2025 Chicago Bears training camp: Latest intel, updates

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 Thursday.

Camp updates for all 32 teams

Latest news from Bears camp

• Bears' Caleb Williams: No pressure entering second season


• Rookie WR Burden feels like he can do 'everything' in offense

Wednesday, Aug. 6

The Bears were off Wednesday, but here's a reflection of camp so far.

Camp recap: Who has been your standout performer of camp?

TE Colston Loveland and WR Luther Burden III. Chicago's top rookies are developing into reliable weapons in the passing game. Both dealt with injuries that sidelined them in the spring but haven't slowed them down in training camp. Loveland has been a nightmare challenge in team periods, while Burden has had stretches of practices where he has stood out as a playmaker. In an offense already stocked with pass-catchers, these two have shown their value to the unit.

Camp recap: What is the biggest question to answer for your team in the preseason?

How much will Caleb Williams and the starters on offense play? The Bears are learning a complex new offense that requires a lot of time on task to master. As Ben Johnson said, there's "a lot more going on mentally" for Williams in executing this offense than there has been at other points of his football career. That would seem to highlight the importance of preseason reps to iron out any pre-snap kinks with Williams' operation, but the Bears may view a better use of their starters' time in back-to-back joint practices with the Dolphins and Bills than in games.

Tuesday, Aug. 5

The Bears altered their schedule to practice in the early afternoon on Tuesday, when temperatures were hotter during their 12th and final install for both the offense and defense. The focus was on short-yardage and goal-line situations, which placed an emphasis on increased physicality, and it produced a day with more live tackling than any in recent memory.

After a sloppy practice for the offense at Soldier Field, the intensity displayed over the course of two hours was exactly what coach Ben Johnson told players he wanted.

"We were amped to practice," cornerback Tyrique Stevenson said. "Yesterday we had a little off day. We weren't expecting this. So as a defense, we felt good to come out there and get the message across to the offense that it's time to practice."

The defense set the tone before the first team period with safety Jaquan Brisker screaming as he jogged onto the field while defensive tackle Grady Jarrett swung his arms back and forth while the team got set at the line of scrimmage. The offense quickly matched their intensity with back-to-back runs from D'Andre Swift and later, two touchdowns at the goal line from running back Roschon Johnson.

Eventually, tempers flared into at least four separate skirmishes throughout Tuesday afternoon. There were scuffles between Tyler Scott and Brisker, Roschon Johnson and Jonathan Owens, Swift and Dayo Odeyingbo, and Braxton Jones versus Austin Booker and Gervon Dexter Sr.

No punches were thrown, but players pushed, shoved and took each other to the ground after the whistle.

"[Ben Johnson] let us know early this morning that's what he wanted today," cornerback Nahshon Wright said.

Caleb Williams' longest throw of the day went to wide receiver Rome Odunze, who won a one-on-one battle for a deep ball against Wright, who is in a battle with Stevenson to be the Bears' No. 2 cornerback. The 40-yard-plus touchdown pass ended the final move-the-ball period.

• Tight end Cole Kmet appeared to sustain an injury during goal-line work and left the field with head athletic trainer Andre Tucker after 7-on-7. The team did not provide a specific injury update.


• Ben Johnson does not know whether starters will play in the preseason opener against Miami on Sunday. The Bears coach said he had a plan for how he wanted to handle preseason games entering training camp but will talk with Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel on Tuesday night to figure out a plan for their joint practice first.


• Right guard Jonah Jackson (leg) appears to still be on a pitch count. He and Ryan Bates rotated throughout practice, with Bates getting reps during the goal-line period.


• Early on in camp, Ben Johnson said he wasn't sure whether the Bears are going to feature a wide zone or gap run scheme. Roschon Johnson feels like a lock to be the Bears' short yardage/goal-line running back again this year, but also on third down (where he was utilized on 51% of offensive snaps in 2024). "I think it'll just help us out when we get in those tough games, when we get in those situations where we really need to home something in and scheme something up," Roschon Johnson said. "I think the playbook is definitely detailed enough for us to do that."

Sunday, Aug. 3

The Bears returned to Soldier Field for their first Family Fest practice since 2023 in front of a crowd of 23,000. Ben Johnson said the team stayed in Chicago on Saturday evening like it would before a home game to create familiarity for players and calm nerves. But after two solid practices, Sunday's session felt like a step back for the offense and was "sloppier" than the Bears coach said he anticipated from the team at this point of training camp.

Most notably, the delay of game penalties that keep showing up are becoming a concern.

"It's something we're going to have to address for sure," Johnson said. "It showed up more today than it has in practice. This was more like a real game and if it continues like that, we're not going to win many games."

