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USA Today
4 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Chicago Bears pre-training camp 53-man roster prediction
The Chicago Bears are kicking off training camp with first-year head coach Ben Johnson, and there are high expectations for this roster. Chicago has finalized its 91-man roster (including international exempt Tory Taylor) heading into training camp, where they'll need to narrow it down to 53 by Aug. 26. When you look at this current roster, there are a number of locks and near locks. But there's plenty of competition for depth spots, and there are some potential surprises who could steal a roster spot. Training camp will provide plenty of opportunities with competition at left tackle, backup quarterback, linebacker, cornerback and tight end that will earn or lose roster spots. With training camp kicking off, here's a look at our latest 53-man roster projection for the Bears heading into the summer. Quarterback (3) Cut: Austin Reed There's no surprise when it comes to quarterback where Caleb Williams, entering his first full offseason, is entrenched as the starter. But Chicago did shake things up at backup quarterback with the signing of Case Keenum, who will serve as a mentor for Williams and compete with Tyson Bagent for the backup job. In this scenario, the Bears carry three quarterbacks on the roster. Running back (4) Cut: Ian Wheeler, Deion Hankins The Bears didn't make any massive moves at running back this offseason, although they did draft Kyle Monangai in the seventh round of the NFL draft to join a group led by D'Andre Swift and Roschon Johnson. While Ian Wheeler was a fan-favorite during "Hard Knocks" last season, he's the first on the chopping block as Travis Homer gets the final spot due to special teams contributions. Wide receiver (6) Cut: Miles Boykin, Maurice Alexander, Samori Toure, John Jackson, JP Richardson, Jahdae Walker DJ Moore and Rome Odunze are the clear-cut starters at receiver where they'll continue to build their chemistry with Williams. But rookie Luther Burden III, who missed most of the offseason program with a soft tissue injury, will also factor into Ben Johnson's offense and should see substantial targets -- be it inside, outside or even in the backfield. Behind those three, Olamide Zaccheaus, Devin Duvernay and Tyler Scott are the depth pieces. Tight end (3) Cut: Joel Wilson, Stephen Carlson, Jordan Murray Ben Johnson likes to utilize a lot of 12 personnel, so the selection of Colston Loveland at 10th overall wasn't a big surprise. Loveland will serve as a 1-2 punch alongside Cole Kmet giving quarterback Caleb Williams a myriad of options in the passing game. The Bears signed Durham Smythe, who was previously coached by Johnson in Miami, earlier this offseason, and he'll serve as a blocking tight end. Offensive line (10) Cut: Jordan McFadden, Chris Glaser, Doug Kramer, Ricky Stromberg, Theo Benedet, Joshua Miles The entire interior offensive line was overhauled this offseason with the acquisitions of guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson, via trade, and Drew Dalman, through free agency. Essentially, the starting offensive line is set, but there could be some competition at left tackle between Braxton Jones, Kiran Amegadjie and second-round pick Ozzy Trapilo. While Ryan Bates could very well be on the chopping block, he gets the final spot right now. Edge rusher (4) Cut: Daniel Hardy, Jamree Kromah, Xavier Carlton, Jereme Robinson The Bears need more out of their pass rush, even with Montez Sweat leading the way. They made a move in free agency to land a rising talent in Dayo Odeyingbo, but there's still plenty of work to be done. Austin Booker showed flashes in his rookie season, but he needs to make strides as a rotational player. Dennis Allen could explore kicking interior defenders, like Gervon Dexter and rookie Shemar Turner, outside on certain plays. Dominique Robinson was a standout player for Ben Johnson this offseason, and if that continues this summer that could very well earn him a roster spot. Defensive tackle (5) Cut: Jonathan Ford Chicago had a solid duo of Andrew Billings and Gervon Dexter last season, but things went downhill after Billings was lost for the season due to a torn pec as Dexter's play suffered. Now, the Bears added a dominant defender in Grady