With Bears starters set to see their first preseason action, Sunday night's game against the Bills will serve as somewhat of a dress rehearsal for the regular season opener versus the Vikings. Here are four players to watch:

The Bears are counting on Swift to spearhead a productive rushing attack and Sunday will provide the first game reps for that vital part of the offense. This season, the sixth-year pro is running behind a revamped interior line after the Bears signed top free agent center Drew Dalman and traded for Pro Bowl guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson.

Last year Swift compiled a career-high 1,345 yards from scrimmage. Asked what he hopes to see from Swift Sunday night, running backs coach Eric Bieniemy said: "I'm looking for him to go out and be him; no more, no less. I don't need him to be anything special. I need him to be that kid that I saw that came out [into the NFL] out of Georgia as a tough, between-the-tackles type runner that also has home run speed ability and also doesn't take anything for granted when he's picking up a pressure."

Bieniemy has been impressed with what he's seen from Swift in training camp.

"Swift has done a heck of a job," Bieniemy said. "He's professional as always. He puts his hard hat on every single day. He does a great job of showing up early and staying late. He's very sharp with his job because he understands exactly what we're asking of him. Very seldom does he make a mistake. Are there things he needs to work on? Of course. We've all got to be more consistent with our pass protection. We've all got to do a better job of making the tough catch in traffic. I think he's been pretty consistent with his reads and hitting the hole. But when it's all said and done, we've got to continue chopping and making sure that we're working to put the consistent habits on tape on a day-to-day basis."

Arguably the most pleasant surprise on offense in training camp, Zaccheaus will look to transfer what he's displayed on the practice field to game action. The speedy seventh-year pro has consistently produced impact plays, most recently catching a pass over the middle from Caleb Williams in Friday's joint practice with the Bills, turning up field and outracing two defenders to the end zone.

"He's been having a great camp," said safety Jaquan Brisker. "He's a fast slot receiver. He's quick and when he catches the ball he's got a very fast burst, so I think he's very talented."

Zaccheaus signed with the Bears this year after spending his first six NFL seasons with the Falcons (2019-22), Eagles (2023) and Commanders (2024), catching 149 passes for 1,998 yards and 13 touchdowns. Last year with Washington he had 45 receptions for 506 yards and three TDs.

"OZ is the F-receiver in this offense," said receivers coach/assistant head coach Antwaan Randle El. "It's a big deal, because you're asked to do a lot as it relates to blocking and as it relates to running certain routes. You have to know the full scheme: you have to know the X, you have to know the Z, you have to know what's going on in the backfield. For him — much like the other guys — he has to know everything that's going on and the intricate part, the inside part, as it relates to blitzes, the nickel.

"It's a lot that goes into that, being the F receiver. That's why you see it showing up with him a lot, because he has understood it. He's getting in the spot where he needs to be all the time and he's able to make the plays. I believe he'll continue to do that as well."

After his sack total doubled from 2.5 as a rookie in 2023 to 5.0 last year, Dexter is determined to keep ascending in his third NFL season.

"I've seen myself grow," Dexter said. "I just want to take that next step and some of the things I've gotten better with in practice, I want to see it in the game."

Dexter expects to benefit playing in new defensive coordinator Dennis Allen's aggressive, attacking scheme for the first time.

"I think I'll be able to be a more dominant player and that my presence in the game will be felt a little more," Dexter said. "And I think I'll be a lot better on first and second down, those running downs. I think my game will take another step, and then getting after the quarterback, I think it'll be better as well."

First-year defensive line coach Jeremy Garrett views Dexter as versatile and dedicated to becoming the best player he can be.

"He can play nose, he can play tackle," Garrett said. "Real excited about him. He watches a ton of film. He wants to be great. He works extremely hard at his craft. When he's away from the building, he'll text me.

"I'm excited about the work he's done in the offseason, the work he did when we were here in Phase I and II in the offseason when he was in the building, and then when he went away, he was still working. When he came back, I think he's better than he was when he left after the offseason in the spring."

Brisker has demonstrated his ball skills throughout training camp while not missing a practice after sitting out the final 12 games last season with a concussion. He broke up multiple passes in Friday's joint practice with the Bills, including one that was intercepted by linebacker Tremaine Edmunds.

"You see his confidence growing every single day being part of this defense, and also you see him enjoying playing the game," said safeties coach Matt Giordano. "I'm extremely happy for him. Anyone who has an injury like that and comes back and gets to do what they love to do, you're always happy for someone like that. He's making great strides every single week and every single day. We've still got a ways to go, but he's working his tail off and he's enjoyed doing it."

Brisker is eager to play Sunday night against the Bills at Soldier Field to "get the feel back for gameday again, get the feel for the crowd."

"You're back in the stadium, back around the fans," he said. "It's live action."

Giordano knows what type of player Brisker is, but there has been an assimilation process between the new coaching staff and members of the defense.

"It's not a curiosity," Giordano said. "You see the ability and the athleticism on tape. The biggest challenge for us was just to build that level of trust, and that just takes time. We're getting to know each other. He's being honest with me. I'm being honest with him. That's what we said from the beginning, and he's working hard every single day, and that's all we can ask for."