The Chicago Bears began the next phase of their offseason program on Tuesday: mandatory minicamp. Head coach Ben Johnson addressed the elephant in the room, which was the lack of frontline players participating.
What was a non-issue during the voluntary portion of the Bears’ offseason work is an increasingly intriguing matter as the calendar progresses.
Johnson got ahead of some speculation, though details remain unclear.
Bears HC Ben Johnson Addresses Mandatory Minicamp Participation
Ben Johnson: Bears Had ‘Everyone in the Building’
“Good start there to minicamp today. It’s really, for us, an extension of what we’ve been doing the last couple weeks over our OTAs. The practice is almost identical. We’ll change it up a little bit over the next two days. Just the structure and maybe have some call-it periods, things of that nature, just to keep … from it getting stale. But we’re seeing gradual improvement. It’s been great. Six practices the previous two weeks, and then one here today, and you can see growth from each guy. You can see growth from each unit,” Johnson told reporters on June 3.
“It’s pretty cool to see it all come together. So, like expected, we had everyone in the building here today. Whether they’re out there on the field or not, it’s another story. But it was good to get everyone together.”
Among the most notable absentees from the practice field on Tuesday were cornerbacks Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon.
Both have now missed multiple practice sessions.
Ben Johnson previously said Jaylon Johnson’s absence was simply that, offering little other explanation. Johnson [the player] often works out and conducts other business out of Fresno, California, where he is from, during the offseason.
Gordon, however, has been dealing with a soft-tissue injury. That is notable after the Bears inked Gordon to a $40 million contract extension in April during their offseason spending spree.
Ditto for linebacker T.J. Edwards, who signed a $20 million extension days later.
When Will Bears Be at Full Strength?
The Bears have not had 100% on-field participation at any point during their offseason program, with availability affecting almost every unit on the team, save for the quarterback and running back rooms.
In addition to Edwards, Gordon, and Johnson, the Bears’ defense has had inconsistent or no on-field participation from veterans Andrew Billings, Braxton Jones, and Montez Sweat.
It has been the same for rookies Colston Loveland, Luther Burden III, and Zah Frazier.
There is plenty of time for them to get back healthy and into the mix. The Bears just have to hope they avoid missing those players so long that it hinders their ability to integrate into the offense on the field.
The Bears do not have to disclose any specifics about injuries at this point in the offseason, nor is there any sort of injury report.
At any rate, the sooner the Bears get their missing players back, the better.