Jarrett, who is a force as an interior pass rusher, as well as second-round pick Shemar Turner, who could make an impact as a rookie. With Chris Williams getting the roster spot along the defensive line, former third-round pick Zacch Pickens is the odd man out at defensive tackle. Linebacker (5) Cut: Swayze Bozeman, Carl Jones, Power Echols There aren't really big changes at linebacker with T.J. Edwards and Tremaine Edmunds once again set to lead the charge (although they could be in new spots). But the Bears will have to deal with the loss of Jack Sanborn, who they opted not to tender as a restricted free agent. That's where the selection of Ruben Hyppolite II, a fourth-round selection, comes in. He'll compete with former fifth-round pick Noah Sewell for that third linebacker spot. Amen Ogbongbemiga gets the final nod due his valuable contributions on special teams. Cornerback (6) Cut: Nick McCloud, Ameer Speed, Shaun Wade, Nahshon Wright, Jeremiah Walker Cornerback is arguably the strongest position group on the roster, and they still opted to land a potential sleeper in Zah Frazier in the fifth round of the draft. Jaylon Johnson, coming off his second Pro Bowl nod, will lead a group also featuring Kyler Gordon, who recently signed a contract extension. But Tyrique Stevenson, who has plenty to prove after a disastrous sophomore season, could face competition from Frazier and Terell Smith on the outside. But there's plenty of depth at cornerback. Safety (4) Cut: Tarvarius Moore, Alex Cook, Major Burns, Tysheem Johnson Chicago's starting safety duo is set with Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker, both entering the final year of their respective deals. Byard was one of the defense's MVPs last season, while Brisker missed most of the year following a Week 5 concussion. Elijah Hicks and Jonathan Owens will continue to serve as key depth and special teams contributors. Specialists Cut: Jonathan Kim, Luke Elkin The Bears are returning their starting special teams unit with kicker Cairo Santos, punter Tory Taylor and long snapper Scott Daly. There could be some potential roster battles at long snapper (between Daly and Luke Elkin) and kicker (between Santos and Jonathan Kim), but the core trio gets the benefit of the doubt right now.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
LOOK: Chicago Bears' top rookies report for training camp
The Chicago Bears are just days away from the start of training camp, and players around already starting to trickle in. Saturday marked the day rookies, quarterbacks and injured players reported to Halas Hall. Veterans are set to report on Tuesday before the first closed practice Wednesday morning. The Bears' social media account is sharing glimpses at the team's top rookies as they arrive, including tight end Colston Loveland, wide receiver Luther Burden III and defensive tackle Shemar Turner. All eight of Chicago's draft picks are officially under contract, which isn't something every team can say right now as most second-round picks remain unsigned. The Bears have several prominent rookies primed to serve key roles in their first season. Loveland and Burden will serve as two of several weapons for quarterback Caleb Williams -- with Loveland serving as a 1-2 punch at tight end with Cole Kmet and Burden joining a receiver room featuring DJ Moore and Rome Odunze. Ozzy Trapilo is competing for the starting left tackle job with Braxton Jones and Kiran Amegadjie and Ruben Hyppolite II is battling Noah Sewell for the third linebacker spot. Meanwhile, Turner will serve a key role along the defensive interior while cornerback Zah Frazier and running back Kyle Monangai could possibly push for playing time as rookies. Follow Bears Wire on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears training camp: Chicago's top rookies report to Halas Hall
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
LOOK: Caleb Williams is back at Halas Hall for training camp
