The Chicago Bears officially kicked off training camp at Halas Hall with their first practice, and it didn’t take long for new head coach Ben Johnson to make his presence felt. Known for his demanding and intense approach during the spring, Johnson wasted no time setting the tone.
Offense Struggles Early
It was a tough outing for the first team offense. During a drill, they failed to line up correctly, making Johnson pull them off the field—a clear sign that sloppiness won’t be tolerated. His message was loud and clear: precision matters. A complete 180 from the previous regime.
Defense Brings the Energy
DC Dennis Allen also kept the pressure high. At one point, he had his players doing up-downs, reinforcing accountability. His words: “You have to pay the price. It’s a privilege to be in this defense.”
Notable Observations:
- Braxton Jones took first team reps at left tackle in early drills, though he showed some rust with a false start on the first snap.
- During full team periods, Ozzy Trapilo got the initial reps at left tackle. With Jones still ramping up, this rotation wasn’t unexpected. All three tackles—Trapilo, Jones, and Amegadjie—rotated during walkthroughs.
- Tremaine Edmunds made a statement on the first play of 11 on 11, intercepting quarterback Caleb Williams. Said Allen: “He’s got size, range, and speed… it’s hard to throw over him with that length in the middle.” This is a big season for Edmunds.
- Case Keenum worked as the second team quarterback, with Tyson Bagent running with the third team. The Bears have emphasized that the backup QB job is up for grabs, so expect rotation in the coming days.
- Nashon Wright took reps with the first team defense during team and 7-on-7 drills, filling in for Jaylon Johnson, who is dealing with a leg injury.
- Rookies Luther Burden III and Zah Frazier were not at practice. Burden is still recovering from a hamstring injury suffered in OTAs after landing awkwardly on a ball during minicamp. This is worth monitoring as camp progresses.
With Day 1 in the books, the tone for this year’s camp is already clear: sharp execution and intensity will be the standard.
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