There were whispers about Ben Johnson even before he joined the Chicago Bears in January. For all his brilliance as an offensive play caller, his reputation spoke of a coach who was abnormally obsessed with details. Players felt the wrath whenever they made mistakes, even little ones. The term thrown around often was “perfectionist.” Months into his tenure as head coach, it is safe to say that reputation was earned. Bears players quickly discovered that Johnson will not even let the smallest infraction slip past.

At last, the question about it came up during his presser before Tuesday’s notoriously violent practice. Johnson offered clarity on the idea that he demands perfection. It’s not about that. He knows such a thing is an illusion in the NFL.

“It’s not going to be perfect,” Johnson said Tuesday. “It’s never going to be perfect. So, I know we want everything to be right in line every single time. But the message to the unit is, ‘We’re going to have mess-ups, we’re going to have mistakes.’ I think the bad teams, they come on out there and say, ‘Oh, we’re just one off on this play.’ And another guy takes his turn, ‘Oh, we’re one off on this play.’ And it just looks terrible. Where, really, the good teams, when they have mistakes, their buddies cover it up for them.

“If a lineman happened to miss a block, then the back is going to make the guy miss and end up still springing a big run. Or protection breaks down, the quarterback can break the pocket and extend the play and we can still have positive results. That’s where you talk about the perfection part of it, I don’t quite see it that way. I think we need to complement each other better as a unit right now. That’s what we’re learning from.”

Johnson understands the fundamental truth of football.

The teams that win are often the ones who make the fewest mistakes. When they do, the guys are prepared and disciplined enough to recognize the dangers and correct them without plays becoming catastrophic. A historic example? Look back at the iconic game against Minnesota in 1985. On one of the pivotal plays of the season, Jim McMahon called a screen pass. The Vikings brought a blitz up the middle, getting a man completely unblocked. Recognizing the danger, Walter Payton abandoned his original responsibility and delivered a crushing block to stonewall the linebacker. This gave McMahon just enough time to fire a touchdown to Willie Gault, sparking an epic comeback victory.

Ben Johnson is teaching his players to master the game.

The less one has to think in the moment, the faster one plays. Philadelphia didn’t win the Super Bowl last season because one or two guys were unstoppable. They won because they played flawless complementary football. They didn’t make mistakes and exploited every one Kansas City made. When the defense forced a turnover, the offense turned it into points. When the offense couldn’t score, the defense got a stop. It was guys operating as a true team, not 22 individuals. That was the problem that haunted the Bears last season and really for the past several years. Ben Johnson aims to change that. Sometimes you have to be harsh with discipline to get the necessary results. Most players don’t have the self-motivation required to pursue perfection. It falls on the head coach to point the way.

The Chicago Bears had probably the most physical practice seen at Halas Hall in at least the past 20 years. Veteran beat writers said they’d seen nothing like it since the days of Lovie Smith. Head coach Ben Johnson was out to send a message. He wants a physical team. Smash-mouth football will be their identity again. Unfortunately, such a style of practice can sometimes lead to casualties. A couple of players left early with injuries. One of them was tight end Cole Kmet.

This was noteworthy because this is a guy who isn’t known for leaving the field much. Kmet is no stranger to playing hurt. Having to leave practice led some to fear it might be serious. Thankfully, Adam Hoge provided an update on Hoge & Jahns.

Hoge: And there were definitely some injuries. Kmet left practice early with a trainer. That was concerning because it takes a lot to get Kmet off the field, but the early word is that he avoided a serious injury and might only miss a few days. To your point, though, you didn’t see Ben Johnson coach scared at any point Tuesday, even after Kmet went down.

Great news for the Bears. He will likely get a couple of days off and maybe return in time for the Bears’ anticipated joint practice with the Miami Dolphins. Given its importance to the offense’s development, he is no doubt eager to be part of that.

Cole Kmet was always built tough.

He comes from excellent stock, after all. The guy is huge and well-built. His body is made for the rigors of the NFL. Whenever he has been hurt, he’s rarely taken long to return. He has never missed a game in his NFL career. There is no way he plans to start now on the cusp of what could be a new era in Bears football. It isn’t clear what Cole Kmet suffered in that practice. The team isn’t required to provide details on injuries until the start of the season. He walked off the field under his own power, leading one to imagine it was an upper body issue of some kind. Whatever the case, it’s a relief to hear he should be fine. No doubt Johnson is eager to throw him and 1st round pick Colston Loveland at the Dolphins defense going into the weekend.

