Ben Johnson knows what his job is. Set the standard. Make it clear what the expectations are for everybody in the building. Barely months into his tenure, there is no denying reality. Johnson thinks big. He has no three-year plan to make the Chicago Bears a playoff team. He expects to win and win now. As for a long-term vision? Players are quickly finding out that Johnson isn’t afraid to speak his mind. His goal isn’t winning the division or some playoff games. He has a plan, and it involves multiple championships.

In his latest press conference, Kevin Byard told the media that Johnson doesn’t dance around expectations. His goal is simple and straightforward.

“Ben Johnson wants to build a dynasty. We want to be that dynasty. We want to be the guys that get that thing started. Myself, we want to be the guys that build the foundation for Ben and continue to go as long as we possibly can. That’s the goal. But we got a long way to go to accomplish that.”

Mentioning the word dynasty when you haven’t won a playoff game in 15 years is certainly bold. Then again, Johnson has nothing to lose. He’s inheriting a franchise with no clear direction. His job is to set them on one. Why not aim as high as you possibly can? Modest expectations don’t breed greatness.

Johnson continues to show the Chicago Bears how to think big.

They’ve been stuck in the mud for so long that they’ve almost grown to accept it. Things will never change. The Chicago Bears will always be a backwards organization that might get lucky occasionally and break through with some winning seasons once or twice a decade. Ben Johnson understands this better than you’d think. He encountered the same defeatist attitude throughout his NFL journey, first in Miami and then in Detroit. Changing the culture of an entire organization isn’t easy. It requires a shock to the system. The first step is informing the players that their goal isn’t a winning record. It is rings. Lots of rings. That should be the reason everybody plays this game. Either work with Johnson to make it happen, or get out of the way.

Day two of the Chicago Bears 2025 training camp gave us a another look into the team’s development, roster competition, and areas that still need improvement. Here are the top takeaways from Thursday’s practice:

1. Offensive Line Competition Heats Up

The left tackle spot remains fluid. Kiran Amegadjie took first team reps during full team drills, while Braxton Jones participated in the install period but was held out of 11 on 11 as part of his gradual ramp-up. Ozzy Trapilo worked with the second team after running with the ones on day one, signaling a rotating competition.

2. First Team Offense Struggles Continue

The starting offense had another rough showing during early 11 on 11 drills. Issues included a high snap over Caleb Williams, consistent pressure from Grady Jarrett, and a stumble on a scramble. The group had to reset mid session to clean up huddle and alignment mistakes—reminders that details still need to be cleaned up.

3. Running Backs Impress

Rookie Kyle Monangai and Ian Wheeler flashed their explosiveness, with Monangai breaking a long run that included a nice juke move. Roschon Johnson continued to perform well as the No. 2 back. A fun competition could be brewing between Monangai and Wheeler.

4. Quarterback Depth Chart Clarifies

Tyson Bagent operated as QB2, while veteran Case Keenum took QB3 reps. Caleb Williams continued to be QB1 (obviously), as the team focuses on building his confidence and command of the offense.

5. Defensive Backs and Linebackers

With Jaylon Johnson not at practice, cornerback Nashon Wright filled in with the starters, similar to what we saw during spring workouts. Jaquan Brisker practiced without a guardian cap despite his concussion history. Linebacker Noah Sewell held steady in his role as the third linebacker.

6. Absences

As confirmed by head coach Ben Johnson, wide receiver Luther Burden, defensive lineman Shemar Turner, and offensive lineman Zah Frazier were absent. Their continued absence could affect both positional battles and depth chart evaluations.

7. Focus on Fundamentals

The offense, especially the first team, struggled with the basics—huddle, snap timing, and overall discipline. These are typical early camp issues but must be ironed out quickly.

Final Thoughts

Day two highlighted both the potential and the growing pains of a team still coming together. Young players like Kyle Monangai and Kiran Amegadjie made strong impressions, while the offense continues to work through its early season wrinkles. It’s only the second practice, so there’s no need to panic.

Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson gave an update Thursday morning on rookie wide receiver Luther Burden III ahead of training camp practice. Burden, the 39th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, is currently considered day to day with a soft tissue issue injury he suffered after landing awkwardly during rookie minicamp.

The injury sidelined Burden for much of the offseason, including OTAs and mandatory minicamp, and he was also absent for the first day of training camp on Wednesday, July 23. Johnson said the injury isn’t believed to be serious, but soft tissue issues can be unpredictable. “It doesn’t sound like it’s anything serious, but soft tissue injuries are always tricky,” he explained, adding that the team will be cautious with his recovery.

“Soft tissue injuries are always tricky.”

