Bears mini-camp impressions: Ben Johnson the star of the show

The Bears completed their mandatory (for most) mini-camp, which essentially completes their first offseason program under Ben Johnson. They'll have OTA practices next week, but that will be more like the optional morning skate in hockey — mostly younger players and special teams players. So let the countdown to training camp begin.

Here are some of the highlights from this week's mini-camp access:

Ben Johnson is still the star of the Bears' show

I've become numb to new-coach cliches, offseason cliches and the optimism that comes with change, especially coming off the dreadful failure of the previous coaching staff. Anybody who is not Matt Eberflus would look like a conquering hero at Halas Hall these days.

But even if you factor all that in, Johnson looks particularly well-suited and well-prepared for this job. He doesn't sound or act like a rookie head coach. His public manner has been impressive. He was proactive on addressing the first speed-bump of his regime — revelations in an upcoming book of doubts that Caleb Williams and his father had about joining the Bears. When asked about players who missed mini-camp, he didn't act like it was a state secret — cornerback Jaylon Johnson and safety Elijah Hicks.

When asked Wednesday about players who have stood out so far — a question that strangely flummoxes some coaches — Johnson asked for a day to think about it, then gave reporters four names on Thursday (defensive end Dom Robinson, rookie linebacker Ruben Hyppolite, tight end Joel Wilson and rookie running back Kyle Monangai). Johnson seems to understand more than most that his position is a public one, there's a game to be played in dealing with the media, and he's willing to play it — we'll see how long that lasts.

Bears coach Ben Johnson expects to hit the ground running in training camp. "For us, training camp's not a get-in-shape camp, it's show-up-in-shape camp, so we can become a good football team."

On Thursday, Johnson showed off elements of the trick plays that are part of his repertoire — with linemen and even quarterbacks catching passes — during the portion of practice that was open to be recorded. He has no problem embracing an element-of-surprise aspect of his offense.

Overall, Johnson has looked like he's in his element as an NFL head coach without trying to look like he's in his element as an NFL head coach. It won't matter much if he can't nurture Caleb Williams and maximize the Bears' offense — today's articulation becomes tomorrow's word salad at Halas Hall. But the early indications are that the Bears hired more than just a good offensive coordinator.

Jaquan Brisker is back

Jaquan Brisker's concussion last season against the Panthers not only was his third concussion in three NFL seasons, but forced him to miss the final 12 games, which led to concerns about his immediate and long-term future in the NFL.

Brisker is back and active and expressed none of those concerns when he met the media this week. On the contrary, he insists he'll play just as hard as he always has. That doesn't mean he won't be susceptible to another concussion, but Brisker isn't going to let that change his game. And physicality is a big part of it. Maybe he can adjust his style to minimize the risk, but he likely wouldn't be the same player he's been. He's not concerned about it.

"I'm a Brisker. We're strong," Brisker told reporters at Halas Hall. "Got people behind me, things like that. And I've dealt with so much more than that. So this is another bump in the road, to be honest."

Jaquan Brisker is happy to be back on the field after missing the final 12 games of the 2024 season with a concussion. 'I'm just focused on playing ball," he said. "I'm really clear of mind. I'm really good."

Physicality and aggressiveness indeed runs in the Brisker family. His grandfather, John Brisker, was a rough-and-tough, in-your-face 6-5 forward in the ABA in the 1970s, known as the "heavyweight champion of the ABA" with the Pittsburgh Condors because he never backed down from a confrontation, and sometimes initiated them.

Jaquan never knew his grandfather, who disappeared mysteriously in 1978 and was never found. But he's aware of his lineage and learned of his grandfather's history from his mother. And he doesn't dispute the notion that his aggressiveness is a family trait.

Brisker's return fortifies a Bears defense that struggled without him and defensive tackle Andrew Billings last season. The Bears were fifth in the NFL in points allowed and seventh in yards allowed in the five games Brisker played. After the Bears lost him in Week 6 and Billings in Week 9, the Bears' dropped to 13th in points allowed and 27th in yards allowed.

Jaquan Brisker's grandfather, John Brisker, was a second-team all-ABA forward in 1970-71, when he averaged 29.3 points per game for the Pittsburgh Condors.

Here's something you don't see these days: John Brisker was featured in "John Brisker Intimidation Night" vs. the Utah Stars on Nov. 4, 1971. Brisker scored 37 points as the Condors won, 135-129.

The times, they are a-changin'

It was't too long ago that voluntary offseason practices were all but mandatory. Now, in the player-empowerment era, it seems like mandatory practices are becoming somewhat voluntary. Johnson and Hicks both were excused from participating this week. Full attendance was a pretty regular thing in previous mini-camps, and would seem to be pretty important — even for a player of Johnson's caliber — with a new defense being installed under coordinator Dennis Allen. But that doesn't seem to be the case these days.

Johnson and Hicks figure to be back for training camp. The bigger issue is the status of rookie tight end Colston Loveland (the No. 10 pick of the draft) and rookie wide receiver Luther Burden (a second-round draft pick), who did not participate. Loveland's was expected — he's coming off shoulder surgery. Burden suffered a soft-tissue injury early in the offseason.

Loveland is expected to be ready to go for training camp, and Burden presumably will be, though the spectre of 2015 Kevin White looms — White suffered what seemed like a minor injury in OTAs/mini-camp and ended up missing his entire rookie season with a stress fracture.

Ben Johnson wasn't making any promises, but wasn't too concerned about it. His confidence comes from previous experience. In 2022 with the Lions, rookie Jameson Williams (a teammate of Burden's at Cardinal Ritter high school in Louis in 2018) missed the first 11 games while recovering from a torn ACL with Alabama in the national championship game against Georgia. Under Johnson, the Lions' offense improved from 25th to fifth in scoring without their first-round weapon.

"No worry whatsoever," Johnson said when asked about the possibility that Loveland and/or Burden might not be ready at the start of training camp. "We've got plenty of bullets, plenty of weapons on offense. We're going to be just fine."

Trapilo the leader at LT?

With Braxton Jones still recovering from ankle surgery, rookie Ozzy Trapilo and second-year offensive lineman Kiran Amegadjie are sharing first-team reps at left tackle. It's the only open position on the line.

"The cool thing to see," Johnson said, "is Ozzy for a young player he's really polished in terms of the mental aspect of the game. We're looking to key up some things, quicken up his steps, his identification process. And Kiran's done a nice job for the little bit that we've had him as well. So far, so good."

Trapilo is emerging as the favorite to win the job. For one, the Bears want to have a starter in position early in training camp if not at the start, which likely puts Jones — the starter at left tackle the past two seasons — in a tough spot. The Bears moved Trapilo, who played right tackle in his last two seasons at Boston College (after playing left tackle in 2022) to the left side to compete with Jones and Amegadji, rather than moving Darnell Wright to the left side. Players acquired for Johnson's offense often succeed and likely have an edge. And Trapilo's strength is pass blocking and that's the priority for Johnson.

"To me, the No. 1 job of an offensive tackle — doesn't matter right or left — is to pass block," Johnson told reporters at Halas Hall. "So you need to be able to pass block their best pass rusher one-on-one. To me, that's the No. 1 job and everything that we can get out of them in the run game will be gravy. We've got to find out who the best pass protector is, who the most consistent pass protector is — and that's for all five guys up front."