The next time the Chicago Bears get together on the field en masse before the 2026 pre- and regular season will be in late July for training camp, as their three-day mandatory veteran minicamp concluded on Thursday.
Notable advancements compared to the same timeframe last time around highlighted this final phase of the Bears’ 2026 offseason program. Head coach Ben Johnson praised players, including quarterback Caleb Williams, and the coaching staff for their efforts on that front.
Still, though, several key matters remain in limbo.
Bears Wrap Mandatory Minicamp: Notes, Roster News & More
Bears Mandatory Minicamp Notes
Thursday’s session was notably lighter in intensity, including periods of the Bears’ offensive linemen and quarterbacks catching passes. Aside from their standard individual position drill periods, the Bears also ran some situational team stuff, including a hurry-up while down 9 points.
Williams found Luther Burden III on a deep pass on which the wideout believed he scored.
That moment provided another encouraging glimpse from Williams. He lit into his second-year teammate and the rest of the offense, lining them up to clock the ball.
Williams barked out commands during the offseason program on multiple occasions. The seemingly increasing frequency is a good sign of the growth and comfort that he feels with this team and in Johnson’s offense.
There is more work to do, though, namely with Williams’ accuracy.
He was not bad, showing decisiveness and command during the Bears’ offseason program. However, there were days when he could have been sharper. Moreover, both Williams and Johnson noted that it is a work in progress and something that will always be a focal point.
Johnson did not have any players who stood out during OTAs and mandatory minicamp off the top of his head. However, media members saw Zavion Thomas and fellow rookie wideout Kyron Hudson–a former teammate of Williams’ at USC–flash when called upon.
Sam Roush and Jordan van den Berg move well, but both remain works in progress.
Roush’s acclimation process could be simple. He could focus largely on the blocking role he was brought in to fill. Van den Berg is expected to be a depth option anyway.
The overarching storyline, though, was player participation. Chicago got Dayo Odeyingbo, Montez Sweat, and T.J. Edwards back after they missed all or part of OTAs. But Kyler Gordon led a list of absentees that grew during the window.
Neville Gallimore missed multiple days, and Kentavius Street was absent for the finale.
Ditto for Coby Bryant and fellow safety Cam Lewis, the latter of whom got injured during the Bears’ OTAs. Rookie first-round pick Dillon Thieneman mixed in with the starters, but did not receive consistent run there until the final day. Elijah Hicks seems on track to open training camp as Bryant’s bookend.
At linebacker, Ruben Hyppolite II missed the entire phase, and D’Marco Jackson got hurt during minicamp.
Second-year defensive lineman Shemar Turner and rookie LB Keyshaun Elliott (after rookie minicamp) were not present for the Bears’ offseason program. Their health situation will be one of the biggest stories when they reconvene in late July.
Luther Burden III Drops Strong Words Amid New Role in Bears Offense
Burden is stepping into a larger role this season with the Bears trading DJ Moore to the Buffalo Bills. Johnson and Williams have lauded the former second-round pick’s progress from last season and expect big things from him in 2026.
Ever confident, Burden shared a message about his journey. It includes a slide in the draft after many projected him as a first-round pick.
“WE celebrate the Ws but I took them Ls on my own,” Burden posted on X on June 11.
Burden’s post came after he shared images from the team’s “media day,” and the team remarked on his and Williams’ “aura.” He is not the Bears’ only attention-worthy wideout, with Rome Odunze a source of intrigue after an injury-marred 2025 season and newcomer Kalif Raymond bringing a different element.
The Bears also have several young depth options, including Thomas and Hudson. The situation appears ripe for Burden to prove his ceiling is as high as those around him suspect.
Bears Take Look at Another Former Browns LB
Perhaps underscoring their situation at linebacker, the Bears turned to the United Football League for potential solutions.
“The Chicago Bears are working out Columbus Aviators LB Tony Fields II, per source,” UFL Analyst Tony Fields reported on X on June 11. “Fields finished second in the UFL with 77 tackles and earned All-UFL honors.”
Fields, who turns 27 on June 18, was a fifth-round pick by the Cleveland Browns.
He has 88 combined tackles, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 forced fumble, 1.0 sacks, and 1 interception in his career. Fields has started 10 of his 45 career games played.
The Bears still have several depth options on their roster behind Edwards and free agent signing Devin Bush, including Jack Sanborn, who returned this offseason.
Leave a Reply