Training camps have kicked off around the NFL, and our team reporters are on the ground each day following all the action. The Chicago Bears' camp is taking place in Lake Forest, Illinois and Bears reporter Courtney Cronin has the latest intel on standouts, highlights, position battles, depth chart movement, cut decisions and of course the quarterback room.
What follows is everything we are seeing and hearing at Bears camp. We will file the latest updates. Who are the breakouts to watch, especially for fantasy football? And which players on the roster bubble could make the final 53?
Let's get into it all, and be sure to keep checking back for more information until the first full week of the preseason begins on Aug. 7.
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Friday, July 25
A rough day working in the red zone for the first-team offense -- where quarterback Caleb Williams went 2-for-11 combined between 7-on-7 and full team periods -- highlighted areas of struggle for Ben Johnson's unit.
On the flip side, the Bears defense asserted its strength down by the end zone where tight coverage from cornerback Terell Smith resulted in a tipped pass and interception by safety Jaquan Brisker. Linebacker T.J. Edwards came away with a pick on the next play while cornerbacks Tyrique Stevenson and Kyler Gordon each recorded a pass break-up during 11-on-11.
The variance that Bears players are seeing from defensive coordinator Dennis Allen's scheme is different from what they're used to.
"It's not one thing that looks the same on that defense," wide receiver DJ Moore said. "Everything is different every play. It's good for us but I'm glad we don't have to go against it on Sundays."
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Veteran left tackle Braxton Jones (ankle) had a scheduled rest day. Rookie Ozzy Trapilo took first team reps at left tackle while Kiran Amegadjie ran with the second-team unit.
Undrafted free agent wide receiver JP Richardson has put together three solid days of camp. The TCU product hauled in two catches with the third-team offense on Friday after making a one-handed catch down the sideline on the first day of practice.
Rookie wide receiver Luther Burden III missed his third day of camp with a hamstring injury sustained in May. Moore noted that while the second-round pick knows the playbook, he'll have to adapt to several differences from college when he steps on the field. "Probably just the speed of the game ... route concepts," Moore said. "I mean those are the two that go hand in hand that you need to be out there for."
Thursday, July 24
A sloppy start from the first-team offense during an 11-on-11 period featured a pre-snap penalty, fumbled snap, issues getting out of the huddle and a moment when Caleb Williams fell down after evading pressure.
Players know those mistakes aren't acceptable, according to coach Ben Johnson, who once again emphasized the importance of details and calling out mistakes as they happen.
That intensity from the head coach extends to the meeting room as well. "The young guys kinda call it aura," safety Kevin Byard III said. "He breathes competition. You can just tell, the intensity. He just wants the best for everybody... Everyone knows success isn't (a linear climb), it's kinda like this -- there's ups and downs. We're just trying to eliminate those dips and make the dips smaller as we continue to climb."
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Defensive back Alex Cook missed the defense's initiation via up-downs after being released on Tuesday and re-signed after practice on Wednesday. Cook got his 40 up-downs in before practice on Thursday with the defense circled around him.
Kiran Amegadjie got the first-team reps at left tackle while Ozzy Trapilo was with the twos. Braxton Jones was with the first-team unit during the install portion of practice but is not participating in team periods yet.
Johnson officially tabbed WR Luther Burden III as "day to day" with a hamstring injury. Fellow rookies Shemar Turner (ankle) and Zah Frazier (personal) also missed practice.
Kyle Monangai, the Bears seventh-rounder, impressed his teammates when he broke off a big run complete with juke move near the end zone. "He don't really lack anything from what I'm seeing," running back D'Andre Swift said. "Confident in his style of play, real low to the ground, great catching the ball out of the backfield. Solid, real solid."
Wednesday, July 23
As promised by coach Ben Johnson, not even the smallest of details would be left by the wayside, even on the first day of training camp. After Chicago's first team offense struggled to get lined up properly during an 11-on-11 period, Johnson blew the drill dead and sent quarterback Caleb Williams and the starters to the sideline while the backups took over.
It was a moment that players have become used to with the coaching staff's emphasis on increased accountability and attention to detail.
"That's on par for Ben," tight end Cole Kmet said. "If you're not doing it right, he's gonna get you out, and he's not going to just see that stuff continue. It's just a lesson to us that you gotta be on the details. We gotta be on the details going into practice and we're going to get our reps in."
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Rookie wide receiver Luther Burden III was absent from Wednesday's practice despite Johnson saying in June that the second-rounder would be good to go for camp. Burden dealt with two separate injuries during the spring that forced him to miss OTAs and minicamp.
Linebacker Tremaine Edmunds picked off Williams on the first play of the first 11-on-11 drill. Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen remarked that he anticipates Edmunds being an "exceptional" playmaker for the Bears.
Ozzy Trapilo took first-team reps at left tackle during team periods. Braxton Jones, who is in a ramp-up period, returned to the field for the first time since Dec. 22.
Allen made his unit do up-downs at the start of practice. "It's all part of building the culture of what type of defense we're going to be," Allen said. "You have to pay the toll. You have to pay the price. It's a privilege to be on this defense."
Tuesday, July 22
The deepest and most important position battle during Bears training camp will begin in earnest during Wednesday's first practice. Johnson can't remember another instance of having three players battle for one starting job, but that's the case at left tackle where incumbent starter Braxton Jones, Kiran Amegadjie and rookie Ozzy Trapilo will vie to protect QB Williams' blindside. Jones is "ready to go" according to general manager Ryan Poles after sitting out the offseason while recovering from surgery to repair a broken ankle and will be in a ramp-up period this week given how much time he's missed. And while Jones' experience as Chicago's left tackle over the last three seasons should give him a leg up, Johnson views the competition as open.
"We're coming in with blank slates right now," Johnson said. "And so just because a guy's played and another guy hasn't in this league, we're going to let the competition play out and we'll see where it goes."
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Tight end Colston Loveland is cleared to participate in training camp after not practicing during the spring while recovering from AC joint surgery.
Wide receiver Jahdae Walker and running back Ian Wheeler were activated off the non-football injury list. The only player currently on the NFI is cornerback Jaylon Johnson, who is expected to miss several weeks of training camp after injuring his leg training away from Halas Hall.