Grady Jarrett was not the addition many Chicago Bears fans saw coming. They knew the team was focused on improving the defensive line. What they expected was the focus to stay on the outside at defensive end. Adding a former Pro Bowl defensive tackle led to questions about what the plans were for Gervon Dexter. He’d filled the three-technique interior pass rusher role last season and did a pretty good job. Jarrett’s arrival led some to wonder if Dexter might get demoted. In truth, the defensive line was inheriting new responsibilities.
While Dexter still has a prominent role as an interior pass rusher, he will likely do it from the nose tackle position moving forward. Jarrett will handle the three-technique spots. Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen plans to rotate guys around, finding favorable matchups. To his credit, Dexter has looked at this as a setback. If anything, the arrival of Jarrett has already proven fortuitous. He revealed to the media that the wily veteran has already made him a better player in the most unexpected way.
"Sometimes Grady knows what's about to happen based off formation… and now I can play even faster and make plays off of it."
Imagine what he could become if he regularly knew what was coming from opposing offenses. That is the advantage Jarrett brings to the table. People always talk about his explosive first step and quickness. Both are true, but what made the two-time Pro Bowler so deadly was his intelligence. He was always in the right position to counter offensive play, so you had to game-plan specifically for him. Atlanta never managed to take full advantage of that. Their defensive lines lacked overall strength. At least Chicago has some good pieces in place with Gervon Dexter and Montez Sweat. Jarrett might not be at his physical peak anymore. That doesn’t mean he won’t impact games. All the defensive line has to do is follow his lead.
George Wolkow has recorded 75 hits for the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers this season, most of them unseen by anyone outside North Carolina or those closely following the White Sox minor league system. But that all changed on Tuesday when the White Sox No. 11 prospect went viral for an unconventional swing that earned him a spot on SportsCenter’s Top Ten plays.
Wolkow tried to call a timeout before the first pitch of his first at-bat against the Braves’ No. 29 prospect, Ethan Bagwell, after Bagwell hesitated in his delivery. Stepping out of the box and lifting his right hand off the bat, Wolkow signaled for time — but the request wasn’t granted. As the first-base umpire called a balk on Bagwell, the pitcher still fired a pitch home, giving Wolkow a free swing.
White Sox prospect George Wolkow makes the one-handed swing look CRAZY easy 🤯 pic.twitter.com/iNNeGN7hyb
The 19-year-old reached out with a one-handed swing, sending a grounder toward first base and catching Augusta’s defense off guard. By the time the first baseman reacted, Wolkow had reached safely, while Kannapolis leadoff man Jordan Sprinkle, who was already attempting to steal third on the pitch, came all the way around to score.
One night later, Winston-Salem Dash right-hander Phil Fox fired nine straight strikes against the Asheville Tourists to lock down a 4-2 victory with an immaculate inning. What was most impressive about Fox’s immaculate innings was that he did it with seven swinging strikes, which included six in a row to open the frame.
Oct 26, 2022; Surprise, Arizona, USA; Chicago Cubs outfielder Owen Caissie plays for the Mesa Solar Sox during an Arizona Fall League baseball game at Surprise Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
The Chicago Cubs officially called up their No. 1 prospect and Craig Counsell’s put him in Thursday’s starting lineup in the team’s series finale against the Toronto Blue Jays. After Miguel Amaya was carted off the field in Wednesday’s 4-1 win the Cubs promoted Owen Caissie from Triple-A Iowa.
Caissie, 23, has been on fire during the past few months in the minor leagues and the Cubs are certainly hoping that he’ll provide a spark to the slumping offense. The left-handed batter is starting at DH and batting fifth as Seiya Suzuki is getting the day off. Meanwhile, center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong is also on the bench against Max Scherzer as Willi Castro is filling in for the struggling outfielder.
Ian Happ is batting second as the Cubs are shaking up their lineup on Thursday with Caissie’s debut.
Caissie posted a .955 OPS in 93 games at Triple-A this season with 22 home runs.
When we talk about wanting a guy to break the door down to earn a MLB call-up, this is what we’re talking about.
