News Bears Team Notes

[Chicago Bears]

Bears superlatives for 2025 offseason

Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

WCG’s lead draft analyst analyzes his “superlatives” for the Bears’ choices in the 2025 offseason.

Superlatives are a fun way to shake up your typical lists or rankings and present them in a new format. Fun fact: I was voted the Best Male Dancer in the Benet Academy graduating class in 2019, but I’m sure nobody cares about that, because I’m ugly and stupid.

On Sunday, I created some superlatives of my own and applied them to specific moves the Chicago Bears have made in the 2025 NFL offseason.

My superlatives for the #Bears offseason:

• Best move: Ben Johnson
• Worst move: Dayo Odeyingbo
• Slept-on move: Drew Dalman
• Surprising move: Luther Burden III
• Cautiously optimistic: Jonah Jackson
• Favorite Day 3 pick: Zah Frazier

— Jacob Infante (@jacobinfante24) July 7, 2025​

I tweeted this before a BABYMETAL concert, though I’m sure nobody cares about that fact, either.

The Bears were incredibly active between free agency, the 2025 NFL Draft, and the hiring of a new head coach and corresponding coordinators. A lot changed between the start of January and now, meaning there’s a lot of change to consider when making these superlatives.

Here are my explanations behind each of my choices.

Best move: Ben Johnson​

I considered the trade for Joe Thuney here, seeing as though the Bears got a first-team All-Pro offensive guard for just a fourth-round pick. However, I can’t help but come back to the slam-dunk head coaching hire they made.

I’ve been on record saying I think Ben Johnson was the best first-year head coaching candidate since Kyle Shanahan in 2017. That stayed firm before the Bears hired him, and I’ll remain on that bandwagon to this day. He dominated as the Lions’ offensive coordinator, resurrecting Jared Goff’s career and leading the offense to incredible heights.

The Lions were top-five in the league in yards per game, points per game, and PFSN’s Offense+ metric all three seasons that Johnson was their offensive play caller. For a Bears team who know firsthand the difference coaching can make in a game, bringing him in should be a breath of fresh air. I truly believe Ryan Poles hit a home run here.

Worst move: Dayo Odeyingbo​

There was a clear vision with the Bears signing Dayo Odeyingbo: betting on a traitsy player and anticipating that his best football is ahead of him. I just don’t think I agree with that approach.

There’s a lot to like with Odeyingbo, as he’s a massive edge rusher with elite length and good size-adjusted athleticism. He’s produced before, as he had eight sacks in 2023, and he’s still only 25 years old.

That said, I don’t think he’s enough of a finished product to warrant the $16 million a year they’re paying him. His average salary is 20th among all edge rushers. However, among edge rushers last year, he was 55th in PFF pass-rushing grade (150 snaps or more), 93rd in sacks and 44th in pressures.

The Bears are paying $12 million more a year to a player who wasn’t much better last year than DeMarcus Walker, whom they cut this offseason. Odeyingbo is younger and has more upside. But if he didn’t put it all together in his four years of playing NFL football in Indianapolis, I’m not sold he suddenly lives up to his price tag in Year 5.

Slept-on move: Drew Dalman​

“But Jacob, how can Drew Dalman be a slept on move”, say the fat losers everywhere. Nay, Dalman has widely been heralded as one of the best centers in the league, and it was a big deal when the Bears signed him.

However, I’d say the surprise of other moves dimmed the spotlight that Dalman’s signing in Chicago deserved. Amidst the Colston Loveland selection, the trade for Thuney, signing Grady Jarrett out of the blue, plus one more move I’ll get to soon, there was a lot that happened in favor of the Bears this offseason.

Dalman was almost everybody’s dream signing in free agency, and getting him almost felt like a foregone conclusion, given the Bears’ need at center and their large amount of cap space to work with. He’s been a top-five center each of the last two seasons.

I’m excited to see what Dalman can provide for the Bears’ offensive line. After years of instability and poor play at center, he should be able to give them the anchor they’ve been looking for.

Surprising move: Luther Burden III​

As a Mizzou alumnus, the Bears’ selection of Luther Burden III was a pick I was absolutely stoked about. He’s my favorite college football player of all time, considering my fandom of the team he played for. It just wasn’t a pick I was expecting.

Heading into Round 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft, the Bears still had a few more needs left to fill. There are a few talented running backs and offensive and defensive linemen still available. After taking Loveland in Round 1, I didn’t think they’d take another pass-catching weapon with their next pick.

As TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins both came off the board, I had no idea where the Bears would go with the No. 39 pick. When I heard they selected Burden, I was jumping for joy.

Not only did I not expect the Bears would take a wide receiver that early, but I also didn’t think Burden would fall that far. I had him as my No. 18 overall prospect on my board, and I figured one of the receiver-needy teams like the Browns, Texans or Patriots would have selected him earlier.

Time will tell if that pick (and my reaction) actually ages well. However, I think Burden has WR1 potential if he can further develop his route tree. His explosiveness, agility, YAC creativity, ball skills and contact balance are all very impressive.

Cautiously optimistic: Jonah Jackson​

The Bears made the call before the start of free agency to trade for Jonah Jackson, reuniting him with his former Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson after he played one season with the Rams. They also made the call to extend him another year, locking him in through 2027.

This was a bold move for Poles, seeing as though Jackson is coming off of an injury-shortened year in 2024. He disappointed in the Rams’ first two games at guard and center, got hurt, played in one game and got benched, then returned to the starting lineup for one more game in Week 18.

Granted, Jackson played at right guard in that Week 18 game — the position he’ll play with the Bears — and he finished with a 91.8 PFF grade on 66 snaps. He was a Pro Bowl guard under Johnson in Detroit, and there’s still plenty of upside to tap into.

I liked the trade for the Bears, seeing as though they only gave up a sixth-round pick to take a shot on him. Adding an extra year to his contract is what gives me pause. However, if Johnson trusts him and knows he can succeed in his system, who am I to question it?

Favorite Day 3 pick: Zah Frazier​

I thought about going with Kyle Monangai here, as the former Rutgers running back has the chance to contribute right away as a seventh-round rookie for the Bears. As much as I like that pick, I decided to shake it up and go with Zah Frazier for this last superlative.

Frazier is a big question mark, seeing as though he’s a one-year FBS starter at a Group of 5 school. He was UTSA’s highest-rated recruit as a JUCO transfer, and he lived up to the hype in 2024 with six interceptions and nine pass deflections.

Zah Frazier is a CB prospect in the 2025 draft class. He scored a 9.35 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 179 out of 2752 CB from 1987 to 2025.https://t.co/eBK9KiaAX7 pic.twitter.com/VcX9MWOF92

— RAS.football (@MathBomb) April 3, 2025​

6’3” cornerback with nearly 33-inch arms and 4.3 speed don’t grow on trees. Frazier is a physical specimen with the ball skills from his early days as a wide receiver to make him a serious playmaking threat in the secondary.

Frazier is very raw as a technician, as his route-recognition skills are average, and his hip fluidity and pad level in his backpedal need to be improved. He’ll be a backup for the Bears in 2025, but if he develops properly, he has eventual starting upside in the NFL.

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...draft-free-agency-ben-johnson-dayo-dalman-zah

 

[Chicago Bears]

The Bear’s Den, July 8, 2025

Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images

Pundits rank Bears offensive line, Loveland high this preseason

WE WANT YOU!

Would you like to show your Chicago Bears spirit to the world? I’m starting a feature where Windy City Gridiron readers can share pictures of themselves and their families and friends in Bears attire. Simply email a picture to me at the following address: denmasterken at aol dot com. The pictures need to be clear, and full resolution (i.e. full size from your phone if that’s how you take them). Include any description information you like along with the photo!

THE DAILY SPONGIE SPECIAL

DENMASTER KEN’S VIDEO GRAB BAG

BEARRRSSSS​

Chicago Bears mailbag: Did they finally get it right with Ben Johnson, Caleb Williams? - The Athletic - Heading into training camp, what’s on the minds of Bears fans? Did they finally get it right at coach and QB? Will Cole Kmet be traded?

2025 NFL offensive line rankings: Eagles, Broncos lead the way, Bears up to fourth. - Things are set to look a lot different in Chicago. Not only is the offensive line remolded, but it’s also perhaps the most improved unit in the NFL.

2015 NFL Redraft: Rebuilding the first round based on PFF grades and data, Bears make huge change - At the time, Kevin White was viewed as the next Julio Jones-type receiver, boasting a 4.35-second 40-yard dash at 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds. But injuries early in his career dashed hopes of that level of production.

2025 NFL All-Rookie Team: Projecting 11 instant-impact newcomers on offense - NFL.com - Colston Loveland makes the list. Standing 6-6, 241 pounds, Loveland is a tight end who runs routes with the fluidity of a wideout. That’s what makes him special. And that’s what made Sam LaPorta a rookie Pro Bowler under Ben Johnson in Detroit, so it stands to reason that Johnson will get the most out of Loveland in Chicago.

2025 NFL offseason: Biggest surprise players on each team - ESPN - Ben Johnson singled out Ruben Hyppolite as the player that Bears coaches saw the most improvement from this spring. With veteran T.J. Edwards sidelined with a soft tissue injury, Hyppolite got a lot of run with the starting defense at a position he doesn’t have much experience at (weakside linebacker) after playing middle linebacker throughout his career at Maryland.

