The 17th practice of Chicago Bears 2024 training camp was shorter than their initial session of the work week.
They have joint practices with the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday. With several key players already sidelined, it makes sense to preserve themselves for that rather than risk anything serious the day before. However, it also remains unclear just how much the starters will play if at all.
Bears special teams coordinator Richard Hightower, defensive end Austin Booker, wide receiver/running back Velus Jones Jr., and cornerback Jaylon Jones took the podium.
Bears Training Camp Notes: Austin Booker & DC Eric Washington
Austin Booker?s Relationship With DC Eric Washington
Booker and Bears defensive coordinator Eric Washington were two of the stars from the second episode of HBO?s ?Hard Knocks? which has followed the team through training camp. Washington met with the media on Tuesday and spoke of keeping perspective with Booker.
Booker responded, logging a trio of sacks (officially marked as 2.5 in the stat sheet).
Asked about his relationship with Washington, Booker noted the tough love that the former Bills DC shows him.
?He’s just been a great help,? Booker told Clocker Sports on Wednesday. ?He stayed on me, but at the same time, he knows that to be able to go out and do what you want to do, you have to have that confidence. So he has a great medium of installing that confidence in me but at the same time, it’s never good enough so we’re always getting better.?
The Bears need another dynamic edge rusher to emerge opposite Montez Sweat. DeMarcus Walker is slated to start, but he is also in line for increased snaps on the interior on pass rushing downs.
Booker saw 32 snaps versus the Bills, per Pro Football Focus, the fourth-most on the Bears.
He could be in line for an increased workload versus the Bengals, who are not expected to play their starters, per head coach Zac Taylor.
?[Booker]?s getting better and he?s doing some good things,? Washington told reporters on August 13. ?He had some production on the quarterback, he was physical with his rushes, he never gave up on his rushes, he kept himself in contention. So he?s doing some really nice things.
?He’s making good progress and I’m going to make sure that I maintain perspective with him. I don’t want to get ahead of myself with Austin. He’s had a couple of good showings, and I’m not trying to diminish what he did. But there’s a long way to go in this process of being game-ready when it’s outside of the preseason. So he’s doing a good job ? just going from that performance and coming back down to earth and just blocking out all of the noise. Some of the praise and adulation, those things can be as toxic as listening to some of the negative things.?
Washington said they must ?maintain a level head? with Booker and keep working.
Velus Jones Jr. Learning the Finer Points of Playing RB in Bears Training Camp
Jones regaled media with the story of his late pet ferret, Crash. He also saw his first game snaps since making his (temporary) switch to running back versus the Bills.
He tallied 34 yards and one score on his six carries, the first of which came in the third quarter and went for seven yards.
?Obviously, it’s different on this level, [but] I played running back. That was my first position growing up in park league, and I played a little my senior year when I was a outside receiver. But teams cloud [covered] me a lot, so it was difficult to get me the ball. So Jeff Kelly just put me in the backfield and handed me the ball on a toss or sweep out the backfield
?Out here, honestly, working on my vision and stuff like that. Seeing the gap, seeing the holes, the guards pulling, and my natural ability takes over honestly. I don’t think it’s that difficult; not trying to say running back’s a difficult thing. But with our offensive alignment, our receivers ? they’re so, so good at blocking ? mixed with my god-given strength, speed, and talent, it’s pretty hard not for something positive to come out of it.?
The Bears are three-deep at running back between starter D?Andre Swift and backups Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson. None of them possess Jones? combination of speed and power, though the latter was notable for a receiver.
His playing strength at running back will be one of the keys to monitor going forward.
As will his ability to pick up the blitz and pass protect in general, something Jones admitted was part of his learning process during the switch.
?It’s more than just running the ball,? Jones said. ?Protections, having your eyes in the right spot to protect the quarterback, just knowing certain runs and why you’re running the way you’re running. Do you have to bounce, do you have to hit the A-gap, B-gap? And so, yeah, just getting a full understanding.
I did some of it last year, but it was kind of like schemed up where I knew exactly [where to go]. But actually just grasping the whole playbook [now]. And so learning day by day, and that’s all I can do. Continue to work, study, and go out there and give my all.?
Jaylon Jones Respects Joe Burrow?s Game
Reserve cornerback Jaylon Jones played mostly on special teams in 2023, a notable shift from his role as a primarily defensive player in 2022. Still, as a cornerback by trade, he has to know quarterback tendencies.
Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow is unlikely to play Saturday, but he still came up after Tuesday?s practice. Jones was asked for his take on Burrow.
?He’s a top quarterback in this league,? Jones said on Wednesday.
?He’s respected in this league off the film, he’s a rhythm thrower. You can tell quickly he knows where he wants to go. If his main target isn’t open, he’s quickly to second, third option, check downs. And he’s becoming one of those guys. He’s seen every look, so you got to be real disguised in your coverage and stuff. But overall, a lot of respect for him. Good quarterback.?
The fifth-year QB, Burrow, is coming off an injury-shortened 2023 campaign, but his reputation still precedes him. He was a Pro Bowler in 2022 and led the Bengals to the Super Bowl in 2021, where they lost to the Los Angeles Rams.
Jones was also asked about his personal development. He entered the league as an undrafted free agent with the Bears in 2022.
He has appeared in 33 of a possible 34 games as a pro.
?Just becoming a pro, honestly,? Jones said. ?Adapting to everything. Adapting to the system, adapting to my role whether that’s playing nickel, playing corner, being a special teams guy. Just adapting overall. Becoming ? just a pro every day. Working and finding what I need to do for maybe that week, that game week, or whatever the coaches need me to do.?
Richard Hightower?s 2 Big Takeaways From New Kickoff Format
The Bears have returned five kickoffs so far this preseason. They have amassed 112 yards and have a long of 31 yards (courtesy of undrafted rookie receiver John Jackson). They have yet to break the home run.
Hightower pointed to some signs that allude to the big-play potential of the new format, though.
?It’s two things really; two major things,? Hightower said Wednesday. ?We’re at a 80% return rate during the first week versus what was 22% return rate [in 2023]. And the other thing that has really stood out to us is the starting yard line after kickoff. It is 29-yard line, and that is the highest it’s been since 2000. So those are the two things that are really standing out to us which will affect your in-game strategy.?
Three players have returned kickoffs for the Bears through two games. Jackson and 2023 fourth-round pick Tyler Scott have each returned two kicks. Velus Jones has one return.
Injury Roundup & Former Bears News
The good news on the injury front is that Nate Davis and Roschon Johnson appear to have returned to full practice. Kyler Gordon, Montez Sweat, and Tyrique Stevenson missed some team drills to continue their ramp-ups. But all were in pads for a portion of Wednesday?s practice.
Jaquan Brisker remained in the side group with Ryan Bates, Noah Sewell, Theo Benedet, Jacob Martin, and Adrian Colbert.
Long snapper Patrick Scales and quarterback Brett Rypien were the only players not in attendance. Scales is dealing with a ?soft tissue? injury, per Head Coach Matt Eberflus.
Hightower said things are trending in the right direction for the veteran. The reason for Rypien?s absence is unclear. In former Bears news, 2023 practice squad QB Trace McSorley has signed with the Commanders, per 106.7 The Fan?s Grant Paulsen on August 14.
McSorley was a sixth-round pick by the Baltimore Ravens in 2019. He has also suited up for the Arizona Cardinals.
He signed with the Bears in October 2023 and got cut just over one month later. McSorley has also spent time with the New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers.