It was an uneven day for the Chicago Bears? offense in practice on Tuesday, their eighth of the 2024 training camp session. But they ? and most notably Caleb Williams ? finished strong, including a pair of touchdowns that went to DJ Moore and Rome Odunze.
After practice, Head Coach Matt Eberflus announced the coaching staff?s decision on whether or not to play the starters versus the Houston Texans in the Hall of Fame Game on August 1.
For players, Zacch Pickens, Roschon Johnson, and Khalil Herbert took the podium after practice.
Bears Training Camp Notes: Do Not Overlook Zacch Pickens
Zacch Pickens Looking to Make Impact on Bears DL
Pickens was highly touted by the Bears after the 2023 draft. The No. 64 overall pick of the class, Pickens saw 25% of the Bears? defensive snaps, per Pro Football Focus. While teammate and draft classmate Gervon Dexter Sr. has received ample preseason hype, Pickens has not.
Asked if things like that gave him additional motivation to prove himself as a key part of the rotation up front, Pickens was candid.
?Oh, yes. That’s what keeps me whole,? Pickens told Clocker Sports on July 30. ?Always been doubted, so I use that as fuel and always to keep going. And Dex, Montez, they all stay on me ? Bill ? they challenged me. Everybody still challenge me like I’m still one of them. So it’s ? everybody is happy where I’m at. I can still ? I got a lot to improve on and work on, and that’s what camp is for too.?
The 6-foot-4 defensive tackle tallied 20 total tackles, 0.5 sacks, and forced one fumble in 2023.
Pickens earned a higher season grade than Dexter from Pro Football Focus, and veteran teammate Andrew Billings believes the former is in for a big season.
?Zacch is gonna be playing 3 and nose too, so you?ll get to see some of him,? Billings told Clocker Sports on July 23. ?He has a good get off and I think you?re going get to see that coming from him too. He?s going to be real vertical this year. I think it?s going to be more of his play style this year for sure.?
The Bears do not have a lot of proven depth behind Billings, Dexter, and Pickens.
That could always change when roster cuts begin later in the preseason. For now, Pickens is as set up as anyone to have a breakout season in 2024.
Khalil Herbert: Offensive Install ?Smoother? Than Years Past
Herbert is entering his fourth season with the Bears. In that time, he has seen six players start at quarterback for the Bears. While Herbert is in a battle with Johnson for reps behind D?Andre Swift, he is also learning the offense just like everyone else.
As one of five players still on the roster from that 2021 season, Herbert has seen three different offenses installed: Bill Lazor (2021), Luke Getsy (2022, 2023), and now Shane Waldron.
How is this one going relative to those?
?I feel like it was a lot smoother. Just because we came in here during OTAs and being able to learn everything from square one and then starting back when we started camp. And then, obviously again, this my third one. So just being able to learn fast and adapt things, I feel like I’ve done pretty well just being able to learn.?
That is as much a testament to the player as it is to the coach, with Waldron?s offense drawing consistently positive reviews during the installation process.
It also helps that there are a plethora of weapons at his disposal. That also means there is a squeeze in the backfield, and Herbert is in the final year of his contract. All three backs should see time given the physical demands of the position.
All three backs also missed at least one game last season, so depth is a necessity.
Roschon Johnson Downplays Defense as ?Big Brother?
The annual tradition of the defense being a step or two ahead of the offense has continued during this training camp, and it has led to some spirited discussion. That has largely come from a defense that finished the 2023 season on a high note.
However, Johnson was not ready to go as far as calling them ?big brother.?
?I don’t know about a ?big brother,? but it?s just certain people you expect it,? Johnson told Clocker Sports on Tuesday. ?I don’t know, it’s just defensive players. They’re known for barking and just making all the noise. But when it gets down to ball, the play is going to talk for itself. So that’s kind of how we handle it.?
Johnson rushed for 352 yards and two touchdowns on 81 carries in 2023, adding another 209 yards on 34 receptions.
He is the biggest of the three backs and, as the youngest, has the least wear on his legs.
The Bears are committed to Swift for at least two seasons. They can first cut him (Swift) to save cap space in 2026. Johnson could be poised to assume the top backup role ? he is currently listed as the co-backup with Herbert ? in 2024 with and even bigger role on the horizon in 2025.
No Starters in Hall of Fame Game
Eberflus said they had not decided on whether or not to play the starters in the Hall of Fame Game on August 1 when he last met with the media on July 27. After two more practices and meetings, the decided against playing the ones.
?Big news for today starters are not playing in the Hall of Fame Game. We feel really good where they are right now in terms of the pads practices. We’ve had three so far and then have another one tomorrow, and have a lot of good work. Ones on ones, twos on twos, and a lot of good situations,? Eberflus told reporters on Tuesday.
?We got a head start there because we are in the Hall of Fame Game, which I think is very fortunate for us this year to be able to add those reps. Time on task, as we say to our football team. So we’re super excited about that and it’s a great opportunity really for the guys, the role players that we’re going to have on our team and the guys that are fringe roster players. And those guys are going to be looked at by not only us, but, of course, the whole league. So I think that’s a really good opportunity for those guys.?
The Bears? roster turnover has led to fewer roster spots at the top of the depth chart being up for grabs ? i.e. none ? the backend of the roster is where the most intrigue lies.
Starters typically do not play in the game and have not since 2014.
The game was cancelled in 2016 due to concerns over the playing surface and while the issue has since been resolved, it could mean that the days of starters playing the hallowed game are over.
Choppy Day for Caleb Williams, Bears Offense in Training Camp Practice
Williams has drawn strong reviews for not making the same mistakes repeatedly. There is a clear distinction between that and not making any mistakes, which was far from the case on Tuesday.
The No. 1 pick showcased his accuracy in individual and 7-on-7s, but he ran into trouble during the 11-on-11 periods.
He encouragingly finished with a strong two-minute drill with other highlight throws mixed in.
But Tuesday was a good reminder that Williams is indeed a rookie, even if he is a highly-touted one. There will be growing pains and bad days in camp as well as bad games during the season.
As Williams himself said after Monday?s practice, how he bounces back from those moments will be paramount to reaching his full potential.