POLISH SAUSAGE

Mark Davis: Al Davis loved Las Vegas, would love seeing where the Raiders are now - NBC Sports - The legendary Raiders owner Al Davis died in 2011, having moved his franchise from Oakland to Los Angeles and back, but he didn't live to see his team in Las Vegas.

Report: Nyheim Hines wants to find a team for training camp - NBC Sports - Nyheim Hines would like another shot.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON​

Bears superlatives for 2025 offseason - Windy City Gridiron - WCG’s lead draft analyst analyzes his “superlatives” for the Bears’ choices in the 2025 offseason.

2025 Chicago Bears Training Camp Battle: WR3: Burden vs Zaccheaus - Windy City Gridiron - Luther Burden and Olamide Zaccheaus will battle it out for WR3.

10 Most Important Bears of 2025: #8 Grady Jarrett - Windy City Gridiron - Grady Jarrett was released by the Atlanta Falcons just a couple of hours before the early negotiation period for free agency was about to start, and the Chicago Bears worked quickly to ink him to a...

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE PAGE

2nd City Gridiron is our video home! So hit the link and help us grow that brand!

THE RULES

Windy City Gridiron Community Guidelines - SBNation.com - We strive to make our communities open and inclusive to sports fans of all backgrounds. The following are not permitted in comments. No personal attacks, politics, gender-based insults of any kind, racial insults, etc.

2nd City Gridiron Podcast Channel which includes Bears Banter hosted by Bill Zimmerman, Bear & Balanced from Jeff Berckes and Lester A. Wiltfong Jr., Bears Over Beers featuring a rotating host line-up of Ryan Droste, Khari Thompson, Jacob Infante, and Bryan Orenchuk, Making Monsters with Taylor Doll, Bear Bones from Dr. Mason West, and an occasional T Formation Conversation from Lester; Steven’s Streaming Twitch Channel from Steven Schweickert is another fun one.

Powered by RedCircle

Click on our names to follow us on Twitter: Jeff Berckes; Dr. Patti Curl; Ryan Droste; Eric Christopher Duerrwaechter; Dan Durkin; Taylor Doll; Kev H; Sam Householder; Jacob Infante; Aaron Lemming; Dr. Ken Mitchell; Danny Meehan; Bryan Orenchuk; Jack R Salo; Khari Thompson; Steven Schweickert; Jack Silverstein; Lester Wiltfong, Jr.; T.J. Starman; Khari Thompson; Dr. Mason West; Bill Zimmerman; 2nd City Gridiron; Like WCG on Facebook; Like 2nd City Gridiron on Facebook.

A few of us are also over at Bluesky.​

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...-offseason-draft-ben-johnson-colston-loveland

 

[Chicago Bears]

Training Camp Battles: Kicker: Cairo Santos vs Jonathan Kim

Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images

Does Cairo Santos have his spot locked up or will Jonathan Kim challenge him?

Our next training camp battle will be fully determined by the challenger.

I think basically all Chicago Bears fans understand the limitations of Cairo Santos. The Bears don’t need to be actively pursuing his replacement right now. He’s a reliable kicker, being virtually automatic from inside 40 yards. But Santos’ issues are that he isn’t nearly as reliable when kicks are a little further out.

Santos isn’t awful beyond 40 yards, but he’s pedestrian. He only made 5 of his 8 kicks from 40 to 49 yards, and while he was quite good from 50+ (he was 8 for 9 last year), the problem is that Santos' 50+ attempts are usually just 51 or 52 yards long. He has hit a few times from 54 or 55, but those are usually indoors or aided by the wind. He just doesn’t have the type of leg that good teams have at that spot.

Santos is under contract for the next three seasons, but at this point, it isn’t too difficult for the Bears to get out from under his contract. It’s a good situation for the Bears. They have Santos for the next three years at an affordable rate, but they can replace him whenever they see fit.

Enter Jonathan Kim.

Kim spent six seasons in college football. He spent four years at North Carolina and rarely played, but thanks to all the extended careers around COVID, he was able to transfer to Michigan State two seasons ago.

Kim’s 2023 season was a little suspect, making just 13 of 18 field goals, but last season he jumped to going 19 for 21 and earning second-team All-Big Ten. Last season, Kim made 3 of 4 from 50+ and was 8 for 8 from 40 to 49. Any kicker that makes 11 for 12 from beyond 40 is going to get looks by NFL teams. Kim’s long last season was 55 yards, which matches Santos’ career long as well. Kim’s long in 2023 was 58 yards, well beyond the range of Santos.

Kim was considered a good kicking prospect, but not elite. Of the draft websites that rank kickers, none had Kim in the top five kickers.

But Kim has an NFL leg and showed significant improvement from 2023 to 2024. If Kim comes in and impresses the Bears, especially from 50+ yards, they will absolutely have to consider him to take over for Santos this season.

However, if Kim looks like most rookies do and has some inconsistencies in his game in training camp and potentially in preseason games as well, Kim is going to find himself being released before week one, and Santos will remain the Bears' kicker, at least for this season.

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...p-battles-kicker-cairo-santos-vs-jonathan-kim

 

[Chicago Bears]

Ranking the Bears' Biggest Rivals in 2025 and Beyond

Daniel Bartel-Imagn Images

Taking a look at the Bears’ biggest rivals entering the upcoming NFL season

The spirit of competition in sports naturally breeds rivalry. While highly-contested play is largely the biggest reason for a rivalry to blossom, there is no doubt a number of factors and causes that can bring just a little more edge and hostility to what might otherwise be “friendly competition.” In a league that is more than 100 years old, like the NFL, that is certainly no exception.

With the recent schedule announcement and much of the offseason staff/roster excitement behind us, now is a great time for me to assess and rank my top 10 Chicago Bears rivals heading into the 2025 season.

Honorable Mentions (Bears’ All-time Record, including playoffs):​

Atlanta Falcons (16-14), Dallas Cowboys (12-16), and Pittsburgh Steelers (19-8-1)

Philip G. Pavely-Imagn Images

The first three teams I have missing the cut here share one thing in common – familiar faces. Specifically, a former Coach, General Manager, and… owner? The key one is Matt Eberflus, former Bears Head Coach, who has now taken over as the Defensive Coordinator in Dallas. Atlanta, meanwhile, has enjoyed the services of former Bears General Manager Ryan Pace as a front office executive since 2022. Obviously, I make the “owner” comment in jest as I refer to new Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers, but his history with Chicago is well-documented at this point. It’s worth adding that Eberflus and Pace likely played big roles in luring fan favorite former Bears like Jack Sanborn and Darnell Mooney to Dallas and Atlanta, respectively.

Ultimately, though, there isn’t enough strength in the recent history of these matchups (even the notorious Cassius Marsh – Steelers game) to warrant any of them taking the place of another team on this ranking.

10: Kansas City Chiefs (7-7 All-time, 0-1 2020s)​

David Banks-Imagn Images

Let’s all count to 10 together, shall we? Obviously, if the Bears could manage to be halfway competitive in competition against the Chiefs, this could easily fly up the rankings. Even so, the fact that the Bears could have selected Patrick Mahomes in place of Mitch Trubisky in the 2017 draft is unavoidable, and Mahomes’ greatness has stood as a reminder of the Bears’ offensive futility ever since (that said, I’ve always felt Chicago would have limited his potential anyway).

That alone might land KC an honorable mention, if not for another familiar face in former Head Coach Matt Nagy. General consensus seems to have warmed on Nagy, now one ‘Flus removed from his run in Chicago. Still, seeing his success leaving the Bears adds a little more fuel to this rivalry.

9: Jacksonville Jaguars (6-3 All-time, 2-0 2020s)​

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Jacksonville is an interesting one. On one hand, they bungled their initial coaching search this offseason, which *may* have resulted in the Bears landing Ben Johnson without having to worry about them. Many thought Chicago and Jacksonville could be Johnson’s top 2 landing spots.

On the other hand, that bungling resulted in their delayed GM vacancy and interview process that led to Bears Assistant GM Ian Cunningham being pulled away from his usual responsibilities as he pursued the Jaguars GM job. We’ll never know what kind of impact that may have had on the Bears’ draft process, but Cunningham wasn’t selected for the job, the Bears weren’t rewarded compensatory draft picks, and this entanglement with Jacksonville was established that will see Ben Johnson directly compared to new Jacksonville Head Coach Liam Coen.

Both offensive-minded head coaches will also have a 2024 1st-round WR at their disposal in the Bears’ Rome Odunze, selected at number 9 overall, and the Jaguars’ Brian Thomas Jr., the very next receiver taken at number 23 overall.

8: New York Jets (9-4 All-time, 0-1 2020s)​

John Jones-Imagn Images

The Jets are a team that have multiple layers to a rivalry with the Bears. I’m sure most of you reading this are immediately jumping to the Justin Fields connection, and that’s completely fair. Fields stepping into the starting role for the J-E-T-S, less than 2 years removed from being serenaded by “we want Justin” chants in his final game for the Bears at Soldier Field, is the most interesting element to this one.