Owen Caissie’s final 50 minor league games:
.335/.430/.665 13.1 BB% / 23.8 K% 15 HR
— Cubs Prospects – Bryan Smith (@cubprospects) August 14, 2025
Not only will Caissie always remember today, but his MLB debut must feel a lot more special as the Canadian native gets to play in his first major league game in his home country. Caissie is making his debut about 35 miles away from where he attended high school in Burlington, Ontario, Canada.
May 9, 2025; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears offensive line Luke Newman (65) and Theo Benedet (79) run during the Rookie Minicamp at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
Something strange is happening at Halas Hall. Going into this training camp, most people felt the left tackle job was a battle between Braxton Jones and two former high draft choices: Kiran Amegadjie and Ozzy Trapilo. Amegadjie suffered a leg injury a week ago, forcing him to miss the preseason opener. This seemed to narrow the competition to Jones and Trapilo, with Jones holding a slight edge. That assumption might’ve been premature. In the last two days, the Bears completely shook things up when they inserted former undrafted free agent Theo Benedet into the mix. He was almost exclusively with the starting offense on Thursday, signaling this is not a fluke decision. The coaches are serious. GM Ryan Poles has more insight into it than most.
He was asked whether Benedet has a real shot at the starting job on 670 The Score. The answer was eye-opening. The left tackle competition is still wide open. No decision is made. The Bears aren’t looking for the guy they want to succeed. They’re waiting for somebody to take the job. The goal is to find somebody who can play “free.” Benedet has earned that chance with his strong camp and promising performance in the preseason opener.
Ryan Poles is disinterested in draft status with this decision.
His job was never to ensure his higher picks got starting jobs. It was always about taking enough bites at the apple until the Bears found tackles who could do the job. Darnell Wright worked out well. Finding a left tackle has been tougher. Jones has the athleticism but not the power. Amegadjie has the physical ability, but can’t stay healthy. Trapilo is a rookie and switched positions from his natural right tackle spot. Benedet was a calculated risk last year. He performed well in the pre-draft All-Star game circuit, boasting great size and athleticism. The problem is that he came from Canada and was completely untested against premier defensive linemen. It seems Benedet has learned a lot over the past year and is applying those lessons to great effect. Ryan Poles and the coaching staff have taken notice and seem willing to let him chase the main job.
Former Bears 3rd round pick Kiran Amegadjie takes a brief rest during practice.
The Chicago Bears haven’t made a decision at left tackle, and Wednesday’s practice only created more confusion. For the past several days, it felt like the position was down to a battle between veteran Braxton Jones and rookie 2nd round pick Ozzy Trapilo. However, that got thrown for a loop when Trapilo spent more time at right tackle in practice while Jones split time with former undrafted free agent Theo Benedet. It was the latest sign that the coaching staff still hasn’t reached a decision.
League insider Tony Pauline of Sportskeeda added more intrigue to the mix. His report on the Bears’ situation revealed a belief inside Halas Hall that Jones still isn’t fully healthy. They can’t be sure when that will change, as his inconsistency remains frustrating. Trapilo has been fine, but Ben Johnson and Dan Roushar are reluctant to start a rookie at left tackle. That is when Pauline dropped a fascinating nugget. Apparently, the team quietly loved Kiran Amegadjie and hoped he could win the job outright.
Durability has been an issue for Amegadjie, the team’s third-round pick out of Yale in 2024. Highly rated by NFL scouts, he missed most of his senior season in college due to a serious thigh injury and was sidelined recently due to an unrelated leg strain. As a rookie last year, Amegadjie dressed for six games and started one. The coaching staff hopes Amegadjie can compete for the starting job, if not win it outright, as he’s incredibly athletic and stands out in pass protection, but he must stay healthy.
Kiran Amegadjie worked at left tackle with the third team if you’re tracking how things are working.
New period beginning now and Braxton at LT with 1s.
Excited to see Kiran Amegadjie in action when camp and preseason come around.
The Chicagoland kid will be a key depth piece across the entire OL.