Johnson said there were moments where the offense was making the same mistakes multiple times and called the safety taken on a drill that started at the 1-yard line "inexcusable."

"Execution of the play wasn't what we wanted to be," Johnson said. "It's a credit to the defense -- they came out and they kicked the offense's rear in that. So that's what showed up to me -- they wanted it a little bit more."

While the defense had the clear edge Sunday, the first-team offense ended the afternoon on a positive note by scoring during the two-minute drill. Caleb Williams marched the offense down the field in 51 seconds from their opponent's 49-yard line and connected with tight end Colston Loveland for a 7-yard touchdown.

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• Cornerback Jaylon Johnson, who is on the NFI with a leg injury, was spotted on the sideline, marking his first appearance at a training camp practice. Johnson has been in meetings and rehabbing his injury since he reported on July 22.


• Rookie Ozzy Trapilo took the majority of first-team reps at left tackle during 11-on-11. Veteran Braxton Jones was with the twos for all but one team drill. Kiran Amegadjie missed a second straight day of practice with a leg injury.


• The best throw of the day came from backup quarterback Tyson Bagent, who ripped a pass over the middle to UDFA wide receiver JP Richardson for a long touchdown. Coach Ben Johnson said Richardson has stood out "quite a bit" throughout 10 training camp practices.


• When asked which players he trusts most in the passing game, Johnson singled out tight end Cole Kmet and wideouts DJ Moore, Rome Odunze and Olamide Zaccheaus.


• Wide receiver Miles Boykin (ankle), tight end Jordan Murray (groin) and running back Deion Hankins (concussion) did not practice.

Saturday, Aug. 2

The Bears are 75% of the way through installing their offense (12 total installs, which the team aims to finish by the end of next week), and the progress seen from quarterback Caleb Williams centers around his process.

"We have seen very positive results in the pre-snap stuff," offensive coordinator Declan Doyle said. "He's continuing to progress post-snap, and I think he had a pretty good day today and so I'm really excited about where he's going."

Back-to-back plays at the end of practice highlight Williams' command and where he still needs work during a third-down blitz period in the red zone. Facing third-and-10 from the 17-yard line, Williams rolled to his right while evading the rush and fired a pass to tight end Cole Kmet in the back right corner of the end zone for a touchdown. On the next play, which was also a simulated third-and-long, Williams threw behind wide receiver DJ Moore on a pass that was intercepted by cornerback Nahshon Wright at the goal line.

Williams' ability to evade pressure and make unscripted plays, particularly in two-minute situations is what developed him into a No. 1 overall pick. That mastery has never been in question for Bears coaches. But with the emphasis being for Williams to play better within structure, acing the small details adds up to big results.

"There was a shot in the red zone today, where it's a third down," Doyle said. "We're asking him to make a check off of the No. 2 defender. He feels like he's got to make the check. He feels like that guy backs up and he does a job of getting us back into the original play and completing a ball to Rome [Odunze] for a first down. I think just those little things every day, they're glimpses of what he's capable of and what he's capable of processing."

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• With Kiran Amegadjie sidelined from practice with a leg injury, rookie Ozzy Trapilo took first-team reps at left tackle while veteran Braxton Jones ran with the twos. Doyle said that rotation was part of Saturday's plan and that the competition to find the Bears' starting left tackle is on-going.


• Rookie tight end Colston Loveland hauled in the catch of the day from Case Keenum, who was QB2 on Saturday. Keenum threw a jump ball to Loveland, who faced tight coverage in a 7-on-7 drill from fellow rookie Ruben Hyppolite II. "He's friendly to throw to," Keenum said of Loveland. "He's got good body language. There's that nonverbal communication that lets the quarterback know that he knows where the ball is and should be and has good body position in relation to defenders."


• Williams' best moment was during an 11-on-11 red zone period where he threaded the needle on a tight-window to throw to Odunze for a touchdown. The quarterback continued to roll toward the sideline after launching the ball on the run and let out an emphatic "Let's f---ing go!" in celebration.


• Saturday's practice emphasized drill work throughout, including a pass protection drill for running backs that focuses on honing lateral movement skills with the use of a soccer ball.


• Long-snapper Scott Daly, who left practice Thursday on the back of a cart, has a back injury, per the team.


• The throw Keenum is most famous for, a 61-yard Hail Mary to Stefon Diggs in the 2017 NFC divisional playoffs, commonly referred to as the "Minneapolis Miracle," has come up a time or two in the quarterback room. "That's what most people ask me about," Keenum said. "'Were you the one ... was it Kirk Cousins, or was it ...?' Nah, it was me. I just made sure to tell them it was me and not Kirk. No, they know. It's fun. You've got to have time and downs, and you've got to give somebody a chance."