Caleb Williams vs Justin Fields will always be a story worth keeping an eye on, even if most fans in Chicago don’t hold any negativity towards the latter. The additional layer to this rivalry comes from the new coaches as both Ben Johnson and new Jets Head Coach, Aaron Glenn, took their new posts this offseason after departing the Detroit Lions coaching staff. It will be intriguing to see how Johnson’s Bears compare to Glenn (former Lions DC) and his Jets in the coming years.

7: Las Vegas Raiders (9-8 All-time, 2-0 2020s)​

Candice Ward-Imagn Images

The Raiders are another team on this list that was considered to be a suitor for Ben Johnson this offseason. However, unlike others, Las Vegas was perhaps the team most likely to have tempted the then-Lions OC to take their vacancy. If you can put yourself back in time, you may recall that many actually expected Tom Brady’s Raiders to do just that after the Lions had been eliminated from the playoffs.

Fortunately, that wasn’t to be, and instead, Pete Carroll finds himself in the desert with Geno Smith in tow. The Bears have gotten the better of the recent matchups, but the Ben Johnson saga seems to have fired up an already fiery Raiders fanbase and with both teams looking to reestablish themselves this season, there’s plenty of fuel for a rivalry to burn here.

6: Carolina Panthers (9-4 All-time, 3-0 2020s)​

Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images

This feels like the point where things are officially heating up. The Panthers are the team that got me thinking about this rivalry ranking in the first place about a year ago. In the wake of the “Bryce Young trade,” (short for the “Bryce Young for DJ Moore, Darnell Wright, Tyrique Stevenson, Caleb Williams, Tory Taylor, and Luther Burden III trade”). tensions between these otherwise neutral fanbases elevated to borderline uncomfortable levels.

Poor J.B. couldn’t even put out an obviously satirical article without getting pounced on by Sir Purr’s faithful. As a former North Carolina resident myself, I can say you hate to see people blessed with such beautiful weather get caught up in the frustration of a painfully inept franchise. As a Bears fan, I can say that it’s perfectly fine to get caught up in the frustration of a painfully inept franchise, and I get it. All joking aside, the Panthers showed some signs of life in the latter half of last season, so even though the Bears appear to have gotten the better of them, the end of this story may not yet have been written.

5: New England Patriots (5-11 All-time, 1-1 2020s)​

Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images

While the Bears’ new Head Coach has thus far been a common theme in a few rivalries, another theme to look for is the Bears’ starting quarterback: Caleb Williams. Williams obviously was taken 1st overall in the 2024 draft, a draft which featured one of the most highly-touted QB classes in recent history and has (at least through one season) not disappointed.

One of the most notable of Williams’ peers is the New England Patriots’ Drake Maye, who was selected with the 3rd overall pick. Not only will Williams and Maye be continuously linked throughout their careers, but they’ve already gone head-to-head with Maye and the Patriots getting the (unexpected) victory over the Bears at Soldier Field last season. Of course, you can sprinkle in a little coaching intrigue in the form of the Ben Johnson/Mike Vrabel hires to further spice this up if you’d like, as these two were widely viewed as the sole names on the top tier of available head coaching candidates this offseason. The greater potential for sustained competition gives New England an edge over Carolina in these rankings for me.

4: Washington Commanders (25-28-1 All-time, 1-2 2020s)​

Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images

Now, it should go without saying that every point I made about Drake Maye goes for Jayden Daniels to an even greater extent. Daniels was selected with the 2nd overall pick, right behind Williams, and went on to have one of the greatest rookie seasons for a quarterback ever. That season, of course, included a now infamous victory over the Bears on a Hail Mary play that signaled the derailment of the season for Chicago.

Despite the differences in record, these teams played in a classic last season and seem primed to have a rivalry for the foreseeable future, as long as the Bears are up to the task. In fact, given the intrigue of the recent matchups, the hostility that has been built, and the potential for more, I very nearly placed Washington ahead of the next team on the list, until very recent developments made it clear that just wouldn’t be possible.

3: Minnesota Vikings (58-68-2 All-time, 2-8 2020s)​

Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images

At this point in the rankings, the entries shouldn’t really be as surprising (as much as I’d have loved to hit you with a wild “#2 will SHOCK you”). What might surprise you, though, is that I nearly didn’t have Minnesota ranking this high. When looking at this rivalry ranking for specifically the upcoming season, I felt pretty strongly about the case I just made for Washington, almost enough for them to overtake a division rival. But then… the book. The recent drama that emerged around Caleb Williams’ pre-draft feelings about the Bears definitely ratcheted up the intrigue in a Minnesota matchup after Williams apparently claimed to prefer the Vikings as a landing spot in the 2024 draft over Chicago.

When you add that to the historical context between the franchises and relatively competitive games a season ago, you get a really solid foundation. You can throw the Kevin Warren factor in, if you’d like, since the Bears' President and CEO previously served as the Vikings' COO, but what’s most interesting to me about this rivalry is watching the path each team has taken since 2022. That was the year in which both teams had a vacancy at both GM and Head Coach. The Bears hired Ryan Poles and Matt Eberflus and are now onto Ben Johnson, while the Vikings hired Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and O’Connell and have made two playoff appearances.

2: Detroit Lions (105-80-5 All-time, 4-6 2020s)​

Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images

The runner-up is this ranking is the team that pulled off the kind of franchise turnaround that everyone in Chicago is hoping to emulate. In fact, they lured away one of the key figures of that turnaround to help lead the way in new Head Coach Ben Johnson. You may or may not have noticed this, but that created a little bit of hostility amongst the fanbase in the silver and blue. It’s true. While may of us Bears fans hoped or expected (maybe even manifested?) Ben Johnson’s arrival in Chicago, the fact that he chose a division rival when he had many suitors, definitely rubbed Lions fans the wrong way, particularly in the immediate aftermath of a tough playoff loss to the Washington Commanders.

Lions players have already voiced their opinions about wanting to get the best of Ben, whether they say it in the spirit of “friendly” competition or not, and that feeling is sure to be reciprocated. That’s not to mention that despite the Lions’ ascension in recent years, the Bears have managed to play them tough in recent matchups, nearly splitting wins in the 2020s, including some close games that really could or should have gone Chicago’s way. Players-wise, I’ll mention the Sewell brothers, I guess, but the David Montgomery – D’Andre Swift pseudo-trade is the more interesting element at play. All said, these will be two can’t-miss matchups in the season ahead.

1: Green Bay Packers (96-108-6 All-time, 1-9 2020s)​

Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images

I mean, come on, it had to be. Right? There is certainly a case to be made regarding the level of recent competition between the Bears and Packers and how one-sided it has been in the modern era, being enough to rationalize dropping this rivalry. Even so, that feels almost sacrilegious. The 2025 Green Bay rivalry may not have the recent back-and-forth that the matchups with Detroit have seen or even some of the off-the-field intrigue that the Minnesota rivalry has had added recently, but that doesn’t mean this is coasting on pure nostalgia either.

There was certainly plenty of on-the-field drama in the most recent game between these two as Caleb Williams led the Bears into scoring position and Cairo Santos sealed a victory in Lambeau Field this past January. The players on both sides also seem to continuously buy into this rivalry, adding more weight when they go head-to-head. What’s exciting is that it seems to have even spread to the new coach, as Ben Johnson went out of his way to take a shot at the Packers' head coach, Matt LeFleur, during his introductory press conference when he cited that he “kind of enjoyed beating Matt LaFleur twice a year,” as a reason for wanting to stay in the NFC North. LeFleur, for his part, downplayed Johnson’s comments, but you have to imagine those words sitting at the back of is mind the next time these teams compete in the NFL’s most historic rivalry.

So, with the dust settled and a total of 13 teams named, how do you feel about this ranking? Are there any teams that I left out that deserve a spot, or maybe just a team that you feel is placed too high/low? This was a fun exercise to work through, and I’d love to see what the rest of the fanbase has to say about the Bears’ biggest rivals entering the upcoming season.

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...ackers-patriots-commanders-lions-vikings-jets

 

[Chicago Bears]

Five veterans with the most to prove to stick around for 2026

Daniel Bartel-Imagn Images

With Training Camp just over two weeks away, it’s time to start looking ahead. With a projected cap crunch coming next season, these five veterans have the most to prove in 2025 in order to stick around following the season.

As the NFL offseason winds down and teams start to prepare for the 2025 regular season, there’s a dead period between the final practice of mandatory minicamp and the start of training camp. This allows teams to assess their current rosters while also exploring what the next few years could look like in terms of the cap. For a team like the Chicago Bears, there have been plenty of big contracts handed out in 2025 that will have impacts far beyond this one season.

Bears fans have grown accustomed to a significant amount of cap flexibility over the last few seasons. After all, most bad teams usually have plenty of money to spend. The bigger issue is having enough good players to spend cap space on and ultimately meet the cash floor in those three years. Over the last three years, the Bears have consistently ranked in the Top 10 in available cap space throughout the offseason. With a new coaching staff and higher expectations, General Manager Ryan Poles spent more money in 2025 than he had in the previous three offseasons.

As a result, their cap outlook for 2026 appears tight on the surface. As of now, Chicago is projected to be $7.26 million over the cap when accounting for getting to the 51-player minimum. That, of course, is based on Over The Cap’s assumed $295.5 million cap for 2026 and does not account for any rollovers. Although this should not cause panic among the fanbase, it’s fair to say that they will have to make some tough roster decisions next year. Those decisions will come in the way of cuts, restructures, and allowing players to test the market. We’ll take a look at five players to keep an eye on this season, who are ultimately playing for their futures in Chicago.

