logo
Bears training camp observations: Defense dominates offense at Family Fest

Bears training camp observations: Defense dominates offense at Family Fest

USA Today6 days ago
The Chicago Bears were out at Soldier Field on Sunday for their annual Family Fest, which marked the 10th practice of training camp and their fifth padded session of the summer.
The defense dominated the day in what head coach Ben Johnson described as closer to a preseason game. The offense was sloppy with pre-snap penalties that continue to linger, but they did end practice on a strong note during a two-minute drill where quarterback Caleb Williams connected with rookie tight end Colston Loveland for a 7-yard touchdown. There's still plenty to improve upon with the Week 1 opener just over a month away.
As far as attendance goes, right guard Jonah Jackson (leg) and long snapper Scott Daly (back) were back at practice on Sunday. The Bears were still without offensive tackle Kiran Amegadjie (leg), offensive guard Bill Murray (right ankle) and center Ricky Stromberg (concussion).
Here are some observations, from media members and fans in attendance, following the Family Fest training camp practice:
The defense dominated the day
Offense was sloppy
Offense ends on a strong note
Ozzy Trapilo with first-team offensive line during install
Dennis Allen dialing up different looks
Ben Johnson responded with some trickery
Bears continue to experiment with DJ Moore at running back
Montez Sweat popped off
Rookie Kyle Monangai made some plays
Tyrique Stevenson making plays
Nahshon Wright continues to impress
JP Richardson remains a standout
Cairo Santos was on fire
Attendance report
Follow Bears Wire on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Bears vs. Dolphins: 8 players to watch in Sunday's preseason game
Bears vs. Dolphins: 8 players to watch in Sunday's preseason game

Yahoo

time2 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Bears vs. Dolphins: 8 players to watch in Sunday's preseason game

The first preseason game of the year has finally arrived for the Chicago Bears. For most of the team, at least. The Bears are set to take on the Miami Dolphins at Soldier Field for an exhibition on Sunday afternoon, but many notable players will not be dressing. Head coach Ben Johnson indicated on Friday that quarterback Caleb Williams and most of the starters on offense and defense will not be active for the game after both squads took part in a joint practice up at Halas Hall. Instead, backup quarterback Tyson Bagent will get the nod as he works with most of the second-string offense in Johnson's head coaching debut. Even though the starters won't be taking the field, that doesn't mean there aren't key players worth watching. Here are the players we're keeping an eye on when the Bears and Dolphins square off: 1. QB Tyson Bagent Bagent is getting the start, but that doesn't mean his role as QB2 is secured. The third-year quarterback still needs to stave off veteran Case Keenum, and Bagent can build a lead with a solid preseason performance. Reports out of camp have been mostly positive regarding Bagent. He knows where to put the ball and has made a handful of highlight plays with the second- and third-string players. This will be the first extended look at Johnson's offense, too, so let's see how Bagent does in the new system. 2. RB Kyle Monangai Rookie running back Kyle Monangai is set to make his Bears debut, and he should see quite a few snaps as he battles for the change-of-pace role behind D'Andre Swift. Monangai and third-year back Roschon Johnson have rotated throughout camp, and there is still not a clear favorite between the two when it comes to the backup job. This could be a big opportunity for Monangai, and fans will get a glimpse of the rookie's punishing running style in an actual game setting. 3. WR Luther Burden III One of the most-hyped rookies coming into this weekend has to be wide receiver Luther Burden III, especially following his electric second week of training camp. Last week, Burden was all over the place with highlight catches on both short and deep routes. While he was a bit quieter over the last few days, he has the chance to make an explosive play with the second-team offense, assuming he plays. With how much time Burden missed this offseason due to injuries, he could use the reps. And Bears fans would love to see the second-round playmaker in action. 4. WR JP Richardson The 2025 training camp darling finally gets his chance to become a preseason darling. Undrafted wide receiver JP Richardson has made the most of his opportunities up to this point thanks to his big highlight catches and rapport with Bagent. Now, he can stand out even more at Soldier Field in front of a couple million viewers watching. Richardson should see many snaps throughout the day, playing well into the fourth quarter. He could have the Bears faithful pounding the table for him to make the initial 53-man roster. It happens every year with someone, and Richardson is the most likely candidate. 5. OT Ozzy Trapilo Another rookie worth watching is tackle Ozzy Trapilo, one of the few players who has seen extended time with the starting offense that will suit up on Sunday. Trapilo is in a battle with veteran Braxton Jones for the starting left tackle spot, and it's too soon to tell which one will rise to the top. The Bears intend to keep the competition open until the last possible moment, so Trapilo will need to show why he deserves the job. At 6-foot-8, he won't be hard to miss on the field. 6. DE Austin Booker Many Bears defenders shined during Friday's joint practice, but not everyone ran over a Dolphins offensive tackle on their way to the quarterback. Defensive end Austin Booker had a very productive day, and he's going to want to add onto that during the preseason game. Booker has a chance to become the primary rotational defensive end behind Montez Sweat and Dayo Odeyingbo this year. He was a preseason hero last year, and now with a bulked-up frame, he's primed to do it again against a shaky Dolphins offensive line. 7. CB Nahshon Wright One of the players that has turned heads consistently throughout camp has been Nahshon Wright. The veteran who last played for the Minnesota Vikings came in as a player who would have been lucky to not end up on the practice squad. Instead, he has been starting in place of Jaylon Johnson due to an injury and has done a phenomenal job, picking off passes and preventing completions. We'll see how much playing time Wright gets on Sunday. The earlier he goes out, the more likely he is to make the initial roster when the cutdowns take place. If Wright can shine, it will be time to start talking about what impact he can make during the regular season. 8. S Tysheem Johnson The Bears' safety group appears to be set on paper, but rookie Tysheem Johnson is someone capable of throwing a wrench into things. Johnson has made key interceptions multiple times throughout camp and laid some pretty nasty hits as well. He embodies what defensive coordinator Dennis Allen is looking for, and Sunday is a prime audition opportunity for him. He's someone who should create a turnover during the game, which would boost his stock tremendously. This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears vs. Dolphins: 8 players to watch in Sunday's preseason game