Thursday, July 31

The longest practice of training camp so far was just under 2 1/2 hours. Coach Ben Johnson told his players prior to Thursday's session that this type of practice is where coaches will get to see who is trying to "survive through training camp and who's really wanting to thrive and become king of the mountain."

One player who ran with that challenge was rookie wide receiver Luther Burden III, who was by far the biggest standout in Chicago's eighth practice. Burden returned this week from a hamstring injury that kept him sidelined since mid-May and looked explosive in drills with the first- and second-team offenses.

Johnson noted how Burden's play speed "jumped off the tape" after Wednesday's session. The conversation post-practice Thursday will likely yield similar praise, notably Burden's contested catch ability. That's where he shined brightest during back-to-back first-team All-SEC seasons at Missouri (11 contested catches on passes thrown at least 20 yards down field, tied for third most in FBS), and he showed off that strength during an 11-on-11 period.

"It definitely builds confidence, not even just me but with the coaches, the playcaller, the quarterback giving me the ball and everybody on the team, seeing me go out there and make plays against guys," Burden said. "It was great."

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• Three things matter above all else to Johnson when it comes to finding his starting left tackle: Consistency, making the fewest mental errors and winning one-on-one battles in pass protection. Kiran Amegadjie started with the first-team unit while Ozzy Trapilo was on the field with the starters during the 2-minute drill. Each tackle, including Braxton Jones, got work with the starting offensive line.


• Jones opened up about the struggles he faced while recovering from the first serious injury that required surgery of his football career. "There were some days where I woke up and I was like, 'You know what? I don't feel like doing much today,'" the left tackle said. "But I continued to get up."


• Cornerback Jaylon Johnson remains on the non-football injury list while recovering from a leg injury. Based on the latest update, it doesn't sound like the Pro Bowler will be back for training camp. "I think there's a scenario where he'll be ready for Week 1," Johnson said. "That's really the target date."


• QuarterbackCaleb Williams and receiverOlamide Zaccheaus connected for the longest play of camp. On third-and-4, Williams avoided pressure and launched a 40-plus yard pass to the veteran wideout.

Wednesday, July 30

Quarterback Caleb Williams feels "pretty solid" with his retention of the Bears' new offense and all that he's being asked to do through seven practices.

Williams expressed confidence in his process before and after the ball is snapped, getting everyone out of the huddle and to the line of scrimmage efficiently. He has also been pleased with his footwork and protecting the football, which has been emphasized since padded practices began earlier this week.

Wednesday was a lighter day with all team periods taking place inside the red zone. The quarterback was sharp during the first set of 11-on-11 and completed passes to DJ Moore, Olamide Zaccheaus and Luther Burden III. The second team period in the low-red zone was more of a mixed bag with Williams going 0-for-2 passing with a sack. He ended that period by scoring a touchdown on a read-option keeper.

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Nahshon Wright has made an immediate impact in place of Jaylon Johnson, who remains out with a leg injury sustained while training this offseason. While Johnson is Chicago's top cornerback, the outside corner spot opposite him is currently a battle between Wright and Tyrique Stevenson. Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen called the No. 2 cornerback position "completely up for grabs."

Burden caught his first pass of 11-on-11 during his second full practice of camp. Burden ran a route out of the slot (from where 75% of his routes were generated at Missouri from 2023 to 2024) and hauled in a catch from Williams over the middle of the field that drew an ovation from fans.

Right guard Jonah Jackson has a leg injury and is day-to-day, per the team. Left tackle Braxton Jones was given a rest day on Wednesday.

Rookie Ozzy Trapilo got the first-team reps at left tackle with Kiran Amegadjie beginning his day with the second-team unit.

Tuesday, July 29

After being sidelined during the spring while recovering from shoulder surgery, Bears first-round tight end Colston Loveland has flashed in a handful of moments over his past three practices since being cleared for full-team drills.

During a move-the-ball period on Tuesday, Loveland caught a pass from quarterback Caleb Williams over the middle of the field on third-and-7, before getting drilled by safetyKevin Byard III.

As the Bears ratchet up their intensity on the second day of padded practices (with a bit of live tackling), Loveland said he doesn't have concerns about getting hit and how his shoulder will hold up.

"I wouldn't say scared, it's just getting used to falling on it again," Loveland said. "It feels good.

"I feel like falling on it kind of helps in just getting acclimated to football, and it feels great."

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The defense had the edge during Tuesday's two-minute drill when the first-, second- and third-team offenses struggled to move the ball. Down five with 54 seconds remaining from their own 47-yard line, Williams was sacked on third down, and the first-team unit exited the field after a 10-yard completion short of the sticks.