1. LB Tremaine Edmunds​

No player on this list has more pressure on him than Edmunds heading into the 2025 season. With T.J. Edwards signing a two-year extension and a crunch to next year’s salary cap, Edmunds is going to need to have a career year to be retained. The former Bill has had a lackluster two years in Chicago, coming off a career year in Buffalo. His size, speed, and length have always been intriguing, but his inability to stay consistent has plagued him for most of his career.

Edmunds signed a four-year, $72 million deal in 2023, and due to the structure of that deal, he was essentially guaranteed three years of the contract. 2026 is a different story, and for a team like the Bears, who will be strapped against the cap, he’s their best candidate for a big chunk of cap relief. Barring an All-Pro type of season, there’s a very good chance that he’s playing his last year in Chicago.

2026 Cap Ramifications: $17.483 million cap hit with $15 million in savings (if released)

2. TE Cole Kmet​

Without such an expensive offseason that will hit even harder in 2026, it would have been much easier to feel better about Kmet’s future beyond this season. Instead, the 26-year-old’s future in Chicago is firmly in question. Heading into the offseason, most had expected Kmet to be a focal point of the offense under Johnson. Instead, the team went out and spent their No. 10 overall pick on Colston Loveland, who should be a perfect fit for this offense in the Sam LaPorta role.

So, where does that leave Kmet?

Historically, rookie tight ends tend to start slow. So, it should not be a surprise to see the former Notre Dame product heavily involved in the offense in the early stages of the season. The back half of the season should be more telling. Once Loveland is healthy and gets his feet under him at the NFL level, fans should expect to see him as a featured piece in this offense. Looking back at Johnson’s tight end usage in Detroit, it’s fair to expect their TE1 to see 70% (or more) of the total offensive snaps, and TE2 to eclipse the 50% mark.

Even so, can the Bears afford to pay Kmet’s $11.6 million cap hit? In theory, yes. Due to the modern-day structure of NFL contracts, they could allocate additional funds to keep him under contract. The money saved on a trade or release might be too much to pass up, though. Especially if there are more holes than anticipated heading into next offseason. The only way Kmet can ensure his roster spot is safe heading into 2026 is to have a career year, which might be difficult if he sees less time on the field.

2026 Cap Ramifications: $11.6 million cap hit with $8.4 million in savings (if traded or released pre-June 1st)

3. LT Braxton Jones​

Jones has been nothing short of a success story for a fifth-round pick who was plucked from a small school. The fact that he was able to step in from Day 1 and develop into a quality starting left tackle was one of general manager Ryan Poles’ best success stories. That being said, injuries have begun to pile up, and the Bears cannot afford to pay another offensive lineman responsibly. Next year alone, the Bears will be spending roughly $59.5 million on six linemen, including Ozzy Trapilo and Kiran Amgegadjie. A year later, Darnell Wright is projected to cost the team close to $18 million if they choose to exercise his fifth-year option.

Simply put, it’s hard to imagine many scenarios where the Bears can afford to pay four of their starting five offensive linemen $14 million or more per season in 2026. This was always the risk with their offseason approach of paying three interior linemen good money.

Call it a hunch, but it would be a surprise if Trapilo didn’t receive every opportunity to win the Week 1 starting job at left tackle. Despite the talk of potentially moving Wright to left tackle, that’s a scenario that would require two, maybe three plans to go horribly wrong. At worst, Jones is their starting left tackle to open the season. Realistically, he’s likely to produce a more balanced season than Trapilo or Amegadjie. Even so, this is the type of decision that requires a long-term outlook, which is why it’s fair to expect Trapilo to have multiple opportunities to win the starting job from the outset.

Assuming that one of Trapilo or Amegadjie can grab the job by the horns and run with it, Bears fans shouldn’t be surprised to see Jones shopped once he’s healthy. Although we are weeks away from finding out how this will all play out, it would take multiple situations going Jones’ way for him to be back in Chicago next season.

2026 Cap Ramifications: Projected Unrestricted Free Agent (Projected Contract Floor: Dan Moore four years, $82 million with $50 million guaranteed)

Mike Dinovo-Imagn Images

4. CB Tyrique Stevenson​

By all accounts, this is a big season in the career of Stevenson. Following a promising rookie campaign in 2023, adversity struck for the majority of last year. Even before the disastrous Hail Mary in Washington, Stevenson was not playing at a high level. Following the blunder, he was routinely benched and appeared to lose all confidence. He finished the season on a better note, but to label him anything more than an unknown heading into Year 3 would be optimistic.

The good news for Stevenson: He’ll have a relatively clean slate with the new coaching staff.

The potential bad news for Stevenson: He’s already accounted for enough playing time over his first two years to qualify on the Level 2 Proven Performance Escalator fourth-year rookie contract scale. This means that his projected $2.052 million cap hit for 2026 converts to an original round tender (projected at $3.453 million), plus an additional $250,000 for reaching level two, and his prorated bonus figure of $422,637 that registers as dead money. His actual cap hit would more than double.

Simply thinking out loud, it’s hard to imagine a team snug against the cap wanting to pay a player $4.126 million if they aren’t sure he’s an ascending player. That’s not to say that Stevenson will struggle again this year, but due to these escalators in each non-first-round pick’s contract, the former Miami product’s future is more clouded than it would be at $2.052 million. If he plays well, it’s a no-brainer. If someone like Zah Frazier starts earning rotational reps with the starters as the season goes on, Stevenson could be a cut or trade candidate heading into next offseason.

2026 Cap Ramifications: $4.126 million cap hit with $422,637 in dead cap. (Projected at a PPE2 amount as a fourth-year player)

5. S Elijah Hicks ​

The top four names on this list have been associated with a more negative connotation due to their financial ramifications. The last player of the five is here for the opposite reason. Looking at the Bears’ 2026 depth chart, there isn’t a single safety there, unless you’re optimistic that Major Burns and Tysheem Johnson will crack the final 53-man roster in September.

Kevin Byard will be 32 before the start of Week 1, and Jaquan Brisker’s concussion issues are well-documented. Although there’s a chance they could look to retain one of these names, settling on a value for an often-injured player like Brisker will be a challenging task. Instead, fans shouldn’t be surprised to see Hicks getting more playing time in this defense. New defensive coordinator Dennis Allen typically deploys five to six defensive backs in his subpackages. This means that even when a player like Kyler Gordon is on the field as the nickel, there will be plenty of opportunities for a sixth defensive back to make their mark. On paper, that could be Hicks, as he has the versatility at safety or even cornerback.

With no real answers heading into next season, giving Hicks an extended look to prove himself as a capable starter should be high on their priority list. It would be cheaper than overspending in free agency, and more reliable than expecting a rookie to play like an NFL veteran in their first year. Of all the Bears’ upcoming free agents, Hicks has one of the better chances to establish his value and get a multi-year extension next year.

2026 Cap Ramifications: Projected Unrestricted Free Agent

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...stick-around-for-2026-starting-with-cole-kmet

 

[Chicago Bears]

How Ben Johnson’s ‘Stumblebum’ came together

Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Bears’ fans, it’s okay, we can reflect on the play because Ben Johnson is ours now.

In last year’s Week 16 game, Caleb Williams hit Keenan Allen in the waning seconds of the first half to pull the Chicago Bears within 13 points of the Detroit Lions. Detroit missed a long field goal as the second quarter ended, and the teams went into the locker room with the score 27 to 14.

The Lions got the ball to start the third quarter, and their offense picked up where it left off, moving 43 yards in four plays, with a Chicago penalty mixed in, and they had a first and ten from the Bears’ 21-yard line.

And then Detroit offensive coordinator Ben Johnson called Stumblebum.

Lions’ quarterback Jared Goff took the snap from under center, feigned a stumble on his dropback, stood tall, and hit a wide-open Sam LaPorta for a touchdown.

For as disheartening as it was for Bears’ fans, it had to have the opposite effect on Lions’ fans.

I know, I know, that play sucked.

But now that Ben Johnson is wearing the Navy and Orange, I think it’s okay to look back on it and wonder what type of pizazz he’ll cook up at Halas Hall.

Check out Goff explaining how the play came about in this clip from Netflix’s Quarterback Season 2.

The origin and practice that went into Stumblebum, one of the greatest trick plays ever by the Detroit Lions.

Quarterback Season 2 is now playing. pic.twitter.com/TJywnQmCDo

— Netflix Sports (@netflixsports) July 10, 2025​

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...umblebum-came-together-jared-goff-sam-laporta

 

[Chicago Bears]

Checking the Chicago Bears player odds

Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images

Want to light your money on fire?

Now that it’s mid-July, hot, you’ve had your share of fireworks, the beach, the sunburn, the cookouts and all of that.

You’re itching for football. And you’re counting down the days.

And maybe you’re perusing futures bets.

Remember, always gamble responsibly. Don’t bet more than you can afford to lose and all of that.

Let’s check in on some Chicago Bears player odds.

I’m not looking at any specific book because they aren’t sponsoring me (my DMs are open, though, sportsbooks). So be sure to shop around for the best odds.

These are the odds for the player to be the league-leading player in yards in their position group.

Caleb Williams - +2500 (25/1)

D’Andre Swift - +8000 (80/1)

DJ Moore - +5000 (50/1)

Rome Odunze - +10000 (100/1)

To lead the league in touchdowns among their respective position groups:

Williams - +2500

Swift - +10000

Moore - +3000

Odunze - +10000

And to check in on some over/unders for the season:

Williams - O/U 3550.5 passing yards, 23.5 passing TD, 425.5 rushing yards

Moore - O/U 975.5 receiving yards, 6.5 TDs

Odunze - O/U 800.5 receiving yards, 5.5 TDs

Are any of these lines appealing to you? Any bets you’re going to make?

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...g-dj-moore-dandre-swift-caleb-williams-odunze

 

[Chicago Bears]

Bears fans expect DJ Moore to be their 2025 target leader

Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

A few days ago, we voted for the Chicago Bears player we thought would lead the team in targets in 2025, and most of our fans see a three-peat coming for DJ Moore.

In his first year in Chicago, he went for 96 receptions for 1,364 yards and eight touchdowns on 136 targets, and last season, he was targeted 140 times while racking up 98 catches for 966 yards and six scores.

What will this year bring for Moore?

His primary competition for targets will be second-year wideout Rome Odunze, who, according to Moore, is primed for a breakout season.

“Rome’s taken a step up this year,” he said via the team site. “I can already tell.”

Our partners at FanDuel Sportsbook don’t have a prop for targets, but they have the over/under for Moore’s receiving yards at 975.5, and Odunze at 825.5. For touchdowns, they have Moore’s over/under at 6.5 and Odunze’s at 5.5.

If you think either will crack a thousand yards, you can get Moore at -110 and Odunze at +175.

I was one of the 32% who voted that Rome would lead the Bears in targets, and I also think he’ll go over 1,000 yards, so I kind of like those odds for him. As a refresher, the +175 means a $100 bet would win $175.

If you’re feeling frisky, you can get DJ at +500 to go over 1,250 receiving yards, or Odunze at +850.

If you’re really feeling frisky, they have an over 1,500 yards prop, with Moore’s at +1800 and Odunze’s at +2800.

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...arget-leader-rome-odunze-odds-receiving-props

 

[Chicago Bears]

Open Thread Question of the Day: What’s the best Chicago-style food to pair up with Da Bears?

Photo by Steven King/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Chicago Deep Dish and Tavern Pizzas. Italian Beef. Chicago Style Hot Dog. These are classics to eat while watching the beloved - which tastes best on gameday?

Chicago is an elite food town. Few places can do high-end (restaurants like Alinea, Oriole, Smyth, and Ever) while also doing low-end (Superdawg, Johnnies Beef, Vito and Nick’s, Birrieria Zaragoza, Nhu Lan, and Ghareeb Nawaz) as well as Chicago does.

Photo by Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Chicago’s prominence in the national (and global) food scene is equally hard to dispute, with loads of famous dishes like Deep Dish Pizza, Italian Beef, Chicago Style Hot Dog, Tavern Pizza, and lesser-known but also prominent Jibaritos, Saganaki, Maxwell Polish, and Mild Sauce Wings. You can’t go wrong eating in Chicago.

But what Chicago-style food goes best with Chicago Bears football?

My answer?

An Italian Beef sandwich.

My love of Chicago’s food scene is serious, and I think each of the aforementioned dishes and restaurants have an appropriate time and place. However, when I am watching the Beloved trounce another inferior opponent, I want thinly sliced beef atop a Turano French roll, covered in sweet peppers and giardiniera, delicately dunked into well-seasoned au jus. It just makes sense.

Now, to me this is food you eat at home (or at the establishment for which you purchase the beef). If I find myself at Soldier Field, then I’ll go Chicago Dog every time. While equally as complex, each component intertwines in a manner that is more conducive to public eating.

So long as it comes with an Old Style on the side and a bag Jays potato chips, I’ll be happy with any of the above.

Now it’s your turn - what Chicago-style food goes best with Bears football? Sound off in the comments!

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...t-chicago-style-food-to-pair-up-with-da-bears

 

[Chicago Bears]

Chicago Bears 2025 Offseason Superlatives: Worst Move

Photo by Todd Rosenberg/Getty Images

Check out our final Chicago Bears roundtable before training camp starts!

Our guy Jacob Infante shared his Chicago Bears offseason superlatives on his Twitter page, and then he expounded on those selections for us in this article. But our WCG team wanted to get in on the fun by doing our own version that we’re rolling out in this roundtable series. After checking out what we had to say, share yours in the comments section.

Yesterday’s topic was Best Move, so naturally, today’s topic is...

Worst Move​

Ryan Droste: I’m not crazy about the lack of attention to the RB room. I would have liked to have seen Poles and Johnson draft a running back earlier in the draft, preferably within the first four rounds.

Josh Sunderbruch: I tend to dislike the moves Poles doesn’t make more than the ones he does, but I struggle to find Luther Burden to be anything other than a redundant pick. There’s only one football, and I’m not convinced that Burden was the best use of a Top 50 pick with how this team is configured.

Gary Baugher Jr.: Dayo Odeyingbo. I hope I’m wrong, but I feel like for a position of need, this did not move the needle as much as I wanted. Sweat’s production fell off a cliff in 2024, and that was mainly due in part to not having a viable Edge threat opposite him.

Sam Householder: The biggest gripe is perhaps that they didn’t do enough to address the defensive line. Dayo is a bet on young upside without a ton of proof. Outside of that... not great.

Johnathan Wood: There are a number of strong candidates here (extending TJ Edwards, overpaying Grady Jarrett, cutting DeMarcus Walker to give 3x as much money to Dayo Odeyingbo, not having an adequate 3rd LB on the roster), but my choice for worst is failing to address interior OL depth. The Bears replaced all three interior OL starters this offseason, but their depth at the position is scary. Ryan Bates is the presumed top backup, assuming his shoulder arthritis improves to the point he can play (I’m not convinced it will). Nobody else on the roster is somebody I would feel comfortable putting in a game, and the starters are either aging (Joe Thuney is 32) or have significant injury histories (Drew Dalman and Jonah Jackson missed 11 and 18 games, respectively, over the last 2 years). I worry that the interior could turn from a clear strength into a glaring weakness in a hurry, and it would have been an easy fix to cut Bates, who had no dead money, and spend that $4 million on a healthy player who could be a capable backup.

Lester A. Wiltfong Jr.: I wasn’t sure which direction I’d go here until Jonathan mentioned interior o-line depth. Ryan Bates, who has been injured for a while, is the most experienced option. Jordan McFadden has two 2023 starts in his two-year career, and the other reserves have never started an NFL game.

Bryan Orenchuk: Passing on a RB in the 2nd and 4th rounds. Hard to have Ben Johnson as my favorite move while also questioning his first selections as Head Coach, but Ryan Poles is the GM, so this is more of a gripe with him. Time will tell if Ozzy Trapilo, Shemar Turner, and Ruben Hyppolite will be difference makers at the next level. But will they be even bigger difference makers than RJ Harvey, Kaleb Johnson, or Jaydon Blue? All three of those players could have been had instead of the three aforementioned Bears selections above. That was hard to swallow.

Mongo Peanut: Not finding Safety depth. Between Brisker’s concussions and Byard’s age, the Bears are a plausible scenario away from starting Elijah Hicks and Jonathan Owens on the back end. That’s not going to go well against Jefferson, Jameson Williams, and the first Packers receiver that learns how to catch a deep pass.

TJ Starman: It’s way too early for me to give up on a signing since, you know, there hasn’t been a game played yet this season. But, since we’re moving forward with this exercise, I have to say that I am feeling worse and worse about the contract given to Dayo Odeyingbo. The expectation shouldn’t be that Dayo becomes a superstar opposite Montez Sweat, but he’s certainly being paid to be productive, and I keep getting sent spiraling after remembering that D-Rob was getting snaps ahead of him in minicamp.

Donald Gooch: While I like acquiring Jonah Jackson for RG - paying his full contract and giving him an extension seemed questionable in my mind.

Jeff Berckes: Hey, it’s July, we’re all happy, why are we going to dwell on the less than perfect? I have to pick an answer... ummm, something about the stadium not getting figured out? Let’s just move on to someone else.

What do you think the worst move of the offseason was?

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...orst-move-dayo-odeyingbo-ryan-bates-nfl-draft

 

[Chicago Bears]

Which position should the Chicago Bears add some veteran depth to?

Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images

Training camop is right around the corner, so should the Bears bolster their veteran depth?

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year, we ask questions of the most plugged-in Chicago Bears fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

Football is right around the corner as the Chicago Bears rookies report to Halas Hall for training camp on Saturday, with the veterans reporting a few days later on July 22.

After OTAs and minicamp, Chicago’s 90-man roster is pretty much set, but we’ve seen Ryan Poles make tweaks to the roster during the early portion of camp before. He previously brought in veterans Riley Reiff, Michael Schofield, Yannick Ngakoue, and Marcedes Lewis in late July/early August to bolster the veteran depth of his squads.

Does he have his sights set on someone else?