Despite not practicing, Burden has stayed engaged in the offense. Johnson credited wide receivers coach Antwaan Randle El for keeping Burden locked in during meetings and regularly quizzing him on the playbook. Quarterback Caleb Williams and the rest of the QB group have also worked with Burden during walkthroughs to help maintain his understanding of the offense. Still, Johnson stressed the value of live reps: “There’s really no substitute for full speed reps.”

Burden is expected to play a big role next to DJ Moore and Rome Odunze. His dynamic playmaking and route running make him a dangerous weapon, but the missed time has sparked questions about his readiness. The Bears remain hopeful Burden will return to the field soon as training camp continues.

Justin Fields may not have been with the Chicago Bears for long, but he carved out a small place in the hearts of fans while he was there. They loved his dedication, toughness, and ability to generate wild highlights. While they understood why the Bears traded him away last year, it didn’t mean they wished him any ill will. They wished him personal success. It was nice to see Fields showcase his ability to win in Pittsburgh, going 4-2 as a starter before being somewhat unfairly benched in favor of Russell Wilson. That is the reason why he left in free agency, choosing to sign with the New York Jets.

It made sense. Fields would get to be the unquestioned starter and hopefully show everybody he can be the guy. Sadly, the NFL has a cruel sense of humor. Just as training camp got underway for the Jets, reports surfaced that Fields suffered an apparent lower leg injury. He wasn’t hit on the play, meaning it was non-contact. He came off the field for evaluation and was eventually carted to the locker room. Needless to say, that is potentially devastating news for the young quarterback.

This news could be backbreaking for Justin Fields and the Jets.

If it’s as bad as some fear, he will likely miss the entire 2025 season. That means New York must put their fate in the hands of journeyman backup Tyrod Taylor. Not ideal in what should be a highly competitive division. More than anything, this is a crushing setback for Justin Fields. Many felt this opportunity with the Jets was his last realistic chance to establish himself as a true starter. A season-ending injury would almost certainly mean New York goes hunting for a new option next offseason and no other team will bet their 2026 season on a guy with so much baggage. This is especially true for a quarterback who relies heavily on his legs to generate offense. The world can be so unfair, man.

Luther Burden arrived with plenty of excitement after his run at Missouri. The wide receiver seemed like the total package, boasting size, strength, speed, and route-running ability. Falling under the guidance of head coach Ben Johnson was the perfect scenario. However, after things started fine in OTAs this spring, Burden exited with what was later reported to be a hamstring issue. He missed the rest of the practices until the break. Still, there was confidence that he would be ready for training camp. Fast forward to Wednesday, the first practice at Halas Hall, and Burden was nowhere to be found. People didn’t understand, and the lack of explanation from the Bears wasn’t helping. Ryan Poles finally addressed the situation.

The Bears GM appeared on the Hoge & Jahns podcast to discuss the team’s current situation. He was immediately asked about Burden. While he made it clear the full disclosure would come from Johnson on Thursday morning, he stated nothing was going on that the Bears were concerned about. Burden had arrived at camp in shape and ready to go.

“Nothing major in terms of concerns. Dealing with a soft tissue deal in the spring. Came back in shape ready to go.”

Ryan Poles’ hint made it seem like this isn’t an injury issue.

That usually means the player is dealing with some off-the-field stuff. Getting an excuse to miss practice is standard procedure in such situations. Still, there are fears the hamstring problem might be lingering for the young receiver. Few injuries are harder for wide receivers to recover from than that. Ryan Poles isn’t known for being facetious, though. If he says there aren’t any concerns about the situation, it is okay to take him at his word. This at least indicates that Burden’s absence won’t be long, whatever the reason for it. Either way, the Bears have no reason to panic. They have plenty of options at wide receiver. This means veteran Olamide Zacchaeus will get more of the snaps with the starting offense alongside D.J. Moore and Rome Odunze.

The offense could not get lined up correctly. They have had their playbooks for months, and yet when the formation came into the huddle, they could not organize effectively. Ben Johnson did not have them get back into the huddle and reset. Ben Johnson did not even go onto the field and scream at them for three minutes in an effort to embarrass them into efficiency. Instead, Ben Johnson removed them from the field. He took them off the playing surface. To quote a famous Seinfeld episode, “no soup for you.”

Dennis Allen was visibly tough on his defense too. When asked about that by the media after practice, he said simply, “It’s a privilege to be on this defense. Training camp is going to be difficult.” No silly acronyms. No mindless platitudes. Honest, hard coaching.

If there is anything to take away from these early days of training camp – and there usually isn’t – it is that regime change is afoot. This coaching staff wants their presence felt and acknowledged. If the players buy in, the Chicago Bears might actually win a few ballgames this season.