The Chicago Bears outphysicaled the Miami Dolphins in their joint practices last week. This week, the Buffalo Bills matched the Bears’ energy and, in some ways, surpassed it. It serves as a poignant reminder, and maybe even a wake-up call, ahead of their preseason tilt on Sunday.
Buffalo was the No. 2 seed in 2024. They are also led by reigning MVP Josh Allen and reached the AFC Championship Game last season.
They proved their mettle in Friday’s practice.
Bears Get Reality Check in Training Camp Joint Practice With Bills
Bills Match Bears’ Energy
The Bears’ first-string offense started off fine. They were particularly strong in 7-on-7s. Quarterback Caleb Williams continued to show his new strong rapport with fellow second-year first-round pick Rome Odunze.
Williams also connected with wideouts DJ Moore and Olamide Zaccheaus and tight end Cole Kmet.
Things got slower for Williams and Co. when the linemen got involved for 11-on-11s.
Williams again found Moore on a pair of looks, and he hooked up with rookie first-round tight end Colston Loveland, too. But missed connections due to drops and/or errant throws stalled the Bears’ momentum.
The Bears’ starting offense made several more big-time plays during the team periods, including a short pass from Williams that Zaccheaus took to the end zone.
Those positives were overshadowed by repeated false starts and other penalties, though.
Defensively, the Bears got more takeaways from the opposing QB, with veteran safety Kevin Byard having a repeat performance and Tremaine Edmunds joining him as both picked Allen off during team periods.
Allen was also able to find Josh Palmer in the slot against Nick McCloud, who was filling in for the injured Kyler Gordon.
Keon Coleman also got wide open with Nahshon Wright in coverage, and Allen hit him for a TD.
Edmunds was pleased with how the defense performed on the day, noting they were disruptive, and including their front in that. That is good since the Bears could lean on their defense more than most anticipated when Ben Johnson was hired.
Ben Johnson Gets Honest About Caleb Williams Amid Looming Issue
Johnson set a goal for Williams to be at 70% completion as a passer, noting that it must begin in practice. It is a historic goal that several other QBs have accomplished in their respective careers, but none of them were Bears.
On Friday, Johnson acknowledged that Williams has been below that in practice.
“I don’t have the exact number, but we’ve been underneath that bar,” Johnson said on Friday. “That happens. We’re learning, we’re growing. I think early on, we were probably 55[%]. It’s gotten better as camp has gone on, but we haven’t hit that threshold as often as we’d like.”
In practice, Williams was within range of his targets more often than not, but failed to get a completion for various reasons. The pre-snap and in-play penalties also hindered him.
That underscores another issue that Johnson previously lamented and appears to be rearing its head again: the offensive line.
Johnson said earlier in camp that he wanted to see a “cleaner pocket” for his QBs.
The Bills got to Williams several times with defensive end Gregory Rousseau, including one where teammate Joey Bosa followed and made contact on Williams.
Theo Benedet again got first-team reps at left tackle, making the battle seem ever further from a resolution than it was to start the week.
Johnson said he does not want to rotate tackles, and penciled-in starter Braxton Jones also worked in with the 1s on Friday while he and Ozzy Trapilo (RT) got most of their work with the second unit.
Offensive consistency will continue to elude them until they settle on a front five, and they protect Williams, who regressed on Friday in terms of having a quick trigger in light of the pressure, consistently.
The penalties could also clear up once everyone is comfortable enough with the player next to them.
Sunday’s tilt will prove telling for Williams and the Bears.
It figures to be their most extensive action of the preseason. They did not play in the opener and Johnson may rest them in the finale. This is their opportunity to show all that they have learned so far and prove they are heading in the right direction.
Rookie Round-Up
Loveland spoke candidly after Friday’s practice. He said he did not feel it was his best showing. He also took responsibility for a dropped touchdown pass from Williams. Fellow rookie Kyle Monangai, who has been working as the RB2 this week, ceded touches to Deion Hankins.
Rookie second-round pick Shemar Turner returned to practice from an extended absence with an ankle injury. He did not appear to mix into any of the team periods.
The Bears remain without fifth-round rookie cornerback Zah Frazier (personal).
Fourth-round pick and linebacker Ruben Hyppolite II intercepted Bills backup QB Mike White during one drill. But the star among the Bears’ rookies on the day was second-rounder Luther Burden III.
The Bears’ young wide receiver has made his extended injury absence from rookie minicamp into training camp seem like a distant memory, making plays daily.
It is not perfect, and Burden still has some miscues from time to time, but it is encouraging.