All offseason, there have been rumors linking the Bears to veteran defensive ends and veteran running backs, yet the Bears stood pat. There are still some decent veteran offensive linemen and defensive backs looking for work who could battle for a 53-man roster spot.

Is there a position you’d like to see the Bears add some talent to?

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...bears-add-some-veteran-depth-to-training-camp

 

[Chicago Bears]

Bears TE Colston Loveland Gives Shoulder Injury Update, Training Camp Status

Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images

Bears rookie TE Colston Loveland commented on the status of his recovery from shoulder sugery.

The status of new Chicago Bears tight end Colston Loveland’s shoulder has been a topic of discussion around the team since he was drafted in the first round this past April.

Loveland underwent AC surgery on his right shoulder in January. The injury, a Type V AC Joint dislocation, was initially suffered during a game last September, though Loveland was able to play through the injury for the rest of the 2024 college season.

Dr. Neal Elattrache, Loveland’s surgeon, had stated prior to the NFL Draft that the tight end would be ready for the start of NFL training camp this year. That said, the Bears have not confirmed whether or not they expect Loveland on the field when training camp begins.

Mike Berman of NBC Chicago asked Loveland on Tuesday morning about the shoulder injury and reports that Loveland stated his shoulder is “100%.” However, when asked if he would be on the field at the start of training camp, the tight end stated that is yet to be determined.

Colston Loveland says his shoulder is 100%, but when I asked if he’ll be out on the field when camp begins, he said TBD. #Bears

— Mike Berman (@MikeBermanNBC) July 15, 2025​

Chicago Bears rookies are scheduled to report to training camp this Saturday, July 19th. Veterans report to camp on Tuesday, July 22nd.

Additionally, the Bears’ 2025 second round draft selection remain unsigned as of this Tuesday. That includes WR Luther Burden III, OT Ozzy Trapilo, and DT Shemar Turner.

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...d-chicago-bears-shoulder-injury-training-camp

 

[Chicago Bears]

The Mac & Read Show: Bears Prepping for Training Camp

Photo by Matt Dirksen/Getty Images

Talking Chicago Sports and Pop Culture!

Check out the latest Mac & Read Show on our 2nd City Gridiron channel!

Chicago Bears training camp is less than a week away, so Evan McLean and Ross Read return to discuss all things Bears. They dive into the positional battles, their expectations for Caleb Williams, and the importance of this new coaching staff. Plus, it’s not just sports from the fellas; they also have some reactions to the new Clipse album and share a few thoughts about some of the summer movies.

Check it out in the embeds below!

Video version:

Once the show wraps, we’ll publish the audio version on our podcast feed.

Podcast version:

Our 2nd City Gridiron Podcast Channel is available on Apple, Spotify, iHeart, Audacy, and other popular podcast platforms, so be sure to hit subscribe wherever you get your audio. Our YouTube home is also called 2nd City Gridiron, so subscribe there for our podcasts and other video content.

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...show-chicago-bears-prepping-for-training-camp

 

[Chicago Bears]

Can the Bears 2025 Defense give us a Return of the Monsters?

Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images

Which Chicago Bears players on defense will set the tone this upcoming season and bring back the Monsters of the Midway?

Football is a violent sport played by some of the strongest, most athletic, most determined, and intense individuals on the planet. The best teams play with an intensity that overwhelms their opponents from opening kickoff to final whistle, usually with a handful of players leading the charge.

The Chicago Bears were deemed “Monsters of the Midway” after fielding multiple such squads, resulting in six championships in the 1930s and 1940s. Those Monsters returned with arguably the greatest defense in pro football history in the 1985 Chicago Bears.

Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
The ‘85 Monsters had half a dozen enforcers throughout.

Since then, only two such iterations of the Chicago Bears resembled anything close to “Monster Status” - the 2005 Bears and the 2018 version. Each with at least 4 “Monsters” on defense. In 2005, it was Tommie Harris, Brian Urlacher, Lance Briggs, Mike Brown, and Chris Harris - players whose intensity and physicality made opponents think twice about catching or carrying the ball near them.

Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images
The 2005 Bears D had their fair share of Monsters as well.

In 2018, Chicago had Akiem Hicks, Khalil Mack, Danny Trevathan, and Roquan Smith. One could argue for Kyle Fuller or Adrian Amos a well, but the point is, there were players at each level who opposing offenses had to bear in mind.

Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The 2018 Bears had some of the most intimidating Monsters of all time.

However, the Bears have been lacking some teeth the last few years, which has coincided with more losing than winning. Can the 2024 Bears return to “Monsters of the Midway” status? If so, here are my players to watch for “Monster Status”:

Safety - Jaquan Brisker

Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images
When healthy, Bears Safety Jaquan Brisker is a Monster whose presence is felt every snap.

Few have a nose for the ball like former Penn State Nittany Lion Jaquan Brisker. Be it blowing up ball carriers and pass catchers in intimidating fashion or scaring the QB as a blitzer and ball-hawk, Brisker needs only to stay healthy to ensure “Monster Status.”

DB - Kyler Gordon

Photo by Todd Rosenberg/Getty Images
Though Spidey is a good guy, his versatility on defense is as scary as it gets

Having just signed his first contract extension of his young career, Kyler Gordon is stepping into his best opportunity as a pro, thanks to new Defensive Coordinator Dennis Allen. Allen has gone on record voicing excitement over the 25 year old DB and the many ways his skillets can be put to use. If Kyler can remain healthy, I expect this Monster to be one of the most impactful playmakers in the entire league in 2025.

LB - Tremaine Edmunds

Photo by Todd Rosenberg/Getty Images
If “The Predator” can step up his game and make more plays like this forced fumble, he will be well on his way to Monster status.

Easily one of the most polarizing Bears on the current roster thanks to the massive $72 million contract he signed with the team in the 2023 off-season, the 2025 defense's success will largely depend on Edmunds. If he can improve his game with added talent up front on the DL, I expect more bone-jarring hits and turnovers, comfortably placing the former Virginia Tech Hokie in “Monster Status” moving forward.

DE - Montez Sweat

Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images
If Sweat can regain this “sparkle in his eye,” then offenses must be on the lookout for another Monster in 2025.

After a fantastic start to his tenure as a Chicago Bear in 2023, Montez Sweat failed to make much of an impact in 2025. Though he was reported to have played injured most of the season, the Chicago Bears will need more from their top DL in order for them to return to “Monster Status.”

---

As we can clearly see, health plays a pivotal role in Monsters being scary, but if these 4 Bears can remain healthy and improve their game with new coaching and talent around them, not only do I expect one of the best defenses in the league in 2025, but I also expect each of these players to join the ranks of Hicks, Mack, Briggs and Urlacher in “Monster Status” as we look back at this season.

Honorable Mentions:

Grady Jarrett/Shemar Turner, Gervon Dexter Sr., Kevin Byard

---

What about you? Who is most likely to resemble a Monster in 2025, and whose play is most integral for the Bears D to return to “Monster Status”?​

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...brisker-tyrique-stevenson-shemar-turner-byard

 

[Chicago Bears]

The Bear’s Den, July 17, 2025

My daughter at her first Soldier Field Bears game. J. Remley

Training camps have started at last, not yet in Chicago but it’s close.

WE WANT YOU!

Would you like to show your Chicago Bears spirit to the world? I’m starting a feature where Windy City Gridiron readers can share pictures of themselves and their families and friends in Bears attire. Simply email a picture to me at the following address: denmasterken at aol dot com. The pictures need to be clear, and full resolution (i.e. full size from your phone if that’s how you take them). Include any description information you like along with the photo!

THE DAILY SPONGIE SPECIAL

DENMASTER KEN’S VIDEO GRAB BAG

BEARRRSSSS​

Shemar Turner: Can Chicago Bears rookie DT harness his fire? Chicago Tribune - Shemar Turner plays with a fire that Chicago Bears coaches Ben Johnson and Dennis Allen like. Will that be enough for him to earn playing time on a crowded defensive line?

Luther Burden III Blazes His Own Trail to the NFL - Meet the Rookies - ChicagoBears.com - Since he was 6 years old, Luther Burden III was a name known throughout the city of St. Louis as he dominated every basketball court and football field he stepped foot on.

My daughter at her first Soldier Field Bears game. J. Remley

Urlacher hopes to see Kreutz join him in Hall of Fame - 670
- Bears great Brian Urlacher hopes that more of his former teammates earn their place in Canton as Hall of Famers, and there’s one player in particular whom he really hopes to see get that recognition.

POLISH SAUSAGE

Following fireworks mishap, Najee Harris will open training camp on non-football injury list - NBC Sports - New Chargers RB suffered eye injury at July 4 event.

Zach Ertz: Jayden Daniels wants to be so great that it really resonates with guys - NBC Sports - Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels had a wildly successful first season, leading his team to the NFC Championship Game and winning AP offensive rookie of the year.

Falcons will wear throwback uniforms three times in 2025 - NBC Sports - The Falcons’ red helmets will be making three appearances during the 2025 season.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON​

Can the Bears 2025 Defense give us a Return of the Monsters? - Windy City Gridiron - Which Chicago Bears players on defense will set the tone this upcoming season and bring back the Monsters of the Midway?