Low penalty, low pressure guy that could be a part of this OL for years to come pic.twitter.com/NaLb8kaLu5
— Just Another Year Chicago: Bears (@JAYChi_Bears) June 9, 2024
The Chicago Bears have always seen what Amegadjie can be.
By all accounts, he started strong in training camp, trading equal reps with Jones and Trapilo on the starting offense. Then he suffered a leg injury that knocked him out for over a week. That precious missed practice time completely derailed any momentum Amegadjie may have had. It is the same problem that haunted him last year, coming into the league with a quad injury that took time to heal. By the time he returned, the season was already underway. This training camp represented his golden opportunity, and he got hurt at the worst possible time. He now must catch up on learning the new offense, hence the work with the third team.
Meanwhile, Benedet seized his chance to get more reps. Now, there is a legitimate possibility that he could push Amegadjie off the roster entirely. The former 3rd round pick has two weeks to stop that from happening.
Aug 10, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze (15) takes the field against the Miami Dolphins at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
The Chicago Bears have completed 16 training camp practices, and with all the installs essentially wrapped up, it’s a good time to take stock of who’s been rising. Here are my biggest “stock up” players on both sides of the ball.
Offense
Olamide Zacchaeus – Simply put, he’s been impressive.
Caleb Williams – They’re throwing the kitchen sink at him, and he’s improving despite all the outside noise.
Ben Johnson said he and Caleb Williams met yesterday:
"He's made significant progress.. but we have challenged him, that's a part of the learning process and us growing, but by design we have made this very challenging.. I think week 1 we're going to be in a good spot." pic.twitter.com/853oMxUiOl
Noah Sewell – A new defensive scheme has revitalized Sewell, and he’s healthier than he’s ever been with the Bears. He could be in line for a starting role.
There’s still plenty of time for players to boost their stock, especially with preseason game No. 2 coming up on Sunday night. But for now, these are the ones who have really caught my eye.
Jul 23, 2025; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson looks on during training camp at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
It’s been years since Bears fans have had a reason to give a damn about a preseason game. Usually, Soldier Field in August is just a glorified training camp scrimmage with overpriced beer and some undrafted rookie trying to play his way onto the practice squad.
But Sunday night against the Bills? Different story.
Ben Johnson’s confirmed that all Bears starters will play — Caleb Williams, DJ Moore, D’Andre Swift, the whole offensive line circus, even the first-team defense (minus the injured corners). This is the first time we’ll see the new-look Bears at full strength under the lights, and Johnson’s basically said screw it, we’re going live.
That’s bold. That’s risky. And honestly? That’s exactly what this team needs.
Johnson’s “Reps, Reps, Reps” Philosophy
Johnson’s reasoning is crystal: this roster is new, the coaching staff is new, and they need real game reps to build trust. Practice is fine. Joint practices are useful. But nothing replaces actual game speed with fans screaming and an opponent who’s trying to hit you in the mouth.
He’s been clear — the joint practice with Buffalo on Friday is going to be the barometer. If that session is high-intensity and clean, maybe some starters get fewer snaps. But right now, the plan screams meaningful minutes for the first unit.
And honestly? He’s right. The Bears skipped playing starters in the preseason opener against Miami, but ran them through a brutal 70+ play workout behind closed doors. That was basically a message: “We’re still going to work you. You just won’t get the crowd noise.”
Sunday is the real test.
Historical Patterns Say: Expect a Quarter, Maybe More
Here’s the thing: NFL history says second preseason games are when coaches start letting the starters actually get some traction. Back in 2019, starters in Week 1 of preseason averaged just 23.6% of snaps — by Week 2, most doubled that.
Recent trends:
1-2 series in Game 1,
A full quarter or more in Game 2.
For quarterbacks, that usually means 15-25 snaps. Patrick Mahomes played 18 in his second preseason game last year. Bo Nix played 19. Both had around 12-14 pass attempts.
If Johnson follows that model, Caleb Williams is looking at 2-3 drives minimum, maybe bleeding into the second quarter if they’re trying to work specific concepts.
