Latest news with #TremaineEdmunds
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Dennis Allen shares plans for T.J. Edwards and Tremaine Edmunds
In his effort to get the maximum amount of potential and production out of his players, Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen is getting creative with his scheme and plans for two of his top players. Veteran linebackers T.J. Edwards and Tremaine Edmunds are two of the most critical players to the defense this season, and Allen recently spoke about his plans for them and why he's going to be versatile with them, and how that can benefit the team's production. Preparing his team and the veterans for any possible scenario, including potential injuries, Allen said it's best to get players to be able to play in multiple positions in case they're needed to step up. "Early on in camp, I think it's important that you cross train guys," Allen said Wednesday. "You only have 53 guys on game day and you're probably going to have about 22 defensive players to carry into a game. Injuries happen; you have to make adjustments within the course of the game. The more guys that we have that can play multiple spots and do multiple things, the better we're going to be. Ultimately what we want to be able to do is we want to be able to put our best 11 on the field. To do that, you have to be able to cross train some guys so you can mix and match and put guys in different positions." Allen, just like head coach Ben Johnson, has made his intentions and plans clear as can be coming into training camp, and they're not holding back. While there will be an open competition for the third linebacker spot (with Noah Sewell and Ruben Hypppolite II) alongside Edwards and Edmunds, it's clear that the new defensive coordinator is going to put his veterans in the best position to succeed. Follow Bears Wire on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Dennis Allen shares plans for T.J. Edwards and Tremaine Edmunds
CBS News
7 days ago
- Sport
- CBS News
Head coach Ben Johnson pulls first team offense from field in first day of training camp
Wednesday marked the first practice of Ben Johnson's first training camp as Chicago Bears head coach. As tight end Cole Kmet put it, there was urgency from the get-go. That urgency included Johnson at one point pulling the first team offense off the field during the portion of the camp for which the media could not shoot video. The move didn't surprise Kmet. "No, not at all," he said. I think that's on par for how Ben is." Kmet said he could not repeat specifically what Johnson said. "All I heard was a little bit of yelling," Johnson said. "That's on par for Ben. If you're not doing it right, he's going to get you out. It's just a lesson to us that, you know, you've got to be on the details, we've got to be on the details going into practice." Meanwhile, new Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen says he is trying to create a culture on the defensive side of the ball too. That started with having all his guys do up/downs at the beginning of practice. "Training camp is going to be difficult, and we're going to have to be able to overcome when we're tired," Allen said. "How do we focus? How do we concentrate? How do we dig down deep inside, and rise up, and make plays in critical situations of the game?" Linebacker Tremaine Edmunds set the tone intercepting quarterback Caleb Williams first pass during 11-on-11. Allen said he expects Edmunds to be an exceptional playmaker. Meanwhile, there was no sign Wednesday of rookie receiver Luther Burden, who missed most of the offseason program with a hamstring issue.
USA Today
16-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Free agent Bills let leave named among NFL's 'most overpaid players'
The Buffalo Bills have earned some praise for a past decision from Bleacher Report, in a twist. Bleacher Report named the "most overpriced player" at each position in the NFL heading into the 2025 season. Once upon a time, linebacker Tremaine Edmunds was a first-round pick by the Bills but did not stick around in Buffalo. Prior to the 2023 season, Edmunds signed a big contact with the Chicago Bears in free agency. Since then, the Bills have not struggled at the position. Edmunds was once in one of the NFL's best linebacker duos with Matt Milano in Buffalo but Terrel Edmunds has since taken his spot there seamlessly. While Edmunds is still considered a productive player in B/R's breakdown, it's not the list he or the Bears will want to see him on. B/R's breakdown on Edmunds can be found below: Average Annual Salary: $18 million Over his seven seasons in the NFL, Tremaine Edmunds has been consistently productive. The 2018 first-round pick for the Buffalo Bills has tallied at least 100 total tackles every season he has been in the league. But as Bleacher Report's Kris Knox pointed out in calling his four-year, $72 million contract one of the NFL's 10 worst, what Edmunds has not been in Chicago is a true impact defender: "Edmunds hasn't been a complete bust for the Bears. He's topped 100 tackles in each of his two seasons with the franchise while allowing an opposing passer rating below 90.0 in coverage. He has certainly had his moments. "Edmunds has not, however, been a Pro Bowl-caliber player or helped turn Chicago's defense into a top unit. Pro Football Focus graded Edmunds as the league's 119th-best linebacker overall for the 2024 season. In other words, Edmunds has been good but not great when at his best for the Bears. In return, Chicago is paying the 27-year-old as if he was an All-Pro-level off-ball linebacker. "Among inside 'backers, only San Francisco standout Fred Warner is earning more annually than Edmunds." Annual salary is the only place you'll see Edmunds compared to Warner. Edmunds is what he is: a good-but-not-great linebacker who is wildly overpaid. His pact was a bad contract when it was signed. It hasn't aged well, either. But at least the Bears can get out of it in 2026 with a relatively minimal dead cap hit.
