Austin Booker went into the Bears' first preseason game with one goal:

Be dominant.

While the second-year pro understands he is still a ways away from solidifying himself as a dominant force for the defensive line this season, his performance Sunday against the Dolphins was an impressive start.

Recording 3.0 sacks, including a third quarter strip/sack at Miami's 3-yard line that flipped the field and led to a Bears touchdown, Booker felt he did what he set out to accomplish.

"I feel like I was just playing fast and sticking to what I'm best at — just playing hard," he told ChicagoBears.com. "It just felt good, like all the hard work from the offseason and camp so far was paying off."

Booker first reached the quarterback in the second quarter, dropping Dolphins backup quarterback Zach Wilson for an eight-yard loss on the drive's first play. On the third play of Miami's first possession of the second half, Booker reached Wilson again for a 6-yard loss.

The strip/sack came later in the third quarter against quarterback Quinn Ewers. Rookie linebacker Power Echols recovered the fumble, and the Bears offense took over at Miami's 3-yard line.

"I hit a long arm, he fell and I kept rushing," Booker explained. "He didn't decide to throw it away, so I gave it another two steps and just reached out for the ball."

Booker not only made his presence felt to the Miami offensive line. He also caught the attention of coach Ben Johnson.

"He was a factor the entire game, just a menace," Johnson said. "You really feed off of that, those negative plays like that. That's obviously a huge thing in terms of ending drives, but also the offense sitting on the sideline, they see that, and they feel that, and that momentum carries over to the other side of the ball as well.

"We're always looking to pick each other up and you could certainly feel his impact on the game today."

Booker provided a spark for the entire defensive line. End Dominque Robinson and tackle Zacch Pickens each recorded a sack, while edge Jamree Kromah tallied a quarterback hit. Safety Alex Cook also recorded a sack for a 14-yard loss.

Both Booker and Pickens credited the defensive line's unselfish style for their success.

"It's just a brotherhood where we've bonded," Pickens shared. "We've all got the same goal which is win together, rush together. This year, we've all wanted to be a whole instead of being out there for ourselves. We work together, we communicate together, we hold each other accountable and just love being around each other. Even through the hard times, we pick each other up."

Pickens also acknowledged the dominance that Booker displayed against the Dolphins. Having seen the Kansas product take what he called a "big step" during the offseason, Pickens wasn't shocked by his teammate's production.

"It's special," Pickens said of Booker's abilities. "It's art. He can make his body do certain things that some people can't. He's long. He's tall, so he can bend a little lower than the average defensive end. It's special being right beside Book."

Case Keenum displays veteran poise

After Tyson Bagent played the entire first half, Case Keenum took over to start the second half. The 13-year pro demonstrated his veteran abilities in his Bears debut by completing 8-of-10 passes for 80 yards and two touchdowns, both to rookie pass catchers – running back Deion Hankins and receiver Jahdae Walker.

"It's kind of funny to be playing with the age of some of those guys out there, in their first NFL games," Keenum joked. "I enjoyed that as much as any game I've ever played. I know it's preseason, but man, throwing touchdowns and celebrating with your teammates, that's what it's all about. It's so fun."

Keenum's first TD came in the third quarter on third-and-goal, when he navigated out of the pocket after sensing pressure before connecting with rookie Deion Hankins on the run from four yards out.

On the Bears' following possession, Keenum delivered an impressive ball to receiver Jahdae Walker on a fade route in the back corner of the end zone.

For Walker, an undrafted receiver out of Texas A&M, the 14-yard touchdown meant even more coming from Keenum, who he described as "a great role model."

"Me and Case, we've come a long way," Walker told ChicagoBears.com. "I've been watching him since I was a kid. Even the pass he threw to Diggs in the 2017 Divisional game — I've been watching him his whole career. Even to be teammates with him is crazy, so when he called that play, I looked at Case and I didn't say a word. I just looked at him and I lined up. I felt like the ball was in the air forever."

Noah Sewell sets the tone early

It didn't take long Sunday for the Bears defense to get challenged. On their first drive of the game, the Dolphins reached a first-and-goal situation from the Bears' 8-yard line.

After three straight stops, Miami set up for fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line, but seconds after the snap, running back Jaylen Wright ended up back at the Chicago 4, courtesy of third-year linebacker Noah Sewell.

"I knew what situation we were in and I was like, 'somebody's gotta step up, why can't it be me?'" Sewell said. "I just saw the gap open up and shot my shot."

It took Sewell, who wore the green dot as the defensive play caller to start Sunday's game, a couple moments to realize the significance of the tackle he had just made.

"After that play happened, I just blacked out and celebrated," Sewell said. "Everybody was like, 'good play, Noah!' I look over and I'm like, 'oh yeah, that was a fourth-down stop, let's go!'"

Sewell has been competing for the third linebacker spot in Dennis Allen's defense throughout training camp, and according to veteran T.J. Edwards, "jumps off the tape at all times."

The Oregon product's preseason goal is to "earn the trust of this coaching staff and put good stuff on tape so they can see my abilities on the field."

Maurice Alexander and Jahdae Walker score first NFL touchdowns

After a scoreless first quarter, receiver Maurice Alexander helped the Bears get on the board, soaring to haul in a four-yard pass from Bagent in the back of the end zone.

"It felt great getting my first touchdown at Soldier Field," Alexander said. "Tyson threw a great pass, O-line did a great job of blocking and we just executed. It was a Day 1 install play, so it was more so doing my job and making a play when a play came to me."

Alexander, who caught all four of his targets for 19 yards, joined the Bears a reserve/future signing in January 2025, shortly after Johnson was hired as the team's head coach. Johnson previously worked with Alexander in Detroit from 2022-24 while they receiver split down between the practice squad and active roster.

Now competing for a depth role in the Bears offense, Alexander is aiming to show the coaching staff and his teammates that he can be a reliable asset, who can "do the small things right."

While Alexander knows there are still opportunities to be capitalized on through the remainder of the preseason, he felt great being back in Johnson's offense.

"Being that I've got some experience with [Johnson], I can go out there and play fast and also be in the room helping the other guys who are still getting a grasp of the offense," Alexander said. "Coach and I have a close relationship and we're just continuing to build and trying to be the best Bears team we can be."

The Bears' third and final score came from Walker, who finished the game as their top receiver, catching three of five targets for 41 yards.

Hauling in Keenum's pass in the back of the end zone in his NFL debut is a feeling Walker will never forget.

"It was a surreal moment," Walker said. "I had my celly in mind since I was like 3 years old. I've been doing the juke and slide for a long time and it was just a fun experience."

As Walker continues to fight for a spot in a deep and talented receivers room, he's focused on showing the team that his talents can be utilized in multiple ways.

"Right now I'm just trying to be an asset on special teams," Walker said. "That's my main goal — be a special teams demon. I want to be on every special teams unit I can and just try to improve in the run game, my blocking, little things that can help the team tremendously."