The Bears conducted a brief workout in shells Wednesday at Halas Hall before traveling to Tennessee for a joint practice Thursday and preseason game Saturday night. Here's what transpired:
The highlight of the short practice was a 7-on-7 red-zone drill.
Quarterbacking the No. 1 offense, Caleb Williams threw touchdown passes to tight end Colston Loveland and receiver Jahdae Walker.
Back after recovering from a hamstring injury, No. 2 quarterback Tyson Bagent threaded the needle between two defenders in hitting receiver Scotty Miller for a TD in the back of the end zone.
Practice ended with the offense facing fourth-and-4 from its own 49. Willams picked up a first down by connecting with tight end Cole Kmet in the left flat. The second offense turned the ball over on downs when, after a false start penalty, linebacker D'Marco Jackson broke up a Bagent pass over the middle.
Last chance
Saturday night's preseason game in Tennessee will provide several Bears players with their final opportunity to prove that they deserve a spot on the active roster or practice squad. The NFL's deadline to reach the mandatory 53-man limit is 5 p.m. (CT) Sunday.
"My message to them is the same message as it is Day 1: work as hard as you can," said special teams coordinator Richard Hightower. "You're always being evaluated, so go out and put your best foot forward. Whether it's here or somewhere else, we're fighting to keep the shield on our back.
"As long as they have that shield and they're in the National Football League, then they've got something they can work towards. Just continuing to always inspire, motivate and also teach them is kind of my message to them."
A veteran coach who is entering his 20th NFL season, Hightower loves most aspects of his job. But there's nothing he enjoys about cutdown day.
"It's the worst day in the National Football League … especially in an organization like ours where we truly care immensely about people," Hightower said. "We get attached to these guys. At the end of the day, it's still business. We can only have 53 guys on the roster, your best 69 guys overall (including 16 on the practice squad) because they'll help you at some point. But it's a tough day. I mean, it's a challenge. It gets me every time."
Hightower has seen a wide variety of reactions from players who are told their services are no longer needed.
"Some guys come in and they're like, 'Coach, I still believe this is not the end for me,'" Hightower said. "And then some guys come in bawling in tears. You've just got to be there for them, just like you would any time."
Great acquisition
Receiver Kaden Davis has arguably been the most pleasant surprise in training camp. He signed with the Bears in mid-June after spending a couple months with the United Football League's Houston Gamblers.
Davis, who has been taking reps with the No. 1 offense, has played three NFL regular season games with the Browns over the past two seasons. He previously spent time with the Broncos, Cardinals and Lions.
"Kaden was a great acquisition that the front office made," Hightower said. "He works his tail off, really a joy to be around. He's like a sponge. There's a kid that [has been] released or cut from multiple teams but has fought time-in and time-out. I've got an ultimate respect for Kaden Davis."
The path Davis has traveled reminds Hightower of receiver and return specialist Kalif Raymond, who spent time with the Broncos, Jets, Giants and Titans from 2016-20 before blossoming into an All-Pro with the Lions over the past five seasons.
"It's kind of like Kalif Raymond's story," Hightower said. "Kalif had been cut so many different times. And then special teams, you deal with a lot of guys that have had that happen to them, but do they have the perseverance to push through? I think Kaden does and I'm happy and excited to see what he'll bring to the table this week. He'll get more opportunities."