USA Today
26-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Chicago Bears urged to make one final offseason move
It's been quite an impactful offseason for the Chicago Bears, including the hiring of Ben Johnson as head coach, which had CBS Sports donning them offseason champions for the second straight year. But that doesn't mean they're necessarily done with training camp on the horizon. ESPN's Aaron Schatz recently proposed one final offseason move for the Bears -- sign linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin, which would reunite Johnson with a former Detroit Lions player. "Linebacker depth is a bit of a problem for the Bears right now," wrote Schatz. "They don't need a starter because they have T.J. Edwards and Tremaine Edmunds, but former Lions linebacker Reeves-Maybin would be a good depth addition. He also is a big help on special teams, having made the Pro Bowl for special teams just two seasons ago. The Bears' special teams were strong in 2024, but another good gunner never hurts." While Chicago is set with T.J. Edwards and Tremaine Edmunds, there are still questions about the third linebacker spot following Jack Sanborn's departure in free agency. Right now, that appears to be a battle between third-year pro Noah Sewell and rookie Ruben Hyppolite II. Adding Reeves-Maybin would certainly give the Bears an experienced veteran to contend for that third linebacker role, as well as provide depth at a position of need. With new defensive coordinator Dennis Allen leading the charge, there are high expectations for the unit in 2025, especially with the veteran pieces in place, including cornerbacks Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon and defensive end Montez Sweat, as well as Edwards and Edmunds. But solidifying depth at positions of need, including linebacker, is just as important for the success of this defense in 2025 and beyond. Follow Bears Wire on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
New York Times
29-05-2025
- General
- New York Times
Bears OTA takeaways: Why Ben Johnson worked with Caleb Williams on body language
LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Ben Johnson doesn't want the Chicago Bears to be a 'palms-up team.' That's a message he's sent to quarterback Caleb Williams and the rest of the players this spring as he sets his standard. 'Body language is a huge thing,' Johnson said after Wednesday's OTA. 'Demeanor. We don't want to be a 'palms-up team' where we're questioning everything. No, no, no. To me, that's a little bit of a sign of weakness. We don't want to exhibit that from anybody on the team.' Advertisement Sports Illustrated reported that Johnson had shown Williams clips from last season when the quarterback could've responded better to getting hit. 'There's adversity that's gonna hit every team every season,' Johnson said. 'You don't know when it's gonna happen. We might lose a few games. We might have some turnovers.' Williams had two Wednesday — linebacker Tremaine Edmunds picked him off in team drills, and safety Jaquan Brisker had an interception in seven-on-seven. Practice is set up for players to bounce back quickly from those. They get right back in the huddle and go to the next play. It's tougher in games, and Johnson clearly observed ways Williams reacted to a very tumultuous rookie season and wants it to look better. 'Early in the process, we sat down and watched some tape from a year ago, and we talked it through,' Johnson said. 'It's like … is this what we want to look like or not? We come to an agreement, no it's not, OK, we learn from it, we move on to the next thing.' Williams used his media availability to move on from the excerpt from ESPN's Seth Wickersham's upcoming book on quarterbacks, reiterating the most important takeaway — he ultimately decided he wanted to come to the Bears. He knew the challenge, and he embraced it. Now he has a new coach to help him get the franchise on the right track. 'I think y'all have been able to see it when (Johnson) gets up here, you get a little taste of how he is. He's always laser-focused,' Williams said. 'He encourages and he pushes you and challenges you to be at your best, as a team, offense, defense, special teams. Doesn't matter position. 'Sharp. And he's a guy that wants to win. … And to be honest, he's consistent with it every day. … So far it's been awesome, and I think everybody's been enjoying it.' Last week, Kiran Amegadjie was the Bears' starter at left tackle during their open practice inside the Walter Payton Center. This week, it was second-round pick Ozzy Trapilo. Darnell Wright was at right tackle. Advertisement 'We're moving guys around,' Johnson said. 'We want to give everyone an opportunity, so, you know, Darnell, we feel pretty comfortable keeping him (on) the right side right now. So the left side until we get Braxton (Jones) back in the mix, it's going to be a little bit of musical chairs.' Jones, though, is weeks away from returning after his 2024 season ended with ankle surgery. It's also notable that Wright has remained on the right side. 