The Chicago Bears know the offense must make the biggest strides for this team to become a legitimate contender. It was the primary reason Ben Johnson was hired as head coach. The challenge is doing that without sacrificing the defense. Previous head coaches failed to achieve this balance. Matt Nagy was fortunate to inherit Vic Fangio for a season, but never found an adequate replacement. Marc Trestman completely flubbed it with Mel Tucker. Johnson knew he needed somebody to come in and get the most out of a good roster. That is why he went for Dennis Allen, a veteran coordinator with experience and creativity. His first order of business was figuring out why certain key names took a step back last year, particularly Montez Sweat.

Chicago knew the defensive end was the key to their entire defense. His ability to affect the quarterback impacted everything else. Only getting 5.5 sacks last season was a major disappointment. Many couldn’t help but wonder if Sweat might’ve peaked in 2023 and didn’t have much incentive to get better. However, reports later surfaced that the former Pro Bowler battled several injuries all season. Jeff Hughes of Sports Mockery appears on the Bears Film Room podcast, revealing a serious buzz inside Halas Hall around how Sweat looks in training camp.

Montez Sweat looks like a player out for blood this season.

As videos and photos can attest, he’s in excellent shape. More than that, he appears rejuvenated since the new coaching staff took over. His recent interview with NFL Network showed a player who was animated, upbeat, and boasting a bit of an edge. The Bears know how important he is to their success. Since arriving in Chicago, they are 4-6 in games where Montez Sweat has a sack. All six losses were decided by five points or fewer. Two include the painful collapse against Cleveland and the Hail Mary game against Washington. The point is the Bears play much better football when Sweat is hunting. It sounds like he’s ready and eager to do so again in 2025.

He’ll have plenty of help. Not only will Allen’s scheme find better matchups for him, but the arrivals of Grady Jarrett and Dayo Odeyingbo should ease some of the pressure on him.

Coming to the Chicago Bears was an easy decision for Ben Johnson. Not only did he get the chance to take over a city that he’d grown to love in recent years, but he’d work with one of the most talented quarterback prospects in recent memory. Caleb Williams was a big reason why he took the head coaching job. However, the NFL teaches an important lesson people often forget. Starting every game in today’s era for quarterbacks is rare. There are usually one or two weeks where the team will need the backup to step in and keep the train on the tracks.

Johnson had a plan for that when he arrived. He wanted to bring in a veteran with credibility as a great teammate and mentor for younger guys. The Bears signed Case Keenum, widely considered one of the best locker room guys in the league. His work with other young guys like Josh Allen, C.J. Stroud, and Baker Mayfield was lauded. However, things have shifted over the past few weeks. Johnson seems to have a growing infatuation with Tyson Bagent, as evidenced by his recent comments.

“Man, he’s been phenomenal. I mean, he’s smart as a whip. Appreciate the seriousness and intent that he brings every time he walks into a room. Meeting room, walk-through, it doesn’t matter. He’s locked in. He’s focused. I think his teammates feel that from him. Love the fact, you know, he’ll throw the ball and he keeps working through his progressions, just so it goes home with exactly where everyone’s going to be in case he had to move on. I think he’s taken this seriously. He’s preparing the right way. And I couldn’t be more thrilled that he’s here with us.”

Ben Johnson can’t ignore reality.

Many accounts have said Bagent is having an excellent camp. He looks calm, composed, and sharp. While Keenum hasn’t looked bad, the reality is that one can’t ignore what is happening. If this is a battle, and it most definitely is, then Bagent has the decisive edge. Maybe things shift during the preseason. Then again, history says not to bet on it. Bagent was good in each of the past two. Ben Johnson loves players like him. His work with Jared Goff proves it. Hell, if the third-year quarterback had the same level of talent, he might be pushing for Williams’ job. All things considered, it feels like Bagent is ready to beat the odds again by maintaining his grip on the backup job. Getting the thumbs up from someone like Johnson only reinforces the amazing job Chicago did scouting him.

The first depth chart doesn’t tell the whole story of how a football team will look when actual games begin. However, they should not be ignored because they at least offer a sense of which way the coaching staff might be leaning. The Chicago Bears released their first of training camp under head coach Ben Johnson. There weren’t too many shockers. Cole Kmet and Colston Loveland are co-starters at tight end. The defensive linemen are Montez Sweat, Gervon Dexter, Grady Jarrett, and Dayo Odeyingbo. Tyrique Stevenson remained the second corner opposite Jaylon Johnson.

