The Bears started training camp earlier this month in Lake Forest, IL. Let’s have a look at how things have been going so far with the Hall of Fame Game coming up on Thursday night:

QB Caleb Williams has rare off-script improvisational skills. They helped him become the #1 pick in this year’s draft, and they’ve helped generate some of his biggest highlights in camp so far. When he escapes the pocket, the defense is in trouble, especially with this group of receivers. However, he’s also made mistakes that all rookie quarterbacks make, whether it’s throwing late over the middle and getting picked off or operational issues that lead to false starts or delay of game penalties. Williams also has a top-ten defense making things tough on him. But his touch, arm strength, and accuracy have all been on display often. He’s also shown the ability to get the ball out quickly on quick game throws, something that Justin Fields often struggled with. Williams mentioned today that he needs to get better against the blitz.

RB D’Andre Swift has looked good catching the ball out of the backfield, and Williams hasn’t hesitated to check down to his backs, whether it’s Swift, RB Khalil Herbert, or RB Roschon Johnson. Indications are that Swift is going to be the main guy in this backfield, if not necessarily a bell cow. In terms of how the other two backs fit into the pecking order, we’ll see how they do for the rest of camp and preseason.

Having such a talented receiver group is a real joy, especially for Bears fans who don’t know what that’s like. WR DJ Moore has been doing DJ Moore things, WR Keenan Allen gets open whenever he wants, and rookie WR Rome Odunze has been so impressive. Odunze and Williams have had a special connection since before they were drafted, and that has continued into camp, where Rome caught another TD today. Ever since he was drafted, people have talked about how Odunze is sneaky fast and can run every route in the route tree from any receiver position. I know he’s got two studs in front of him on the depth chart, but I think Rome is going to be heavily involved in the offense this season. He’s too good not to be. WR Tyler Scott and WR Velus Jones Jr have made some plays in camp. Scott will likely be the fourth receiver, with Jones (if he makes the team) mainly a gadget guy/return man (the new kickoff rules could help him).

Honestly haven’t heard much about his group during camp, but obviously TE Cole Kmet is the featured guy here. TE Gerald Everett should get plenty of usage as a receiving tight end. It was interesting to hear Everett talk recently about how the tight ends in this offense are interchangeable with the receivers and that "we’re all going to be flying up and down the field." Ageless TE Marcedes Lewis will mainly be a blocking tight end.

The defense has had the upper hand on the offense most of the time in camp. This unit is already a top-ten D in my eyes, but its ceiling will be determined by its ability to rush the passer. DT Gervon Dexter Sr remade his body in the offseason and has stood out in camp, busting into the backfield often. If he can be the impact three-technique tackle in HC Matt Eberflus’ Cover-2 scheme, that would help a lot. On the other side of DE Montez Sweat, rookie DE Austin Booker has flashed often in camp and has started getting some reps with the starters. It’s hard to expect a lot from a rookie fifth-round pick, but remember the impact that rookie fifth-round pick DE Mark Anderson made as an edge rusher who helped the Bears get to Super Bowl XLI. Booker could be one of the reasons why the Bears haven’t signed a veteran pass rusher yet, though there’s still a pretty good chance that they will before the season starts. CB Kyler Gordon has missed some time with a leg injury. Rookie P Tory Taylor has been impressive.

PK Cairo Santos is still the kicker.

More to come in August!

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