News and notes from camp and the Bears’ preseason opener against the Titans:

You couldn’t have scripted it any better for QB Justin Fields against the Titans. 3-3, 129 yards, two long TDs. The first score was on a simple quick screen to his new best buddy WR D.J. Moore, who took it 62 yards to the house. The second TD was on another short screen pass to RB Khalil Herbert, who raced 56 yards to the end zone. This was a nice preview of what Fields needs to focus on this season: get the ball out quick to his playmakers, and let them make plays. In terms of his camp performances, he’s had good days and not-so-good days, but his coaches and teammates continue to talk about his increased comfort in the offense and his leadership. In terms of his O-line, there have been some injuries, and depth is a concern. Rookie OT Darnell Wright has been up and down but did fine in limited snaps against the Titans.

Herbert definitely helped himself with his long TD, where he fought his way into the end zone when it looked like he was going to be taken down inside the five. According to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, the Bears want to involve the tailbacks more in the passing game this season, and Herbert has been getting a lot of work in third-down situations and the red zone in practice. He wound up with four carries for 15 yards, while RB D’Onta Foreman had three for nine.

It was rookie RB Roschon Johnson who led the team with 12 carries for 44 yards in the second half, including a bulldozing 24-yard run where he showed off the impressive tackle-breaking ability he displayed in college at Texas. He missed a little time early in camp with an injury, but his pass blocking has been good, and he caught three of his four targets against the Titans. Johnson is currently third on the depth chart behind Herbert and Foreman, but the Bears have been effusive in their praise of him since he was drafted, and it’s not hard to see him potentially moving at least up to the backup role during the season. RB Travis Homer and RB Trestan Ebner might be fighting for one spot.

What else can you say about Moore? The guy scores a 62-yard TD the first time he touches the ball as a Bear? That’s the kind of stuff that legends are made of. In fact, I’m going to go out on a limb right now and predict that he will eventually become the Bears’ all-time leader in receiving yards. Hopefully I haven’t just jinxed him. WR Darnell Mooney did not play against Tennessee as the team continues to give him limited reps to ramp him up for the season.

WR Chase Claypool tweaked a hammy last Wednesday and was also held out of the Titans game. Claypool has looked good in camp for the most part, but he has also occasionally gotten into scuffles with defensive players and was jokingly labeled a "hothead" by Mooney after one practice. Rookie WR Tyler Scott has speed to burn, but ball security has been an issue at times (occasional drops, and a fumble against the Titans). For all the talk about how WR Velus Jones Jr has looked more comfortable as a receiver and a returner, he looked shaky again against the Titans, fielding one punt on a bounce and muffing another one off a bounce.

Neither TE Cole Kmet nor TE Robert Tonyan played against Tennessee. In terms of camp, Fields has found both of them for TDs multiple times. It’s hard to say just how much the additions of Tonyan, Moore, etc will affect Kmet’s targets this season. Some of it will depend on how much OC Luke Getsy opens up the offense. With more playmakers and a better O-line, the Bears should throw the ball more often, but the offense overall will likely still be run-based. On August 4^th, the team signed veteran TE Marcedes Lewis to a one-year deal, mainly for leadership purposes.

On the same day the Bears signed Lewis, they also finally signed the proven veteran pass rusher the fanbase has eagerly awaited for months: DE Yannick Ngakoue. He didn’t play against the Titans and will have a ramp up period to get ready for the season. Rookie DT Gervon Dexter has flashed in practice at times but also shown that he has a lot to learn. He had a quiet game against the Titans, while fellow rookie DT Zacch Pickens had a sack. Rookie CB Tyrique Stevenson has been solid in camp and had an impressive game against Tennessee with seven tackles and a near-pick.

PK Cairo Santos made all three of his field goal attempts and both of his extra points against the Titans.

More to come later this month!

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