Roschon Johnson hasn’t practiced over the last few days. Suddenly, the depth situation at running back is looking precarious. The Chicago Bears may have to start thinking about alternatives if Johnson’s situation doesn’t improve anytime soon. While there aren’t any definitive starters on the free agent market this time of year, there are usually one or two notable names with a history. Sure enough, the Bears brought in a familiar face, somebody with ties to head coach Ben Johnson, for a workout.

That is Jamaal Williams.

This is an interesting development. Williams last played for Johnson in 2022. That season, he scored a whopping 17 touchdowns. It was his only 1,000-yard season, too. Unfortunately, it’s been a mess since leaving as a free agent the following year. Williams missed games with injuries and averaged just 3.1 yards per carry in two years with the New Orleans Saints. At 30 years old, many feel he is likely out of gas. Still, there might be hope that a reunion with Johnson can recapture some of that magic from three years ago.

The Chicago Bears might be doing some homework.

Right now, there is no reason to think Roschon won’t return within the next few days. He has no history of injury issues and is known for his toughness. Working out Williams might be the way the Chicago Bears gather information in case they have to make a move later. They wanted to gauge his mental and physical readiness. Teams do it more often than you think. If nothing else, this should tell you how the Bears feel about their overall depth. It isn’t as good as they might’ve preferred. Sadly, that is the reality of the NFL. Sometimes you don’t have the number of bodies you’d wish. In those situations, keeping tabs on the veteran market is essential.

Kevin Byard has been in the NFL for a long time. This will be his tenth season in the league. In that time, he felt he developed an understanding of different coaching styles. Barely two weeks into his second Chicago Bears training camp, the former Pro Bowl safety has learned once again that life is full of surprises. Byard knew Ben Johnson by reputation, having faced his elite Detroit Lions offense twice last season. The man’s acumen as a play-caller was well-documented. What he didn’t know was how hard-edged the 38-year-old was.

Byard spoke to the media following Friday’s joint practice with the Miami Dolphins. The Bears defense spent most of that time bullying their opponent in every drill. All of it stemmed from the tone set by Johnson when camp began. Jason Lieser of the Chicago Sun-Times shared the most notable comment.

“I haven’t been a part of a training camp like this before in my career, honestly,” said Byard, who is going into his 10th season.

Byard began his career with the middling Titans under Mike Mularkey, then saw the whole vibe shift when Mike Vrabel walked in the door and turned them into a smashmouth team on both sides of the ball.

“I just really enjoy the energy that he sets every single day,” Byard said of Johnson. “It feels very similar… to what it was when I was with Vrabel.”

Mike Vrabel took over a middling Tennessee Titans team in 2018. Over the next four seasons, he got them to the playoffs three times and developed a reputation as one of the toughest, hard-nosed teams in the NFL. It wasn’t surprising given Vrabel’s background as a former linebacker.

So, for Johnson to have a similar mentality? No wonder Byard was shocked.

Kevin Byard and others are feeding off of Johnson’s will.

The head coach brings intensity to the practice field every day. He’s consistent in mastering details and holding players accountable for their mistakes. Two things make up his team’s identity: smash-mouth football and constant innovation—no wonder Kevin Byard and others have bought in. Players embrace the idea of not just beating but dominating their opponents. The problem is that most head coaches don’t know how to exude that mentality. Johnson does, and it’s turning this team into a bunch of hunters. The Bears are returning to the attitude of the George Halas days.

They will win one of two things on Sunday: the game or the fight. If players follow Johnson’s lead, it will often be both. This will feel like the modern version of those old school teams fans grew to love.

The Chicago Bears had a productive joint practice with the Miami Dolphins on Friday. Both teams came away with some answers about their current states. The big story was how dominant the Bears defense was, smothering Miami most of the afternoon and picking off Tua Tagovailoa three times. Offensively, it was a mixed bag. There were strong moments from Caleb Williams, Colston Loveland, and D’Andre Swift. However, the true star of the show was none other than wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus.

