The Chicago Bears are five practices into training camp and on Monday wrapped up the first day of practice with pads on.
We've learned a lot over the last few days. Somethings incredibly important to note and others best to overlook when evaluating where the team is currently at on both sides of the ball.
Offensively, the Bears have been a shaky unit as they continue to implement head coach Ben Johnson's in-depth system while focusing on the little details. Let's fully break down how the offense has looked on the field.
What we've learned about the Bears offense following the first five training camp practices
1. No reason to be worried about Caleb Williams
This is a big one that everyone needs to remember. Things aren't going to look perfect in practice, otherwise that defeats the entire point of what training camp is supposed to be.
Training camp is supposed to be hard and players are supposed to put mistakes on tape to learn from and avoid making the next day. Quarterback Caleb Williams is a prime example of that. Williams has missed a lot of throws and had numerous interceptions over the five days of practice so far.
Offensive coordinator Declan Doyle noted the staff is handing detailed reports to Williams each day on what he did good or bad. Johnson made sure to add over the weekend that no mistake has been made twice all while loading up the plate of their young quarterback.
"It's a lot easier to put too much on and then scale it back if necessary than do too little and wish that we could have pushed the envelope a little more," Johnson said on NFL Network. "Yeah, there's a lot on his plate - there's a lot on all the players' plates right now - and they're a little bit uncomfortable. That's a good thing."
2. Colston Loveland finally takes the field
The offense got a welcome surprise on Saturday when rookie tight end Colston Loveland took the field for the first time with the entire unit. Loveland took part in seven-on-seven drills catching passes from Caleb Williams and Tyson Bagent.
On Monday, Loveland was in action again in full pads and reportedly looked really good catching passes in the middle of the field, including one he went up to snag.
Seeing him in action, moving around, and catching passes gave a boost to the offense, who in turn put together two solid days of practice.
3. Luther Burden III starting to work in after being day-to-day
On the flip side of rookie injuries, second-round wide receiver Luther Burden III was sidelined due to a lingering soft tissue hamstring injury during the first four days of practice but was finally out there on Monday. Although he didn't do much and is still ramping up.
"Sometimes those soft tissues, you can’t predict," Johnson said last week. "Everyone’s a little bit different. Some guys take longer than others. Like I said, just was hopeful and we’ll keep on trucking along."
While he's been out, he's been missing some serious time to build chemistry with everyone on the offensive side of the ball, not just catching passes from his quarterback. DJ Moore noted speed of the game and route concepts as the two areas Burden is failing behind at by not being out there.
"He’s studying," Moore added. "He gets called on in meetings, he knows his plays, so that’s a good thing. And when he gets out there, he’s just got to be ready to go."
4. Williams-Odunze connection looks even better
Year 2 of the Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze connection is going to be a lot more special based on the early showings during the first five days of practice. Odunze mentioned last week how he wants to be the #1 guy for his quarterback and while that day will come, the amount of play-makers in this offense will limit what these two can do.
Even still, the trust is really starting to grow between these two. During the 2024 season, Williams and Odunze struggled to get on the same page when it comes to landing spots. Already some of those issues are being left in the past like on a fade route TD connection the two had on Saturday.
"It was just an up-and-down play, kind of quick, one-on-one man out there," Odunze explained. "Caleb gave me a shot. I was able to execute (on) the ball. Obviously, need to continue to build that and have that as a weapon in our offense, something that I did a lot in college as well. So, just building that connection, which I think we’ll show this year."
5. Left tackle battle is starting to heat up, but it won't be rushed
The Bears started camp off with a three-man battle at the left tackle position, which was expected once Braxton Jones returned to the field. Coming off a fractured fibula, Jones started the first week of camp with a "ramp up" process in which Jones practiced during install periods but not team periods.
During those first four days in team periods, rookie Ozzy Trapilo and second-year Kiran Amegadjie rotated each day with the first-team offense. On Monday, the first day of practice with pads on, Jones got some action operating with the 1's in team drills.
This won't be a battle that's decided in a matter of days. The team's head coach plans to be patient with such a critical position and how each player holds up during joint practices and the preseason will be telling.
"By Week 1, we'll know exactly who our starting five are going to be, and if that takes three weeks to figure out, great," Johnson said. "If that takes six weeks to find out, no problem."
