Why isn’t rookie Zah Frazier playing for Bears against Vikings in NFL Week 1?

Zah Frazier achieved a lifelong dream when he was selected by the Chicago Bears in the 2025 NFL Draft, but the UTSA cornerback faces a long wait for his first taste of action in the league.

The Bears will be unable to use the rookie for the entire 2025 season, general manager Ryan Poles confirmed to the media in July.

Bears GM gives cryptic reason for Zah Frazier absence

The 24-year-old was placed on the non-football injury list after not participating in practice since May. Frazier, who finished his college career with the UTSA Roadrunners, was the 169th overall pick in the fifth round of the draft.

The Georgia native missed the entire offseason program due to an unspecified “personal reason,” the same issue that will now keep him sidelined for his entire rookie season, Poles revealed.

“He had a situation that presented itself in a category that I would say is ‘personal,’” Poles explained.

“As we dug into it and tried to help him out, it revealed itself as something that happened before he got here. Credit to our staff for finding the root cause of what he was going through. He’ll be down for the year, but he’ll spend the time going to meetings, in the weight room, and with the medical staff preparing for next season to get ready to play.”

Chicago Bears Week 1 schedule

The Bears start their season by hosting the Minnesota Vikings in Week 1 on Monday, September 8, but we’ll have to wait another 12 months to get our first glimpse of Frazier in navy blue.

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