When the Bears defense desperately needed an impact play late in last Sunday night's 19-13 loss to the Texans, seventh-year tackle Andrew Billings delivered.

With a first-and-goal at the 4 midway through the fourth quarter, Houston was in position to extend its 19-10 lead. But Billings fought off a double team and forced a fumble by running back Cam Akers that linebacker T.J. Edwards recovered.

"The challenge is to anchor the point of attack and not give up movement in that particular situation," said defensive coordinator Eric Washington. "From a fundamental standpoint, I just thought the technique was outstanding. To be in that position, you have two guys on you, and not only not give up movement, but to have enough velocity behind the hit to jar the ball loose was outstanding."

Early in his second season with the Bears, Billings has excelled against both the run and pass. Pro Football Focus ranks the 6-1, 311-pounder seventh in the league among tackles (77.8 grade), third in pass rush (85.7) and seventh in win rate (16.3%).

"He understands how to rush protections—especially on first and second down—who he needs to rush after the protection declares itself and to find his one-on-one in the mix, whether it's a drop-back scenario or a play-action scenario," Washington said.

"That nose tackle, really that's the first person we address when we start to install our four-man rush because he has the most direct path to the quarterback. We've got to get it pushed back, and that'll allow our edge rushers to be productive."

Billings signed a two-year extension with the Bears last November through 2025. Early this season, he has picked up where he left off last year when he played a key role on defense and started all 17 games.

"His mindset has been excellent," Washington said. "His conditioning is where it needs to be. It's really exciting to watch how he's added to his overall game."

Dynamic duo

Billings teams with second-year pro Gervon Dexter Sr. to give the Bears a pair of formidable starting defensive tackles. In the first two games this season, Dexter has recorded five tackles, 2.0 sacks and three tackles-for-loss.

During the offseason, the 6-6, 312-pounder reduced his body fat and added lean muscle mass by following a strict regimen that included running hills, doing Pilates and changing his eating habits.

Dexter has continued to work just as hard on the practice field.

"To me, that is where you make gains," Washington said. "That is where you make progress and continue to build your game, and this young man works as hard and as diligent as you will see, as I have seen in practice. He comes out every single day and he's focused on that particular moment: what we're emphasizing, the situations that we're working on and he's just working on what he is going to do in the game during practice. I can't say enough about that."

Injury update

Left guard Teven Jenkins (thigh) returned to practice on a limited basis Thursday after sitting out Wednesday. Offensive lineman Kiran Amegadjie (quad) worked out without restrictions after being limited Wednesday. Running back Travis Homer (finger) was added to the injury report after being limited in practice.

For the second straight day, receiver Keenan Allen (heel), fullback Khari Blasingame (hand/knee) and defensive tackle Zacch Pickens (groin) did not practice; and receiver Rome Odunze (knee), right guard Nate Davis (groin) and defensive linemen Billings (groin), Montez Sweat (elbow) and DeMarcus Walker (foot) were limited.

Reducing negative plays

In last Sunday's defeat to the Texans, the Bears offense lost yardage on six penalties, seven sacks, three running plays and two pass completions.

Asked where he'd most like strides to be made, offensive coordinator Shane Waldron said: "We want to avoid negative plays. We want to be an efficient offense, and we want to be able to run the ball. A great starting point is getting in and out of the huddle, me with the play calls and getting up to the line of scrimmage. No delay of games, no pre-snap false starts, none of those mechanics."

Only a matter of time

Washington isn't concerned that Sweat has yet to register a sack this season.

"He's going to get there," said the Bears defensive coordinator. "I mean, he has the talent and the mindset and the intelligence to get there. There are things that are obvious: sacks, hits, those types of things, and sometimes there are things that are obvious to us. And what I'm looking at with Montez is how he is factoring on certain plays. There have been plays that have been made by Gervon where Montez was a major if not primary factor on that particular play. So, it's just a matter of time. He knows how to get to the quarterback and to end the play with a sack/fumble, and so those things will happen for him, and they will happen in bunches."

Sweat also isn't panicking.

"Of course I want sacks and all that type of stuff," he said. "But as long as we're performing well as a defense, I think everything else will fall into place."

And what are his thoughts on frequently being double-teamed?

"It is what it is, a part of the game," he said. "I'd double me too."