Chicago Bears: Projecting The Top 3 Offensive Training Camp Battles - Windy City Gridiron - With Training Camp just over a week away, we’ll wrap up the final installment of a two-part series. This week, we’ll take a deeper dive into the three best camp battles on the offensive side of the ball.

Chicago Bears 2025 Offseason Superlatives: Surprising Move - Windy City Gridiron - Check out part 4 of our final Chicago Bears roundtable before training camp starts!

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE PAGE

2nd City Gridiron is our video home! So hit the link and help us grow that brand!

THE RULES

Windy City Gridiron Community Guidelines - SBNation.com - We strive to make our communities open and inclusive to sports fans of all backgrounds. The following are not permitted in comments. No personal attacks, politics, gender-based insults of any kind, racial insults, etc.

2nd City Gridiron Podcast Channel which includes Bears Banter hosted by Bill Zimmerman, Bear & Balanced from Jeff Berckes and Lester A. Wiltfong Jr., Bears Over Beers featuring Ryan Droste and Bryan Orenchuk, Making Monsters with Taylor Doll, Bear Bones from Dr. Mason West, The Mac & Read Show from Evan McLean and Ross Read, and an occasional T Formation Conversation from Lester; Steven’s Streaming Twitch Channel from Steven Schweickert is another fun one.

Powered by RedCircle

Click on our names to follow our Windy City Gridiron and 2nd City Gridiron teams on Twitter: Gary Baugher Jr.; Jeff Berckes; Dr. Patti Curl; Sarah DeNicolo; Ryan Droste; Eric Christopher Duerrwaechter; Dan Durkin; Taylor Doll; Donald Gooch; Kev H; Sam Householder; Jacob Infante; Aaron Lemming; Evan McLean; Dr. Ken Mitchell; Danny Meehan; Bryan Orenchuk; Ross Read: Jack R Salo; Steven Schweickert; Jack Silverstein; Khari Thompson; Lester Wiltfong, Jr.; T.J. Starman; Khari Thompson; Dr. Mason West; Bill Zimmerman; 2nd City Gridiron; Like WCG on Facebook; Like 2nd City Gridiron on Facebook.

A few of us are also over at Bluesky.​

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...les-offseason-draft-ben-johnson-training-camp

 

[Chicago Bears]

Chicago Bears 2025 Offseason Superlatives: Cautiously Optimistic

Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images

Check out part 5 of our final Chicago Bears roundtable before training camp starts!

Jacob Infante shared his Chicago Bears offseason superlatives on his Twitter page last week, and then he elaborated on those selections in this article, so several of us wanted to get in on the fun by doing our own version. We’ve been rolling these out all week, so check out our latest here, they share yours in the comment section.

Next up is our take on the most we’re Cautiously Optimistic about.

Ryan Droste: Jonah Jackson. A bad injury really derailed his time in Los Angeles, but I’m thinking that Ben Johnson and Dan Roushar can turn things around and get Jackson back to where he was during his time as a Pro Bowler in Detroit.

Jeff Berckes: Give me one Ozzy Trapilo. Ozzy Bear’s tape was like watching paint dry - about the best compliment you can pay to a tackle. I think there’s a real chance he plays significant snaps this year, and the Bears have their starting offensive line locked in for the foreseeable future. Stability in the offensive line would be the ultimate hack for this team moving forward.

Bryan Orenchuk: Cautiously optimistic that Roschon Johnson can man the RB1B role in Ben Johnson’s offense. We all know he can succeed as a short-yardage back, but can he keep the chains moving between the 20s and stay healthy while complementing D’Andre Swift? I am cautiously optimistic.

Johnathan Wood: Run Game. Everybody is worried about this after the Bears didn’t significantly upgrade a running back room that averaged a paltry 3.6 yards/carry in 2024, but I fully expect the rushing attack to be significantly better this year due to upgrades on the offensive line and at play caller. Those two things matter far more than the individual running back unless you have a truly special back. For example, David Montgomery averaged 3.9 yards/carry in Chicago but has been at 4.4 through 2 seasons in Detroit, and D’Andre Swift averaged 4.6 yards/carry in Philadelphia in 2023 before falling to 3.8 last year in Chicago. The Bears don’t have a great running back room - I expect it to be much improved in 2026 - but the running game should still be effective this year.

Sam Householder: I’m coming around on Ozzy Trapilo. At first, it seemed like a move for the future or kind of a project or something. But the further along it goes with minicamps and such, it really seems like the Bears are serious about him being the day one LT, and it seems like it could work out.

Gary Baugher Jr.: Kyle Monangai. Despite being a late 7th-round pick, I think with the way Ben Johnson uses his RBs, and the skillset Monangai brings to the team, he has a chance to have a productive rookie season. Let’s not forget there’s another Rutgers 7th-round RB in the league who has shown some very good things with another great offensive-minded HC! (Isiah Pacheco)

TJ Starman: Jonah Jackson is a move that I am definitely cautiously optimistic about. Everything that the Bears are selling has some logic to it, right? Jackson has familiarity with Ben Johnson, he played very well with the Lions prior to last season with the Rams where he was injured and (arguably) playing out of position, etc. etc. BUT he is coming off a miserable year in LA and the Bears extended him without seeing him take a single snap, so there’s nothing guaranteed here.

Josh Sunderbruch: Ozzy Trapilo. I have to admit he’s grown on me as a pick. I like his tape, and I think he was probably drafted in about the right spot.

Mongo Peanut: DE across from Sweat. Look, the DL is the biggest question mark on the roster right now. Sweat is above average, Jarrett can still contribute in stretches, and Dexter/Billings should be solid. However, Dayo Adeyingbo, Shamar Turner, and Austin Booker are largely unknowns. I’m confident that one of the three will prove to be a valuable piece across from Sweat, but it’s entirely possible that the Bears hugely underperform on the EDGE.

Donald Gooch: A non-move here - the Bears did not sign a top-dollar RB nor use significant draft capital on a running back. But there are intriguing names in that room, headlined by Swift, who Ben Johnson has already maximized when in Detroit.

Lester A. Wiltfong Jr.: While I fully expect the run game to be better with Ben Johnson calling the shots, I have some concerns about the overall position group. I’ve talked myself into the best-case scenario for the group, but I still have some doubts.

Which offseason move has you Cautiously Optimistic?

Here are the ones we’ve done so far.

• Best Move
• Worst Move
• Slept-on Move
• Surprising Move

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...optimistic-jonah-jackson-ozzy-trapilo-roschon

 

[Chicago Bears]

The Bear’s Den, July - 18, 2025

Pic of me at the Antarctic Scott’s base for work 5 or so years ago. I like the claim the first Bears jersey on the continent lol. Christian Adams

Rookies report for training camp tomorrow... the endless offseason is finally over!

WE WANT YOU!

Would you like to show your Chicago Bears spirit to the world? I’m starting a feature where Windy City Gridiron readers can share pictures of themselves and their families and friends in Bears attire. Simply email a picture to me at the following address: denmasterken at aol dot com. The pictures need to be clear, and full resolution (i.e. full size from your phone if that’s how you take them). Include any description information you like along with the photo!

THE DAILY SPONGIE SPECIAL

DENMASTER KEN’S VIDEO GRAB BAG

BEARRRSSSS​

Handicapping Chicago Bears’ three-way or two-way tackle battle - 670 - Now that Ozzy Trapilo is signed and ready to start practices, the left tackle battle is against Kiran Amegadjie but Braxton Jones should be heard from at some point.

2025 NFL ‘Triplets’ rankings: Bengals reclaim top spot, Bears less than mid. - CBSSports - Chicago? It’s pretty incredible to be this high up the list and only be ranked 21st, 22nd or 23rd on every single ballot.

Turner, Trapilo reach deals with Bears on rookie contracts - 670 - Defensive tackle Shemar Turner and offensive tackle Ozzy Trapilo have reached agreements with the Bears on their rookie contracts, according to reports Thursday.

Pic of me at the Antarctic Scott’s base for work 5 or so years ago. I like the claim the first bears jersey on the continent lol. Christian Adams

Bears agree to terms with two second-round picks - Chicago Sun-Times - Shemar Turner and Ozzy Trapilo will report to training camp Saturday.

Chicago Bears reach rookie deals with Shemar Turner, Ozzy Trapilo - 670 - Shemar Turner and Ozzy Trapilo are now poised to begin Chicago Bears training camp on time, and that could be a sign that Luther Burden III soon might follow.

POLISH SAUSAGE

Texas A&M coach Mike Elko: "No intentions" of Shemar Stewart returning to Aggies - NBC Sports - The headline at ESPN.com speaks in absolutes.

Steelers, T.J. Watt agree to three-year contract extension - NBC Sports - The dispute between Pittsburgh and Watt is over, as the edge rusher is set to become the highest-paid defensive player in league history.

Report: Cowboys dock Trevon Diggs $500,000 for not rehabbing with the team enough - NBC Sports - Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs will lose $500,000 from his base salary for not rehabbing at the team facility enough.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON​

The Bear Essentials: Explaining My Quarterback Grading System - Windy City Gridiron - An introduction to the Quarterback grading system I will be using for the 2025 season.

Chicago Bears 2025 Offseason Superlatives: Cautiously Optimistic - Windy City Gridiron - Check out part 5 of our final Chicago Bears roundtable before training camp starts!

