The Bears conducted their 11th training camp practice and sixth in pads Tuesday at Halas Hall. Here's what transpired:
Tuesday's workout was unlike any other so far this summer, both due to its importance as well as its structure. It was designed to be more like a scrimmage to help players prepare for Saturday's preseason opener against the Browns at Soldier Field.
"Some practices are weighed a little bit more than others," coach Ben Johnson said before the workout. "This one, there is no script. We sent out a game plan last night—or as close to a game plan that it would be for a normal game—so they can study it last night and this morning.
"So, this will come through for us who can play fast, not knowing what's coming, who can react, who can adjust. It's all about building trust right now, not just for the coaching staff but for each other's teammates. We've got some new faces; we've dealt with some attrition here. What I want to see, too, is there will be some guys on the back end of our defense that haven't played a whole lot for us. Who can help them out with some of the calls and things that are coming like that? I expect to see some leadership show up as well today."
The first team period in practice was a short-yardage drill.
"That was an area that we felt like both sides of the ball can improve from a year ago," Johnson said. "We're putting a lot of emphasis on that."
On each of the first two plays of the drill, running back D'Andre Swift burst around right end and raced down the sideline.
"I'm excited for him," said quarterback Caleb Williams. "Selfishly, he helps everybody on that field when he can go and be the special back that he is, whether it's passing or short yardage and running downhill. I think he's going to have a great year. He only helps the passing game. He only helps us win games. It's all help, help, help. He's going to be a big piece of that. He's a professional. He has a routine that he sticks to and he's true to that, so I'm excited for him and I'm excited for us."
Running back Kyle Monangai followed with an impressive run of his own, also around right end.
A live goal-line drill followed, with the ball placed at the 1. The defense stuffed Swift on the first play and forced Williams out of bounds on a scramble to the left on the second. Monangai scored on the next snap on a nifty cutback run.
The second-team offense produced touchdowns on two of three plays from the 1 on runs up the middle by running backs Roschon Johnson and Brittain Brown. The defense won the middle rep as linebacker Nephi Sewell dropped tight end Nikola Kalinic short of the goal line on a reception in the left flat.
In team drills, tight end Colston Loveland reached high to snare a Williams pass over the middle, defensive tackle Gervon Dexter Sr. and linebacker T.J. Edwards both stopped Johnson in the hole on separate plays and linebacker Devin Bush intercepted a Tyson Bagent pass.
Later, in a "move the ball" drill, the offense started at its own 1 and had to pick up two first downs. After throwing the ball away on first down while being pressured by blitzing rookie safety Dillon Thieneman, Williams stepped up in the pocket to his right and hit receiver Rome Odunze near the sideline. Odunze turned upfield and was forced out of bounds at the defense's 41 for a 58-yard gain. On the next play, Williams connected with receiver Scotty Miller over the middle.
"We wanted to get two first downs, and we win the drill," Williams said. "The whole objective is 'get the ball in play.' Rome ran a great route, but I felt like I was back there for a bit, so I tried to check it down. The right defensive end looped over, and I just went through the gap. I found Rome and connected with him.
"The next one was Scotty, and he ran a great route. I told him I lost him for a second; that's what happens when you're on the shorter end. I lost him for a second and then just saw a hole open up between the 'backers and saw a glimpse of him and ripped it. He made a great catch. He ended up getting down and being smart with the ball, knowing we needed two first downs to win."
On the first play of the same drill with the second-team units, cornerback Dontae Manning knifed into the backfield and blasted Johnson, forcing a fumble that linebacker Jon Rhattigan recovered in the end zone for a TD.
More to come
Johnson has yet to determine how much, if any, playing time Bears starters will receive Saturday afternoon versus the Browns.
"We haven't gotten there yet," he said. "We've had these four-day blocks. We're at the end of that third four-day block right now. We'll talk about that as a staff [Wednesday] and probably on Thursday we'll be able to update [the media] on our plans for Saturday."
Special guests
The Bears honored active-duty service members and veterans during Military Appreciation Day presented by USAA during Tuesday's practice. Service members were invited to watch practice, meet players and receive autographs. Before practice, USAA and the Bears hosted a special Military Boot Camp inside the Walter Payton Center, where service members competed in NFL Combine-style drills, with a pair of special guests – former linebacker Lance Briggs and assistant general manager Jeff King.