Caleb Williams: Let’s Be Real, This Is the Big One
Forget the “it’s just preseason” crowd. This game matters for Caleb.
This will be his first real-time NFL action with his actual weapons, not a scout-team mishmash. He’ll have:
DJ Moore
Rome Odunze
Olamide Zaccheaus
D’Andre Swift
Cole Kmet
Colston Loveland
Luther Burden III
The actual starting O-line (left tackle still TBD in that dogfight battle)
That’s the core group he’s going to war with Week 1. He needs timing with them. He needs to feel what it’s like reading an NFL defense live, not just in controlled joint-practice drills.
If you think Johnson is just going to hand Williams a vanilla play sheet, you’re nuts. Expect at least a few intermediate throws and maybe one deep shot to Odunze or Moore — just to put something on tape and get that chemistry flowing.
The Risk vs. Reward Debate
Now, this is where the fanbase splits.
Risk side:
You’re one awkward hit away from losing your QB or top weapon for the season.
The NFL has been trending toward not playing starters — last year, 14 teams didn’t even trot out their starting QB through two preseason games.
If the Bills decide to bring pressure (and Sean McDermott is the type to test your protection), there’s real injury potential.
Reward side:
A young team learning a new system needs reps more than bubble wrap.
You can’t simulate the speed of a real game.
Williams and Johnson need live bullets to build trust and flow.
Johnson is basically telling the league he’s picking development over caution. That’s a gutsy call — especially in a city where QB injuries are as common as bad pizza takes.
The Defense: Shorthanded but Hungry
Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon are out, which means the Bears secondary will be patchwork.
That’s actually good for evaluation purposes — we’ll see how the rest of the DB room handles themselves against Josh Allen’s chaos-ball style. And because the starters in the secondary are thin, don’t be shocked if Johnson keeps the front-seven starters out there longer than usual to stabilize things.
Players to watch on defense:
Tremaine Edmunds vs. his old team — even in preseason, that matchup has some juice.
The pass rush rotation — can Montez Sweat generate pressure early, or will Buffalo’s O-line keep Allen clean?
Depth corners — who steps up to avoid getting torched?
Game Flow Prediction
Here’s my realistic snap-count crystal ball:
First Quarter: Starters play the full quarter. Williams gets 2-3 drives. Offense works through scripted plays and at least one deep shot.
Second Quarter: If drives in the first were quick three-and-outs, some starters bleed into Q2. If they sustained drives, expect early substitutions.
Defense: Front-seven plays through most of the first quarter, secondary rotations get messy due to current injuries of Gordon and JJ.
After Halftime: Pure evaluation mode for backups, camp bubble guys get extended looks.
Why This Matters More Than the Scoreboard
I don’t care if the Bears win 24-10 or lose 31-3 — preseason scores mean nothing.
What matters is:
Does Caleb Williams look like he belongs?
Can the O-line hold up against a real pass rush?
Are the receivers separating consistently?
Can the front-seven make life hard for an elite QB, even in vanilla schemes?
If the answer to those is “yes,” that’s a win.
If it’s “hell no” and Williams is running for his life… buckle up, because Week 1’s going to be ugly.
Final Verdict
A lot of coaches would protect their starters like they’re made of glass and Ben did that for Week 1 but now… he’s rolling the dice.
It’s risky, sure. But it’s also refreshing to see a coach who’s not scared of his own shadow. The Bears aren’t going to get better by hiding from live reps.
Sunday night is more than just a preseason game. It’s a measuring stick. And for the first time in a long time, Bears fans have a real reason to watch every snap.
Sep 29, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears defensive end Austin Booker (94) tackles Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Jordan Whittington (88) during the first half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
The Chicago Bears still have questions surrounding their pass rush. It wasn’t good enough last season. Montez Sweat played hurt for much of the year, and nobody else managed to pick up the slack. Dayo Odeyingbo is a fine addition to the team, but he’s never been a true sack specialist. He’s more of a great utility tool who can do multiple things well. The Bears still don’t have a legitimate #2 option. That is why the explosive preseason debut of Austin Booker was so exciting. His three-sack performance offered hope the Bears might have that second guy they need.