Was there anything worth noting?

Yes, three things stood out that could prove significant over the next few weeks. Here is each one and why that is the case.

Roschon Johnson is the #2 running back.

Since camp began, Kyle Monangai has received a lot of praise from the coaching staff. However, so has Johnson. Based on recent practices, it seems apparent that the Bears trust him more as the primary complement to D’Andre Swift at running back. His short-yardage ability and physical running style fit what Ben Johnson prefers. The added versatility as a pass-catcher doesn’t hurt.

Luther Burden is nowhere near the Chicago Bears’ starting lineup.

Missing most of spring didn’t help Burden’s quest for immediate playing time. Still, his excellent performances in recent practices made many wonder if he might challenge for snaps. If the depth chart is any indication, that is a big no. D.J. Moore, Rome Odunze, and Olamide Zaccheaus sit at the top, with return specialist Devin Duvernay positioned as the fourth option. Burden has plenty of time to change this, but it’s at least clear for now that the Bears don’t trust him yet.

Braxton Jones holds the starting left tackle spot.

For obvious reasons, left tackle is the most watched position battle in Chicago Bears’ training camp. It is the only starting spot on the offensive line up for grabs, and three names are vying for it. Many feel rookie 2nd round pick Ozzy Trapilo is the slight favorite to win the job based on snap distribution over the last few practices. However, it seems Braxton Jones has done enough to maintain his grip on the job for the time being, despite still recovering from that broken leg last season. Trapilo likely has one more week to convince Johnson and offensive line coach Dan Roushar that he can be the guy.

Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson, a two-time Pro Bowler, suffered a leg injury during offseason training and was placed on the active/non-football injury list when training camp opened in July. General Manager Ryan Poles initially projected a short recovery, suggesting Johnson would be back within a few weeks and downplaying any long-term concern. However, head coach Ben Johnson later said Week 1 is the target for his return, hinting that Johnson could miss most — if not all — of training camp.

While Johnson is currently rehabbing, his status remains unclear and could pose a challenge for the Bears defense. Jeff Hughes of DaBearsBlog shed more light on the situation during an appearance on Sports Mockery’s Bears Film Room podcast, expressing serious doubt that Johnson will be ready for the season opener. He said he’d be “shocked” if Johnson played Week 1 and doesn’t expect him to participate in training camp at all.

Hughes also mentioned there’s a legitimate chance Johnson lands on the PUP list, which would sideline him for at least the first four games of the season. While he believes the Bears are being truthful in saying the injury isn’t severe or season-ending, he emphasized the recovery timeline may not be as optimistic as originally suggested. Johnson’s rehab will be something to monitor closely as the season approaches.

If you want all the inside scoops from training camp and what’s really going on at Halas Hall, be sure to check out the latest episode of Bears Film Room. You can watch the full episode below.

Something was in the air at Halas Hall on Tuesday, August 5th. There was almost a low thrum of energy. Head coach Ben Johnson spoke with the media before a 12:30 p.m. practice, explaining how he wasn’t happy with how the Chicago Bears’ offense performed at Family Fest two days prior. He indicated the upcoming two hours of work would be good and physical. Media members didn’t think much of it. They assumed it would be in line with previous padded practices. Certain drills would feature some live tackling, and that’s it.

Boy, were they mistaken.

What followed was what every reporter on hand would call the most physical practice they’ve seen the Bears hold in several years. Brad Biggs, the longest tenured of them, said it reminded him of the Lovie Smith era. Every drill was live. Players went at each other constantly, often getting into fights.

One would think Johnson would’ve worked to tone things down after practice, telling guys to go easier moving forward. Previous Bears coaches have done that. Not him. Tyrique Stevenson revealed Johnson’s speech to the team after practice wrapped up. The message was unmistakably clear.

Ben Johnson likely won over everybody with those words.

Think about it. Many coaches today would be careful about encouraging too much physicality in practice. There is the fear of violating rules or risking injuries. Ben Johnson didn’t care. He understands the fundamental reality of football: it’s violent. If you want to win in this league, you must be the tougher, more physical team. The only way to reach that point is by practicing that way. Johnson wanted players to know there is a purpose to all of it. He wants them to be great. By getting them used to the intensity now, they will be better prepared for when the games become real. Every other team will be expecting the same old Bears this season. He fully intends to have them regret making those assumptions. Johnson aims for no less than total domination. He doesn’t just want to win on the scoreboard; he wants to humiliate every team that gets in the way. No wonder players are buying in.