'We're going to let the plan play out, which is keep him there for the time being and let these guys battle it out on the left side,' Johnson said. 'And we can decide to change course whenever we need to.' Linebacker T.J. Edwards and nickel corner Kyler Gordon weren't on the field Wednesday. Johnson said the two veterans are working through soft-tissue injuries. Rookie pass catchers Colston Loveland and Luther Burden, who are also working through injuries, were absent. Jones, cornerback Jaylon Johnson, guard/center Ryan Bates, cornerback Zah Frazier, safety Elijah Hicks, cornerback Terell Smith, running back Ian Wheeler and linebacker Amen Ogbongbemiga also were not spotted. Practice is voluntary, and Ben Johnson said he expects full attendance next week at the mandatory veteran minicamp. Defensive end Montez Sweat showed up to voluntary OTAs determined to bounce back from his down season last year. 'Coming off a disappointing year, I thought it was important to be here,' said Sweat, who had 5 1/2 sacks in 16 games last season for the Bears after making six in nine games after being acquired from the Washington Commanders during the 2023 season. New defensive coordinator Dennis Allen is also changing the Bears' scheme. So there's plenty for Sweat and others to learn. 'He's a very complex individual,' Sweat said. 'He has a lot of fronts and schemes and things that he can attack the offense with. He's a great guy, smart.' Advertisement The faces have changed in the Bears' defensive line room with the team signing defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo and defensive tackle Grady Jarrett in free agency and drafting defensive tackle Shemar Turner. But Sweat remains their best defender. 'You definitely use (last season) as motivation, knowing that you didn't have as good of a year as you wanted to or could have,' Sweat said. 'So it's in the back of my mind, but I'm sincerely just moving forward, working on what's next.' Quarterback Case Keenum thought about retiring after last season. He spent 2024 on injured reserve, but when the Bears called, he came to town and sat down with Johnson for what was supposed to be a 15-minute conversation. 'It felt like a couple of hours later. I'm like, 'This is a special place,'' he said. 'Watched Caleb from last year and was like, 'Holy cow, this guy is really good and he's got a chance to be a lot better.' And it's been great.' Keenum is on his eighth NFL team, having entered the league as an undrafted free agent in 2012 with the Texans. At 37, he's the oldest player on the team — nearly a decade older than offensive coordinator Declan Doyle. He has also played in 80 games and has a playoff win on his resume. Despite all that experience, he had never shared a sideline with Johnson. 'I haven't been with him in the past, but he came highly recommended from a number of people that I trust,' Johnson said. 'He's got skins on the wall. He's been to playoff games. He's won playoff games. He's done it on a high level. He's been the No. 2 quarterback at a number of different places as well. So his experience level is off the charts. He's seen a little bit of everything that this league has to offer.' Keenum is competing with Tyson Bagent to be Williams' backup, but the Bears will keep three quarterbacks on the roster. Johnson said they'll determine the No. 2 in training camp. Advertisement 'I've competed my whole life,' Keenum said. 'I show up every day and hope my locker is not cleaned out, man. That's how I treat every day.' Included in Keenum's decade-plus in the league working with a bunch of quarterbacks is the 2023 season when he backed up Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud in Houston. He's comfortable in this spot and knows how to work with Williams. 'He's just a sponge,' Keenum said. 'For being an all-world talent, a guy who, since high school, has been the best player on any field anywhere he has ever stepped on, to be humble enough to ask me questions and watch and learn, has been really refreshing to see. A guy that young and that talented but still takes to what I have to say, it's been really fun.' Before the Bears host the Miami Dolphins (Aug. 10) and Buffalo Bills (Aug. 17) in the preseason, the teams will share the practice fields at Halas Hall. Johnson said the plan is to have one joint practice with each team. 'It's a good opportunity to break up camp a little bit,' Johnson said. 'Controlled setting, yet high, high intensity. I think the competitive nature of just about everybody, once you get in between those white lines against an opponent like that, it goes up another notch. It'll be at that point of training camp where we've had, call it 12, 13, 14 practices in.'