Of course, many were quick to point out it’s preseason. Judging Booker based on playing mostly backups is a losing proposition. However, former Bears head coach Dave Wannstedt told Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune there are two key reasons to think this isn’t a fluke situation.
Booker has a couple of things going for him that former Bears coach Dave Wannstedt said he always looks for in a pass rusher. First, he has a quick first step. It’s hard to win without one. Second, he always plays with a high motor. As Wannstedt said, if you watch every sack over the course of an NFL weekend, about one-third of them are hustle plays. So if Booker continues to play with a high motor, he’ll have a chance to make those plays.
Both of those traits were on full display against Miami.
Wannstedt knows more about this stuff than most. Before becoming a head coach in the NFL, he carved out a reputation as a defensive line coach at Oklahoma State and USC. He learned what good pass rushers look like. Among the players he helped develop are Dexter Manley, Jerome Brown, Cortez Kennedy, and Tony Tolbert. This is without mentioning some all-time greats he worked with, like Charles Haley and Jason Taylor.
Austin Booker controls his own destiny.
Not many 5th round picks find themselves in situations like this. The depth chart ahead of him isn’t daunting. There should be plenty of defensive snaps coming his way. The new Bears coaching staff likes his progress. His preseason explosion merely confirmed what they’ve been seeing flashes of in practice. The last step for Austin Booker is the most difficult: proving it against starting offensive tackle in real games. That didn’t happen last year. He managed only 1.5 sacks and 10 pressures in 152 snaps. He’ll get a grace period because he was a rookie who clearly needed time to develop. This offseason was crucial for him, and he apparently put it to great use. Here’s hoping the coaching staff gives him a legitimate opportunity to show what he has learned.
Nov 3, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Chicago Bears wide receiver DJ Moore (2) and Rome Odunze (15) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
The Chicago Bears seemed to have a hierarchy on offense going into this season. Caleb Williams is the quarterback, D’Andre Swift is the running back, and D.J. Moore is the primary wide receiver. It is the same setup as last year, but this time, better coaching guided it. There was no reason to think anything would change. However, training camp always brings out surprises. Based on the current trend, it might be time to rethink who the primary receiver will be on offense going into this season.
For all the talk about Moore, his name hasn’t been mentioned much in practice. Don’t misinterpret that. He still looks like the good player he is. The problem is, he doesn’t seem to have enhanced his connection with Williams. If anything, it feels like he’s spinning his wheels.
Caleb Williams with a nice pocket on a play action pass, stands tall, delivers a strike to DJ Moore, in stride but it was dropped.
Meanwhile, the young quarterback is developing something special with Odunze. It was already evident that the two had chemistry last season. Williams seemed to look his way whenever the Bears needed a big play. According to reports from the latest practice at Halas Hall, the duo was nigh unstoppable.
It was very strong today.
Caleb Williams was 5/5 when targeting Rome Odunze in 11 on 11s.
This tied Olamide Zaccheaus in targets for the lead during 11 on 11s.
OZ was also getting open often. Whether it’s him or Luther Burden, WR3 should provide much more this year. https://t.co/Ir2z8OivEJ
Strong red zone period for the Caleb Williams-Rome Odunze connection. Odunze caught a pass for 10 yards on 3rd/10 at the 15 and another on 2nd/1 at the 6.
Caleb Williams might be guiding a change of guard.
Moore has been the go-to guy in every offense he’s been a part of since entering the NFL seven years ago. He is that good. However, the connection with Odunze was growing by the end of last season, and it is evolving even now. Moore will obviously be a big part of the offense moving forward. That doesn’t mean he will be the first target Caleb Williams looks for anymore. The quarterback always goes to the guy he trusts the most. Every sign indicates that it is becoming Odunze. This is great news for the Bears because it means two of their most important draft picks are blossoming. At the same time, one must wonder what will happen if this eats into Moore’s customary number of targets. He hasn’t had fewer than 118 in a season since his rookie year. If that streak ends, will it lead to some locker room tension? It is something to monitor.