The long wait is over as we're just days away from the first practice of Chicago Bears training camp. While the first practice isn't until next week, rookies, quarterbacks and injured players reported to Halas Hall on Saturday. Veterans are set to report on Tuesday before the first closed practice Wednesday morning. Quarterback Caleb Williams is entering an important second season following an impactful offseason where the franchise built around him. That included the hiring of head coach Ben Johnson, who's regarded as one of the NFL's best offensive minds, revamping the offensive line and adding even more weapons for him to use. The Bears social media account shared a first look at Williams reporting to training camp on Saturday, and he's ready to go. Williams had a chaotic rookie season that featured an in-season head coach firing, three different offensive coordinators, being sacked a league-high 68 times, a 10-game losing streak and a 5-12 record. Still, Williams impressed with 3,541 yards, 20 touchdowns and just six interceptions. Now, with Johnson running the show, expectations are high for Williams in Year 2, especially after all the new additions to bolster the roster around him. First up: An important training camp where he'll continue to be tested by Johnson and his new coaching staff and a defense with some talented players. Follow Bears Wire on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Chicago Bears training camp: Caleb Williams arrives at Halas Hall
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Chicago Bears rookies, quarterbacks report for training camp
The wait is finally over as the Chicago Bears are gearing up for the start of training camp next week under new head coach Ben Johnson. Bears rookies and quarterbacks report to Halas Hall beginning Saturday, July 19. The rest of the team will report to the team's Lake Forest facility on Tuesday, July 22. Chicago will practice for the first time on Wednesday, July 23, which is closed to the public. The Bears' first open practice will be on Friday, where a free ticket is required for entry. The Bears have an impressive group of rookies this year, including several who are expected to be immediate contributors. That includes tight end Colston Loveland, wide receiver Luther Burden III and offensive tackle Ozzy Trapilo and defensive tackle Shemar Turner. Other notable rookies include linebacker Ruben Hyppolite II, cornerback Zah Frazier, offensive lineman Luke Newman and running back Kyle Monangai. All eight rookie draft picks are under contract following a delay in second-round signings, where Burden, Trapilo and Turner inked their deals recently. Quarterback Caleb Williams is entering his sophomore season and will have a strong supporting cast around him. Chicago prioritized building around Williams this offseason, including the hiring of Johnson, revamping the interior offensive line and adding even more weapons to the mix. Safe to say, the stage is set for a Year 2 breakout. Meanwhile, veteran Case Keenum was brought in to serve as another voice in the quarterback room while also competing with Tyson Bagent for the backup job. Bears 2025 training camp schedule Wednesday, July 23 (8:30 a.m. CT) Thursday, July 24 (8:30 a.m. CT) Friday, July 25 (8:30 a.m. CT) - OPEN Saturday, July 26 (8:30 a.m. CT) - OPEN Monday, July 28 (8:30 a.m. CT) Tuesday, July 29 (8:30 a.m. CT) - OPEN Wednesday, July 30 (8:30 a.m. CT) - OPEN Thursday, July 31 (8:30 a.m. CT) - OPEN Saturday, August 2 (8:30 a.m. CT) - OPEN Sunday, August 3 (Family Fest) - OPEN Monday, August 4 (10:10 a.m. CT) Tuesday, August 5 (11:40 a.m. CT) Thursday, August 7 (11 a.m. CT) - OPEN Friday, August 8 (10:30 a.m. CT) - Joint practice with Dolphins - OPEN Monday, August 11 (12:30 p.m. CT) Wednesday, August 13 (12:30 p.m. CT) - OPEN Thursday, August 14 (11 a.m. CT) - OPEN Friday, August 15 (10:30 a.m. CT) - Joint practice with Bills - OPEN Monday, August 18 (8:30 a.m. CT) Wednesday, August 20 (12:30 p.m. CT) Follow Bears Wire on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears training camp: Rookies, quarterbacks report to Halas Hall
New York Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Caleb Williams, Rome Odunze, Joe Thuney give Bears' offense unusual hope for camp