Chicago signed him as a free agent in March after his solid 2024 season in Washington. His mixture of speed and quickness made him a natural fit in the slot for Ben Johnson’s offense. People didn’t think much about it, especially after teh Bears drafted Luther Burden in the 2nd round. That might’ve been a mistake. Most accounts stated Zaccheaus was everywhere on the field. He made several big plays, including a long touchdown and a one-handed grab along the sideline.

If there is a competition for the #3 spot alongside D.J. Moore and Rome Odunze, Zaccheaus took a decisive lead after that practice.

Olamide Zaccheaus has always been a good player.

The problem is that he comes from a humble background. He was a productive receiver in college, but for Virginia, which isn’t the hotbed of talent it’s been in years past. It doesn’t help that he was also an undrafted free agent. Lastly, he played on teams that were loaded at wide receiver. He started in Atlanta with Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley. Then he went to Philadelphia, where A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith were already established. Last year, he finally got some serious action with 64 targets, turning them into 500 yards and three touchdowns. This offense might fit him better than any he’s ever played in. We’re already seeing the results throughout the past two weeks of camp. He may become the weapon other teams hate dealing with the most come the season.

Speculation has grown for months that the Chicago Bears finally decided on a direction for their stadium plans. Team president Kevin Warren spearheaded a determined effort alongside Mayor Brandon Johnson to build a state-of-the-art complex downtown. However, the Illinois state government refused to approve any public funding to help get it off the ground. Without it, such an ambitious plan would have been impossible. After months of discussions, Warren and the McCaskey family seemed to shift direction.

Arlington Heights was back on the table.

While Warren’s efforts to keep the team in the city were stymied, the Bears made progress with the suburb on property tax agreements for the Churchill Downs lot. That seemed to jumpstart some serious momentum towards closing the deal on a stadium in Arlington Park. At last, Warren and George McCaskey spoke to the media on Friday, August 8th, confirming what many had felt was coming.

The Bears have everything in place to begin building the stadium on the property. All they need is legislative approval from Springfield in October. If they get it, Warren believes construction will begin by December.

Kevin Warren has finally picked a direction.

There is no more hedging bets. The pursuit of a downtown stadium was admirable. Plenty of people wanted to keep the Bears there. Unfortunately, the finances and the logistics just didn’t line up. They own the Arlington Heights property outright, and building there won’t cost as much. For the first time ever, the Bears will possess their own stadium and not be a tenant with a lease. Big plans are in motion. Kevin Warren insists they have a design in mind and believes once the shovels hit the dirt, everything can be completed in around 30 months. If he is correct, the Bears will host their first game in a new stadium in 2029.

The Chicago Bears stole the show during their joint practice with the Miami Dolphins on Friday, delivering an impressive (defensive) performance that hinted at big things for the upcoming season. The defense was dominant, and wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus continued to turn heads with another great practice.

Chicago’s defense came out firing, overwhelming Miami’s offense throughout multiple sessions. In two early 11-on-11 drills, the unit looked locked in—forcing multiple turnovers. Safeties Jaquan Brisker and Kevin Byard each picked off passes from Tua, and linebacker Tremaine Edmunds capped a strong day with a red-zone interception.

Edmunds also impressed with tight coverage, aggressive run defense, and consistent pressure.

Offensively, Olamide Zaccheaus stole the spotlight. Despite one drop, he delivered the play of the day with a 70-yard touchdown catch from quarterback Caleb Williams. Williams climbed the pocket and launched a perfect ball down the middle, with Zaccheaus sprinting the final 30(ish) yards into the end zone. His consistency and playmaking are quickly making him a key figure in the Bears deep receiving corps. Caleb Williams had an up-and-down day. He started off rough in 11-on-11s, overthrowing Cole Kmet on the first play, which led to an interception. However, he showed flashes of his talent throughout the practice and helped the offense move the ball at times. Colston Loveland continued to stand out and make plays. While Tua threw three interceptions, Williams looked more in control and had the better overall performance.

There were encouraging injury updates, too. Right tackle Darnell Wright returned after leaving Thursday’s practice early, and cornerback Kyler Gordon worked out individually on the sideline. Defensive tackle Andrew Billings shook off a left ankle scare to rejoin the team.

The Dolphins, meanwhile, looked disjointed and even started fighting among themselves. Chicago stayed focused, physical, and in control throughout. Between the defense’s dominance and the offense showing life at times, this team looks to be a really fun watch in 2025.

