Nobody can ever say they’re not really hitting in training camp. For the first time, the Chicago Bears held their first “live” drills during practice. This meant full contact was permitted. Of course, nobody went out with the intention of hurting each other. That said, there was an inevitable bit of chippiness to this practice on both sides. The highlight though came courtesy of cornerback Kindle Vildor.
The second-year corner is battling for the chance to become a starter this season. He’s been competing with veteran Desmond Trufant for that honor. By most accounts, the youngster has stood out more often. It also helps that Trufant went on the shelf with a groin injury. What often gets overlooked with cornerbacks is they can hit too. Kyle Fuller was notorious for it. Now it seems Vildor aims to carry on that tradition.
New teammate Marquise Goodwin was his latest victim.
The best part of that sequence was the hit was 100% clean. Vildor led with the shoulder, didn’t hit Goodwin in the head, and jarred the ball loose to prevent a completion. That is textbook stuff. A good reminder of how disciplined he’s getting in his approach. Throw in his strong coverage over the past week? He is tightening his grip on that starting job.
Will he be good? That remains to be seen. If so? Then the Bears’ incredible track record of success in the 5th round will be furthered. Remember they’ve already scored names like Adrian Amos, Jordan Howard, Bilal Nichols, and Darnell Mooney in that area. Vildor is more than capable of joining that growing club.
Subscribe to the BFR Youtube channel and ride shotgun with Dave and Ficky as they break down Bears football like nobody else.
Kindle Vildor found his swagger near the end of 2021
Up until that point, he’d been struggling to grasp the speed and complexity of the NFL. Hardly surprising for a rookie. He feels two key things changed that. A chance to work against star Minnesota Vikings receivers Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen. Then being named the starter for the playoff game in New Orleans. Both games in which he played quite well. He still had his education moments, but like any good corner, he shrugged them off and kept learning.
Now it seems he put the offseason to great use. He’s playing with more confidence than ever. His body is in premium condition and Bears receivers have to battle him on every snap to make catches. That hit on Goodwin was merely a message that even teammates weren’t going to escape his wrath if they weren’t careful. That should make the coaching staff more than happy.
Goodwin? Not so much.
There is still a long way to go before anything is decided. Vildor though has the edge at this point in the race and Trufant is going to lose ground the longer he sits out with injury. A problem that has dogged him for the past couple of years. It would be quite a story if two players from the same draft class ended up being the Bears’ primary outside corners on opening night in Los Angeles.