Only three times in the past 30 years have the Chicago Bears placed in the top 10 in total offense — and none of those seasons ranked higher than eighth. Enter head coach Ben Johnson, three high-priced interior offensive linemen, a top-10 pick at tight end, a second-round wide receiver and a Heisman Trophy winner in his second season. Advertisement Expectations for what the Bears offense could be in the next few seasons are unfamiliar to this city, and recently when there has been hype for the offense, it has not panned out (see: 2024, 2019, 2014). It's been a long time since the roster on offense looks this good. Games aren't played on paper, and the Bears offense tends to lag when training camp gets underway. Will this year be different? Here's Part II of our look at the Bears' roster heading into camp. This is the offense. Caleb Williams — The excitement is palpable. Pairing Williams' natural abilities with someone like Johnson could give the Bears what they've swung and missed at for decades. If that's true, we should see signs of it right away in camp — real signs of progress and the ability for Williams to take off. Tyson Bagent — Two years ago, Bagent was the No. 4 quarterback. Now he's attempting to hang on to his role as the No. 2, and he even received a bunch of votes in our 'whose jersey would you buy?' survey question. He's not someone to doubt this time of year. Or maybe any time of year. Case Keenum — In his only game at Soldier Field, Keenum came in for Sam Bradford and completed 17 of 21 passes with a touchdown in a Vikings win over the Bears in 2017, spoiling Mitch Trubisky's debut. Austin Reed — After a 12-of-16 passing performance last preseason with a touchdown, we should see more from Reed this year, especially with the two joint practices likely limiting what Williams does in the preseason. Will he do enough to return to the practice squad, but not too much to get poached? D'Andre Swift — On one hand, a highly paid running back who had some outstanding runs when the Bears offense clicked returns and reunites with a play caller who knows him well. On the other hand, the Bears were in play for early round backs in the draft, and Swift wasn't consistently productive enough last season. Regardless of how he's viewed, he's RB1. Advertisement Roschon Johnson — There's a thought at Halas Hall that this coaching staff can better use Johnson. He has to stay healthy but is built to complement Swift. Kyle Monangai — Few seventh-round picks have generated as much buzz as Monangai. Now we'll see if he can live up to it this preseason. Travis Homer — Every team has those couple of players whose value goes beyond the usual box score. That's Homer and what he brings to special teams. Ian Wheeler — A 'Hard Knocks' darling last summer, Wheeler's torn ACL was a gut-wrenching moment on the HBO show. He's back, he's fast, but the practice squad is likely his destination. Deion Hankins — With the size to punish defenses (226 pounds), Hankins should get plenty of carries in the preseason. DJ Moore — Two summers ago, Moore was the star of training camp. There wasn't a close second. I tend to think that 'body language' and 'effort' got conflated last season. He and Williams need to develop a better rapport, but Moore shouldn't be a concern. Let's see if that talent is evident on the Halas Hall fields. Rome Odunze — Our fan survey showed how much love there is for Odunze in town. He could be a special player, and that's without even getting to the cliched Year 2 bump he should enjoy. Luther Burden III — Atop any 'players to watch' list. We haven't seen Burden on the field since rookie minicamp, so that's test No. 1. After that, someone with his skill set should absolutely shine in a training camp setting. Olamide Zaccheaus — A potentially underrated signing, Zaccheaus played an important role in Washington last season. He caught 70.3 percent of passes thrown his way. Devin Duvernay — The leader in the clubhouse to be the team's returner, his speed will be showcased in camp. Tyler Scott — The three players above may have supplanted Scott. In his third training camp, can his top-end speed help keep him on the roster as a reserve receiver and backup returner? Advertisement Miles Boykin — Illinois high school football fans will know the name well. He didn't live up to his third-round billing in Baltimore. He caught six passes combined from 2021 to 2023. John Jackson — Williams' close friend from USC, Jackson's best shot is to remain with the practice squad. Samori Toure — He had two catches for 18 yards for the Packers in their 38-20 win over the Bears in 2023. Maurice Alexander — Spent the 2022-24 seasons with the Lions, so he'll bring some institutional knowledge to the receivers room. JP Richardson — My pick for the preseason leader in receptions. Jahdae Walker — My pick for the