The Chicago Bears wanted joint practices this month. Head coach Ben Johnson believes they are far more valuable to preparing players for a season than preseason games. Their first opponent would be the Miami Dolphins. It represented a big opportunity for this young team. Miami has made the playoffs two of the past three seasons. They boast lots of athletic talent coupled with capable coaching. Joint practices offered an ideal way to see how the team is progressing in its preparation. What happened instead was a personal showcase for Jaquan Brisker and the Bears defense.

It had already been known that the safety was having a great camp. Brisker arrived at Halas Hall with a purpose after missing most of last season with a concussion. Not being able to play and the lingering concerns about a contract extension seem to have fueled his fire. He decided to take it out on the Dolphins’ offense, and the rest of the defense followed his lead. They bullied Miami for almost the entire practice, picking Tua Tagovailoa off three times while forcing several other miscues.

It was a massacre.

Jaquan Brisker has become a tone-setter for this team.

People wondered who would be the unmistakable leadership voice for the Bears’ defense. While T.J. Edwards and Jaylon Johnson feel like viable contenders, it is difficult to argue that Jaquan Brisker has emerged as the unit’s beating heart. His energy, intelligence, and violent disposition stand out whenever he steps on the field, and teammates feed off it. He was dearly missed last season. The Bears’ defense never quite had the same energy after Brisker went down. Now that he’s back, it is like they got a triple dose of espresso. The intensity and energy are through the room. Miami found out the hard way what playing against that can be like. If Brisker can put together a full season, he has a major payday coming his way.

The Chicago Bears are still finding their way on offense. Things have improved since training camp began, but head coach Ben Johnson knows it’s a process. Part of that is solidifying the offensive line in front of Caleb Williams. Four of the five spots are locked down. Darnell Wright, Jonah Jackson, Drew Dalman, and Joe Thuney are all starters. Left tackle remains the only unknown. The coaching staff hasn’t made any declarations on that front. Until further notice, there has been an even competition between Braxton Jones, Ozzy Trapilo, and Kiran Amegadjie.

However, there have been rumblings, and things have shifted in the past week. Amegadjie has nursed a nagging injury, keeping him out of practice. His lack of polish was already making him face an uphill battle. That meant the battle had narrowed to Jones and Trapilo. Both have split reps with the starting offense. Some believe Jones has the edge due to his athleticism and experience. Others feel Trapilo’s size, power, and maturity make him the choice. Team insiders Adam Hoge and Adam Jahns revealed on CHGO which way they think it’s leaning.

It could be a new day in Chicago.

Hoge: Now in Week 3 of camp, I think I’m ready to declare the left tackle job Trapilo’s to lose. He has held his own at a position he hasn’t played in a few years, and you can already tell the coaches trust him.

It’s important to remember the criteria Johnson laid out: his starting left tackle will be the one who makes the fewest mental mistakes and requires the least amount of help in pass protection so he can keep the playbook wide open. So far, I think Trapilo has been that guy, but the biggest tests are still coming up – starting with Friday’s joint practice against the Dolphins.

Jahns: Well, the Bears drafted an offensive lineman in Trapilo who didn’t commit any penalties during his final year at Boston College and had only five over his college career. That’s something. On the field, Trapilo looks the part. I’m on the record saying that he looks like Kyle Long out there. Wearing No. 75 certainly helps. But he looks like he can be a potentially intimidating lineman, too.

This development for the Chicago Bears isn’t surprising.

A few factors play into it. For one, Jones is still recovering from the broken leg that ended his season last year. While he might be healthy enough to practice, he may not be 100%. Also, Jones still has the same weaknesses that have characterized his career. He’s athletic, but lacks true power or anchor. Lastly, Johnson didn’t draft him. Coaches usually prefer going with players they had a personal influence on acquiring. Trapilo fits that category while also having the giant frame and anchor to match it. His fundamentals are sound thanks to his extensive experience in college, playing for a Boston College coaching staff filled with NFL experience. He was well-prepared for this moment. Unless he somehow completely implodes over the next two weeks, that job is his for the taking