Bears work out RB Jamaal Williams
Bears work out RB Jamaal Williams

Yahoo

time2 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Bears work out RB Jamaal Williams

The Chicago Bears could be interested in adding to their running back room and are looking at someone who is very familiar with the coaching staff. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Bears brought in veteran running back Jamaal Williams for a workout on Saturday. Williams is one of the more notable running backs who is still available and has familiarity with the Bears' coaching staff. After breaking in with the Green Bay Packers in 2017 and serving as a backup to Aaron Jones, Williams had the best seasons of his career with the Detroit Lions when he signed there in 2021, splitting time with D'Andre Swift, who now plays for the Bears. His career year came in 2022 when he rushed for 1,066 yards and led the league with 17 touchdowns while playing under Ben Johnson. Following that season, Williams signed a three-year deal with the New Orleans Saints and coach Dennis Allen, now the Bears' defensive coordinator. Williams didn't enjoy the same type of success he had in Detroit and totaled just 470 rushing yards and two touchdowns in two seasons. He was released earlier this offseason. Williams was effective with Swift and Johnson, and a reunion could be in the works. The Bears are still searching for a goal-line running back, and Williams fits the mold. He's a player who has long been connected to the Bears ever since Johnson became the head coach. We'll see if a deal winds up happening. This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears work out RB Jamaal Williams

Caleb Williams and Bears starters won't play Sunday
Caleb Williams and Bears starters won't play Sunday

USA Today

time3 hours ago

  • USA Today

Caleb Williams and Bears starters won't play Sunday

Training camp for the Chicago Bears has been full of ups and downs. Caleb Williams and the Bears' offense have showed many ups lately, but this group would still benefit from some game reps. Preseason provides a lot of benefit for teams that need more time to get their offense clicking, but also it provides a huge risk for injury for teams' starters. Chicago coach Ben Johnson decided to get reps in the joint practice this week rather than throwing the starters into Sunday's game against the Miami Dolphins. Brendan Sugrue with Bears Wire outlined Ben Johnson's comments on his preseason Game 1 plans: "In an exclusive interview with CHGO's Hoge and Jahns show, Johnson said Williams and the starters will not see any game action on Sunday. 'There are going to be a number of guys that aren't playing in this game. I haven't even told the team this yet,' Johnson said in the interview. 'There are going to be a number of guys that aren't playing in the game, so we're going to get great work in the joint practice.' "Johnson is looking to get a lot out of the joint practice with the Dolphins, but he has more plans to ensure the starters get the reps they need. 'We have a number of things scheduled around the game for those guys that aren't playing, whether it's the day before or the day after,' he said. 'We're actually going to end up getting more reps for them than they would have had we played them Week 1 of this game.' Playing starters in preseason games is an age-old debate that pops up every single year. It seems coaches are focusing more and more on practices and less on the games, with many holding their starters out in Week 1. On Thursday night, the Cincinnati Bengals were the lone exception, as they played their starters to try and circumvent their slow starts to the season." Caleb Williams will not be playing in Sunday's game against the Dolphins, but Ben Johnson is determined to make sure Caleb and the Bears get their reps elsewhere. If the Bears' starting offense played on Sunday, its time on the field would be very limited, so planning more practices for them to get reps and sitting them Sunday makes a lot of sense. Ben Johnson has been a breath of fresh of air in every facet as the Bears' new head coach. If Ben Johnson has made a decision it has been a well thought out one; he has communicated that decision well to media and fans. Chicagoans would have wanted to see Caleb get snaps on Sunday, but as long as Ben Johnson has this offense and Caleb Williams ready for Week 1, there will be no uproar.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store