preseason leader in yards per catch. Cole Kmet — Officially the longest-tenured Bear, Kmet has gone through the following play callers: Matt Nagy, Bill Lazor, Nagy again, I think Lazor again, then Luke Getsy, Shane Waldron, Thomas Brown and now Johnson. Here's hoping Kmet can gain a little stability with his playbook. Colston Loveland — Being a top-10 pick at a skill position who did not participate in spring practices, Loveland is a top-five 'player to watch' this summer. How quickly can he become a threat in the passing game? With his skill set and this offense, it might not be long. Durham Smythe — In seven NFL seasons, Smythe has missed only seven games. He won't be asked to do much, but his knowledge of the system should help the starting tight ends. Joel Wilson — Known best for getting name-dropped by the head coach at the end of minicamp, Wilson is looking to play in his first NFL game since entering the league in 2023. Stephen Carlson — Two days after getting promoted from the practice squad, Carlson broke his collarbone — brutal timing after a strong summer. He has appeared in one game since 2020. Jordan Murray — A good look into how hard it can be to get on the field: Murray has been with the Colts, Texans, Cardinals and Giants since 2022 but has yet to appear in an NFL game. Darnell Wright — Wright didn't seem to be fully healthy last season, preventing a big jump in performance. With a new offense and coaching staff, let's see how much he can ascend. The tools are there. Jonah Jackson — The lineman we might talk about the least, Jackson had a frustrating season in Los Angeles and now reunites with Johnson. He did go to the Pro Bowl after the 2021 season. Advertisement Drew Dalman — Set to be the Bears' fourth Week 1 starter at center in four years, Dalman is supposed to be the one to end that shuffling. He was the top center available and is already a fan favorite. Joe Thuney — Impress your friends in the stands at training camp by telling them about Stan Jones, the last Bears guard to be named first-team All-Pro … in 1959. Braxton Jones — No one has greater financial variance on the line this season. If Jones wins the starting job, stays healthy and holds his own at left tackle, he could get a massive contract. If he spends the year as a backup, then he might be looking at a one-year, prove-it deal next winter. Ozzy Trapilo — Without pads on, Trapilo sure looked the part in spring practices. Now the real football starts, and we'll see how quickly the rookie can be counted on to protect Williams' blind side. Kiran Amegadjie — You'll be hard-pressed to find someone with a tougher-luck rookie season. No OTAs, minicamp, training camp or preseason, only to get thrust into the lineup on short notice against one of the best defenses in football in prime time and on the road. Amegadjie certainly could still be the long-term swing backup. Ryan Bates — For some time last spring and summer, he was going to be the one to end the Bears' drought at center. Or he could've started at guard. But Bates had trouble staying on the field and has a $4 million cap hit. It's worth it if he's the top backup on the interior. Will he be? Luke Newman — It might be too much to expect a sixth-round rookie to be the one to make Bates expendable, but Newman's versatility will be worth watching this summer. Bill Murray — How would last season have looked if Murray didn't tear his pec? In limited snaps, he played really well after an impressive summer. Obvious award for best name on the offense. Advertisement Doug Kramer — He's back for Year 4, and two massive flubs last season overshadowed what was a big step forward for him as a center. Ricky Stromberg — Each year, a player at the bottom of the depth chart elicits a lot of mailbag questions. Stromberg had been that guy before the Dalman signing. He still has potential as a third-rounder. Chris Glaser — The Honolulu native played in three games last season. Theo Benedet — An injury ended Benedet's rookie preseason. He has a great story coming from Canada and some positional versatility. Jordan McFadden — A 2023 fifth-round pick, McFadden started two games as a rookie for the Chargers. Joshua Miles — Since entering the league in 2019, Miles has been involved in 28 transactions and appeared in 18 games. Life in the NFL. (Top photo of Rome Odunze: Alex Slitz / Getty Images)
