The Chicago Bears ramped up the intensity on Tuesday, taking the field in full pads for their most physical practice to date in training camp, and in as long as many covering the team can remember. If it was any indication, they are ready to deliver on the physicality being asked of them.
Tuesday saw four scuffles break out, including multiple that ended with players on the ground and penalties drawn.
In the end, they emerged with some bumps and bruises, but presumably little more.
Bears Have ‘Most Physical’ Practice of Training Camp Before Preseason Opener
Bears CB Gets Honest About Big Opportunity
Of all the position battles the Bears have going on, the outside cornerback spot opposite Jaylon Johnson in nickel looks may be the most intriguing of all. Kyler Gordon figures to man that spot when the Bears are in base, a decreasingly frequent occurrence around the NFL.
When Gordon slides inside, though, either incumbent starter Tyrique Stevenson or newcomer Nahshon Wright will take the reins.
Both players spoke on Tuesday. Wright, about what winning a starting spot would mean.
“I don’t know how to answer that question. I mean, obviously, it’ll be nice to have it. But first, I just want to make the 53[-man roster],” Wright told Clocker Sports on Tuesday. “What happens from there, just – that’s up to the coaching staff. That has nothing to do with me.”
Wright may believe and live by that, but Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen made it clear there was an opening opposite Johnson and that the 6-foot-4 corner was in the mix for it.
He will have to outduel Stevenson, who has several items potentially working in his favor.
Stevenson was drafted by the Bears in 2023, though the same front office signed Wright in free agency this offseason. Still, Stevenson is a more experienced starting option, which seemingly earned him the benefit of the doubt on the Bears’ initial depth chart.
Bears head coach Ben Johnson advised players not to put too much stock into the first depth chart of the preseason.
That is good news for Wright, who has done nothing but look like a player in Johnson’s place.
Bears Practice Briefly Interrupted by Extracurriculars
Stevenson and Wright both noted Tuesday’s session was among, if not the “most physical” they have been part of in their young careers.
Among the notable names involved or caught up in the different flurries were defensive linemen Daniel Hardy and Dayo Odeyingbo, offensive linemen Braxton Jones and Theo Benedet, running back Roschon Johnson, safety Jonathan Owens, and wide receiver Rome Odunze.
Johnson downplayed his incident with Owens as “just camp, football, hot tempers.”
Johnson has seen rookie seventh-round pick eat into his work with the first-string offense this summer, though he could remain the primary option for the Bears down by the goal line.
Like with all the incidents, of which Jones’ seemed to last the longest, the Bears got right back into the swing of practice afterward. They will surely want to avoid things getting that heated during joint practice with the Miami Dolphins on Friday.
News and Notes
- Rookie second-round WR Luther Burden III could be heard getting coached up during individual (not running) and team (hesitant blocking) periods. Burden has looked good since his long absence, but is still playing catch-up and is listed as a third-stringer.
- Second-year undrafted free agent running back Ian Wheeler got similar treatment from running backs coach Eric Bieniemy.
- Starting tight end Cole Kmet and backup OL Doug Kramer appeared to end their days early after picking up issues. Both appeared to occur on plays during team periods and not during the many scraps that broke out.
- Kiran Amegadjie still has not returned to practice and would, in theory, be falling behind Jones and Ozzy Trapilo, who again led the first-team reps.
- Rookie second-round pick DL Shemar Turner (ankle) and fifth-round CB Zah Frazier (personal) also remain out.
- Play of the Day: Caleb Williams found Odunze for a deep TD pass with Wright in close coverage. Wright took the blame, saying he faded while trying to locate the ball. In the end, it was a nice connection for the Bears’ second-year duo.