Wide receiverLuther Burden IIIgot a few first-team reps but is "a little bit behind," according to coach Ben Johnson. Burden returned to practice for the first time in two months Monday, and Johnson talked about a moment during an afternoon walk-through on Monday when the Bears had to re-huddle after Burden lined up in the wrong spot. That happened at least once Tuesday as well.

During 11-on-11, Williams launched a beautiful deep ball to DJ Moore that likely would have resulted in a completion had cornerback Kyler Gordon not been flagged for defensive pass interference.

Moore showed up in the backfield again where he took a fly sweep down the left sideline.

Speaking of Gordon, Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen continues to move the versatile defensive back around, utilizing him at free safety and outside corner in addition to his role at nickel. "Just letting there not be really a limit on what I can do," Gordon said. "It feels fun for me to know everything, everyone's responsibility -- who's there, who's helping, who don't got help, if I need to be able to switch to outside, free safety, strong safety. Having that ability is really fun and for me. I just think it's finding my next step and my level in my own game to be able to do anything and everything."

Monday, July 28

The Bears put the pads on for the first time Monday, and for the first time since injuring his hamstring during OTAs in May, Bears rookie wide receiver Luther Burden III was back on the field.

Burden went through stretching and individual drills but did not participate in any team periods. How quickly he can work his way into team drills will determine where he fits in the race to find the Bears' No. 3 receiver.

"He's been in the meeting rooms dialed in," wide receiver Rome Odunze said over the weekend. "He's been in the treatment room getting everything he needs. So he's been handling his responsibilities from what he's capable of doing right now.

"You know, as much as you can help with just talking about the offense and him learning and seeing different things, it's going to take getting reps of course to fully grasp it and fully get into it."

Fellow rookie Colston Loveland continues to work his way into team drills and reportedly caught the best pass of the day from Caleb Williams during 7-on-7. Both rookies were held out the majority of the spring while recovering from injury.

All three players in competition to win the left tackle job --Braxton Jones, Kiran Amegadjie and Ozzy Trapilo-- saw reps with the first-team offensive line during team periods. This competition doesn't feel anywhere close to being decided.

Backup centerDoug Kramer Jr., who injured his left leg during Saturday's practice, is considered day-to-day.

Safety Jaquan Brisker said he's not wearing a guardian cap at training camp because he got a new helmet this offseason called "The Axiom." Brisker missed 12 games in 2024 due to a concussion, his third in as many seasons with the Bears.

Though he didn't sustain the injury while leading with his head, the fourth-year safety said he's taking precautious to keep himself on the field. "Probably just not lead with my helmet, I'll say that," Brisker said. "Not lead with my head. Other than that, that was my first injury that I had tackling somebody."

Chicago Bulls point guard Ayo Dosunmu and forward Matas Buzelis took in training camp at Halas Hall.

Saturday, July 26

The Bears are one-quarter of the way through their 12 installs on offense, and Saturday's finish in the two-minute drill provides momentum ahead of the team's first padded practice.

With 1:08 on the clock, quarterback Caleb Williams marched his unit 47 yards down the field, completing all of his passes in the process and connected with Rome Odunze on a short fade for a touchdown. It's a play Odunze said requires some savviness to execute. "You don't want to release too quick. You don't want to get to the spot too often," he said. "You kind of want to meet the ball exactly at the point where you want to catch it and have late hands with it. So it's all of that. Not giving the DB any sort of tips that I may be doing a fade."

Other than a delay of game taken in the two-minute drill, Saturday's practice was the best Williams and the offense have looked through the first week of training camp.

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• Colston Loveland, the Bears' first-round pick who has been limited to start camp, participated in team drills for the first time Saturday and connected with Williams during 7-on-7.


• Right tackle Darnell Wright was given a rest day, while Theo Benedet got reps with the 1s.


• It was Kiran Amegadjie 's day with the first-team offensive line, but the left tackle left practice early with an apparent injury. Backup center Doug Kramer slammed his helmet after injuring his left leg.


• Coach Ben Johnson said he's been beating his alarm clock every morning and is starting to establish a routine where he's in the building at Halas Hall before 5 a.m. CT daily.


• Pre-snap issues are getting better, but not where they need to be. Johnson emphasized mistakes with the quarterback-center exchange that have happened at least once a practice that he wants to see cleaned up. "That's High School Harry stuff that we got to get out of," he said.

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 whenCaleb 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," safetyKevin Byard IIIsaid. "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 backD'Andre Swiftsaid. "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 quarterbackCaleb 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.

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