Bears training camp primer — Part 3

Mark Potash
Jul 20
4 min read

POSITION BATTLES

LEFT TACKLE — With incumbent Braxton Jones still recovering from surgery to repair a broken ankle he suffered against the Lions in Week 16, rookie Ozzy Trapilo, a second-round draft pick, is likely to start training camp with the first-team offense, and it could be his job to lose. Second-year offensive tackle Kiran Amegadjie, a 2023 third-round draft pick, also figures to compete for the job. But the Bears are hoping to avoid the rotations that bled into the regular season the past three years and settle on a starting five as quickly as possible.

STRONGSIDE LINEBACKER — The Bears let Jack Sanborn go in free agency with the switch from Matt Eberflus to Dennis Allen coordinating the defense, leaving 2023 fifth-round draft pick Noah Sewell as the next man up, but with competition from rookie Ruben Hyppolite and Amen Ogbongbemiga and perhaps anyone who steps up early.

Sewell is the brother of Lions right tackle Penei Sewell and Johnson is familiar with him. But the Bears made a strong move in the draft for Hyppolite — a fourth-round pick who ran a 4.39 40 at his pro but was projected to go in the seventh round if not an undrafted free agent — so it figures he'll get a fair shot at the job.

The third linebacker played 27.2% of the snaps in Allen's defense with the Saints in 2023 (that it was Zack Baun, who blossomed into an All-Pro after leaving is a story for another day) — so it's not an every-down concern. But it's still a playmaking spot and can't be overlooked just because the Bears likely will be in nickel most of the time.

DEFENSIVE TACKLE — Not really a legitimate "battle" with an expected three-man rotation of Gervon Dexter, Andrew Billings and Grady Jarrett. But with Dexter's improvement last year, the Bears have three starting-caliber tackles, so somebody might have to live with fewer snaps than he's expecting. Second-round rookie Shemar Turner adds a little intrigue to the situation, though he and Dexter have versatility that can solve any potential logjam. If Jarrett still has gas left in the tank, a 2024 weakness could be a major strength with Billings healthy and Dexter in position for a giant leap.

BACK-UP QUARTERBACK — After 2023 undrafted free agent Tyson Bagent backed up rookie Caleb Williams last year — and did not need him — the Bears signed 37-year-old veteran Case Keenum as a mentor for Williams. Both quarterbacks figure to be on the roster, but which will be the No. 2 quarterback?

Keenum has experience, including a memorable playoff victory, but he's 37 and hasn't started since 2023 when he was 1-1 in place of C.J. Stroud with the Texans (He was the Texans' No. 3 quarterback behind Stroud and Davis Mills last year). Bagent went 2-2 as a spot starter for Justin Fields in 2023 but is a legitimate candidate to thrive in Johnson's offense if it's as good as it was in Detroit. It's at least a better situation this year than it was last year.

RUNNING BACK — D'Andre Swift is familiar with Ben Johnson's offense and heads into camp as the lead back. Then again, Swift quickly fell out of favor in Johnson's offense in 2022 and was traded to the Eagles as the Lions upgraded with David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs, so it remains to be seen just how long Swift's leash will be.

Roschon Johnson and seventh-round rookie Kyle Monangai figure to get opportunities, and the Bears also have Travis Homer and 2024 undrafted free agent Ian Wheeler (who starts the season on the NFI list), plus undrafted free agent Deion Hankins.

TIGHT END — More a position of intrigue than a competition — at this point, anyway — with established veteran Cole Kmet and Ben Johnson's hand-picked first-round draft pick Colston Loveland. While they complement each other and can be on the field at the same time, there's only so much tight end production in this offense, and ultimately probably not enough to satisfy both of them, unless the Bears are headed to the Super Bowl. Johnson's contention that there's room for both is fair. But so is the idea that Kmet could be the odd man out if Loveland blossoms early in Johnson's offense.

CORNERBACK — This coaching staff believes in Tyrique Stevenson, but has never coached him — so there's still a ways to go before Stevenson is solidified as a mainstay in Dennis Allen's defense. Stevenson still is only 25 and has room for growth and maturity, with a potentially huge payoff if he develops on both fronts. If he falters — and maybe whether he does or not — he'll have competition from not only Terrell Smith but also rookie Zah Frazier — a favorite of secondary coach Al Harris.

PRACTICES OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

The Bears are scheduled to hold 11 practices open to the public, including Family Fest at Soldier Field on Sun., Aug. 3 and joint practices with the Dolphins on Aug. 8 and thhe Bills on Aug. 15 — though inclement weather and other changes could affect that schedule.

Here are the dates. Tickets for the open practices are sold out.

BY THE NUMBERS

2 Bears acquired by former general manager Ryan Pace — tight end Cole Kmet (second round, No. 43 in 2020) and cornerback Jaylon Johnson (second round, No. 50 in 2020).

29 Players drafted by the Bears, including four first-round picks (Darnell Wright, Caleb Williams, Rome Odunze and Colston Loveland) and nine second-round picks (Kmet, Johnson, Kyler Gordon, Jaquan Brisker, Gervon Dexter, Tyrique Stevenson, Luther Burden, Ozzy Trapilo and Shemar Turner)

3 Bears who have played in a Super Bowl: