Chicago Bears 2022 player preview: Al-Quadin Muhammad

	Game	Game	Fumb		Tack	Tack	Tack	Tack	Tack
Year	G	GS	FF	Sk	Comb	Solo	Ast	TFL	QBHits
2021	17	17	1	6.0	48	32	16	7	13

Advanced Stat to Know: Muhammad’s 37 QB Pressures ranked 44th of EDGE players that played at least 342 snaps. (PFF)

Best Game of 2021

Muhammad had only one multiple sack game last season, and that came Week 13 against the Houston Texans. He also added another quarterback hit and tackle in the game.

Biggest Question

Is Al-Quadin Muhammad a clear-cut starter for the Bears?

After starting only eight games in his first four seasons, Muhammad earned full-time starting duties last season. With an extensive history in this defense and working with coach Matt Eberflus, Muhammad appears to have an upper hand over others at the position like Trevis Gipson.

However, Gipson had similar production last season — and that was on roughly half of the snap count of Muhammad had.

Here’s a quick comparison …

Muhammad: 6 Sacks, 48 Total Tackles, 7 TFL and 13 QB Hits (801 Snaps)

Gipson: 7 Sacks, 44 Total Tackles, 7 TFL and 7 QB Hits (489 Snaps)

Gipson (25-years-old) is also a couple of years younger than Muhammad (27).

Even though Muhammad has more experience in this defense and with Coach Flus, the Bears may opt to start the younger Gipson to bank on his continued ascension.

2022 Outlook

Coming off his best year as a pro, Muhammad needs to prove to Chicago that he is ready to take another step forward in 2022.

If not, there’s some young talent ready to take over.

Prediction: Starts Week 1, but loses job to Gipson during the season. Still remains a large part of the rotation at defensive end.

Stats: 6 Sacks, 38 Total Tackles, 3 TFL.