10 Chicago Bears Breakout Candidates For the 2025 Season - Windy City Gridiron - From the minute that head coach Ben Johnson stepped foot into Halas Hall, clear expectations for the 2025 season were laid out. Playoffs are expected, but it will take improvements all over the roster to fulfill that hope. Here are 10 breakout candidates for the Chicago Bears’ upcoming season.

Bears Sign OT Ozzy Trapilo To 4-Year Rookie Deal - Windy City Gridiron - The Bears have signed Trapilo, who will compete for the starting LT job.

2025 Chicago Bears Training Camp Battle: Tyrique Stevenson v Terell Smith - Windy City Gridiron - It’s a big year for Tyrique Stevenson if he’s going to be a part of the Bears moving forward.

Bears Sign DT Shemar Turner to 4-Year Deal - Windy City Gridiron - The first of three second round selections for the Bears have signed their initial rookie contracts after a league-wide stalemate took place over the last few months.

10 Most Important Bears of 2025: #2 Joe Thuney - Windy City Gridiron - For the 17th straight year, we’re bringing you who we believe will be the ten most important Chicago Bears for the upcoming season, and at number 2 is All-Pro Joe Thuney.

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE PAGE

2nd City Gridiron is our video home! So hit the link and help us grow that brand!

THE RULES

Windy City Gridiron Community Guidelines - SBNation.com - We strive to make our communities open and inclusive to sports fans of all backgrounds. The following are not permitted in comments. No personal attacks, politics, gender-based insults of any kind, racial insults, etc.

2nd City Gridiron Podcast Channel which includes Bears Banter hosted by Bill Zimmerman, Bear & Balanced from Jeff Berckes and Lester A. Wiltfong Jr., Bears Over Beers featuring Ryan Droste and Bryan Orenchuk, Making Monsters with Taylor Doll, Bear Bones from Dr. Mason West, The Mac & Read Show from Evan McLean and Ross Read, and an occasional T Formation Conversation from Lester; Steven’s Streaming Twitch Channel from Steven Schweickert is another fun one.

Powered by RedCircle

Click on our names to follow our Windy City Gridiron and 2nd City Gridiron teams on Twitter: Gary Baugher Jr.; Jeff Berckes; Dr. Patti Curl; Sarah DeNicolo; Ryan Droste; Eric Christopher Duerrwaechter; Dan Durkin; Taylor Doll; Donald Gooch; Kev H; Sam Householder; Jacob Infante; Aaron Lemming; Evan McLean; Dr. Ken Mitchell; Danny Meehan; Bryan Orenchuk; Ross Read: Jack R Salo; Steven Schweickert; Jack Silverstein; Khari Thompson; Lester Wiltfong, Jr.; T.J. Starman; Khari Thompson; Dr. Mason West; Bill Zimmerman; 2nd City Gridiron; Like WCG on Facebook; Like 2nd City Gridiron on Facebook.

A few of us are also over at Bluesky.​

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...les-offseason-draft-ben-johnson-training-camp

 

[Chicago Bears]

Chicago Bears 2025 Offseason Superlatives: Favorite Day Three Draft Pick

Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Check out the final part of our latest Chicago Bears roundtable series!

We wrap up our Chicago Bears offseason superlatives series with our Favorite Day Three Draft Pick.

Sam Householder: Probably an oddball pick here, but Ruben Hyppolite. I get that he wasn’t on a lot of radars, and it feels like a reach pick when put in that context. However, he has some crazy speed and measurables, and there were some legit reasons he flew so far under the radar. We’ll see, but it’s an intriguing pick to me.

Ryan Droste: Luke Newman. I’m all for adding to our OL depth, and I think he has the intangibles to be very good in the league. He played all three interior OL positions during the Shrine Bowl and showed some real versatility. Plus, he started every game last year at Michigan State and looked great against some very talented DTs

Bryan Orenchuk: Kyle Monangai, RB from Rutgers. Though he wasn’t in my top 10 RB’s in this draft, he was in my top 20 and could prove to be a sneaky addition on a team with snaps to be had in the RB room. If Swift and Roschon fail to make enough of an impact, expect Monangai to play early and often. His success in the B1G Ten indicates he can have similar success at this level, especially with the improvements to the OL that Chicago made this off-season.

Gary Baugher Jr.: Kyle Monangai (again). He was the focal point of the Rutgers offense and carried that load very well in a tough B10 environment. He has fantastic contact balance, can be sneaky shifty, has great ball security, and brings a much-needed tenacity in pass pro. All things that generally translate well in the NFL.

Jeff Berckes: Picking from the Day 3 picks is like blindly choosing a treat from the box of chocolates that has been picked over by Dan from accounting, who stole the cheat sheet on his way back to the 3rd floor. Maybe you get lucky with a caramel that someone left behind by mistake, but you’re probably going to get an orange cream. Anyway, give me the kid who’s never fumbled.

Johnathan Wood: Trading down. This is cheating, as it’s not a specific player or pick, but the Bears traded down multiple times on day 3, landing extra 5th and 6th round picks this year and a 4th rounder next year. Given that any individual day 3 pick has a very low chance of panning out, this is extremely shrewd draft management. If you want me to highlight a specific player, I guess I’ll go with Kyle Monangai. He should compete with Roschon Johnson to be Chicago’s between the tackles runner.

TJ Starman: Kyle Monangai has grown on me and inspired hope that he can be a solid contributor to the team’s running game this season, despite being a 7th-round draft pick. By most accounts, the depth of this year’s running back class pushed Monangai down draft boards in a way that likely wouldn’t have happened in most drafts. This could mean that the Bears got a steal in round 7 that could be a main cog in the machine by mid-season and I’d be ecstatic to see it.

Josh Sunderbruch: Luke Newman. I will almost always support spending a late pick on trying to develop depth for the offensive line.

Mongo Peanut: Zah Frazier. He’s long. He can run. He can take the ball away. What more can you ask for? In an elite cornerback room, the Bears now have incredible depth behind JJ, Gordon, and Stevenson with Blackwell, Terell Smith, and now Frazier. All he needs to do is play good special teams this season, but there is a huge chance of him developing into a starting-level cornerback given his traits. That’s a Day 3 pick worth celebrating.

Donald Gooch: Luke Newman. He has upside as a backup OG, and I think he can eventually slot in as a starter at center.

Lester A. Wiltfong Jr.: I was hoping for a running back earlier, but Monangai in the seventh seems like a guy who will be able to contribute early. While not a speedster, he has good vision, runs with power, has good balance, and can pick up a blitz.

Here are the previous parts of our series in case you missed them.

• Best Move
• Worst Move
• Slept-on Move
• Surprising Move
• Cautiously Optimistic

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...ay-three-draft-pick-luke-newman-kyle-monangai

 

[Chicago Bears]

Chicago Bears sign rookie Luther Burden III, wrap up their draft class

Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images

The terms of the deal are fully guaranteed.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Chicago Bears have signed the final member of their 2025 draft class, inking wide receiver Luther Burden III to a fully guaranteed, four-year contract worth $10.965 million. Per Schefter, this is the first time the 39th overall selection has ever received a fully guaranteed deal.

For those scoring at home, last year the Bears wrapped up their 2024 draft class on July 17, so this was just a day of that pace.

On Thursday, Chicago’s other second-rounders signed, so Burden should join offensive tackle Ozzy Trapilo (56th overall) and defensive tackle Shemar Turner (62nd overall) at Hallas Hall on Saturday when rookies report for training camp.

Burden was hampered by a soft tissue injury at rookie minicamp, which sidelined him for the duration of their offseason workout program. The Bears haven’t made an announcement about his availability for training camp, but considering the team let him throw out the first pitch at a June 17 White Sox game, I would imagine he’ll be ready to go.

He was a surprise selection, but his value and upside made him too good to pass on for Ben Johnson’s new offense.

At a May 9th press conference, Burden was asked if he still had a chip on his schoulder after falling out of the first round, or if he was leaving that behind him following draft weekend.

“No, that’s staying with me forever,” Burden said. “Everyone who passed up on me gotta pay.”

He’s sure to be a bit behind after losing so much valuable practice time at minicamp and OTAs, but he’s too talented to be down the depth chart for long.

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...her-burden-iii-wrap-up-their-draft-class-2025

 

[Chicago Bears]

Chicago Bears place Jaylon Johnson and three others on the Non-Football Injury List

Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images

On Saturday, the Chicago Bears placed four players on the Active/Non-Football Injury list: cornerback Jaylon Johnson, quarterback Case Keenum, running back Ian Wheeler, and undrafted free agent wide receiver Jahdae Walker.

The NFI is for players who are unable to practice due to an illness or injury that occurred outside of the team’s football activities. Chicago hasn’t announced any specifics on these four players, but my guess is it’ll likely be a short-term thing. Wheeler injured his knee last preseason and spent all last year on injured reserve, but he was an offseason workout participant.

While on the NFI list, these four players count towards the 90-man offseason roster, and they can be removed from the list at any time.

No news thus far on the three known injured Bears, left tackle Braxton Jones, reserve offensive lineman Ryan Bates, and rookie tight end Colston Loveland, but if something is announced, we’ll share it here at WCG.

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...-football-injury-list-case-keenum-ian-wheeler