. Backup quarterback Malik Willis is questionable, too, with injuries to his right shoulder and hamstring.

• Quarterback Caleb Williams posted a 87.6 passer rating and completed 55.1% of his passes in his two games against the Packers this year, throwing for 436 yards, four scores and one interception. His counterpart, Packers quarterback Jordan Love, posted a 106.4 passer rating, throwing for 311 yards on a 65.8% completion percentage , threw three touchdown passes with one interception and posted a 106.4 passer rating against the Bears.

• Several coaches the Bears fired over the last few years are coaching in the playoffs, including their last four offensive coordinators: Thomas Brown (tight ends coach and passing-game coordinator, Patriots), Shane Waldron (passing-game coordinator, Jaguars), Luke Getsy (senior offensive assistant, Packers) and Bill Lazor (senior offensive assistant, Texans).

• The Wiener’s Circle, which handed out free hot dogs when Caleb Williams threw four touchdowns and later when Ben Johnson took off his shirt, is offering the same if a Bears defender or special teamer returns a touchdown in a victory Saturday. They’ll give out free food if an offensive lineman or any defender score a touchdown on a planned offensive play, too.