Bears training camp continued today with a joint practice against the Buffalo Bills ahead of their preseason matchup at Soldier Field on Sunday night. As has often been the case the past several years, the defense has been ahead of the offense. When Mitch Trubisky and Justin Fields were here, that would set off alarm bells. With QB Caleb Williams only in his second year and learning a brand new offense, I can understand the tendency to want to give him the benefit of the doubt. But given that he’s a #1 overall pick and was labeled "generational", I think it’s ok to expect more and to be a bit disappointed with where he’s at right now.

Williams’ pre-snap operation has improved, but there haven’t been many tight window throws over the middle, and accuracy has still been an issue at times. According to the Chicago Tribune’s Brad Biggs, Caleb consistently missed on out routes to WR D.J. Moore and WR Rome Odunze near the goal line during an extensive pregame workout before the preseason game against Miami (Williams and most starters did not play in the game).

That’s one of the somewhat confounding things about Caleb. We know he can do some Houdini-like stuff, but he has trouble with the simpler throws at times. It’s almost like he needs drama to be fully locked-in, like he needs to be down a TD with a minute to go for his accuracy to be on point. Maybe that’s part of why he tended to struggle in first halves last season. He just wants the fourth quarter to come so he can put on his red cape and be Superman lol.

HC Ben Johnson said on Wednesday that he’s still not sure of what this offense is going to look like. Zone scheme versus a gap scheme for the running game, shotgun versus under center, it’s all still up in the air. On one hand, it’s commendable that he’s willing and able to adapt his offense to his personnel. After all, he did say in his opening presser that he wasn’t bringing Detroit’s offense to Chicago. On the other hand, we’re just over three weeks away from opening night! What do you mean you don’t know what the offense is going to look like? Color me a tiny bit concerned.

At tailback, RB D’Andre Swift is the clear RB1, and it looks like rookie RB Kyle Monangai has a leg up on the RB2 spot with RB Roschon Johnson out injured for the past few days. Monangai had a few nice runs against the Dolphins and has consistently impressed with his contact balance, north/south running, and work ethic since the Bears drafted him.

At wideout, Moore continues to get some work in the backfield, which is interesting. Odunze has really come on in the last three practices, and Caleb tends to look for him when he’s in trouble. WR Olamide Zaccheaus has quietly had an outstanding camp as a slot receiver, showing off impressive quickness and run after catch ability. Speaking of run after catch ability, rookie WR Luther Burden III has been surprisingly impressive considering all the time he missed due to injury in the offseason. He only started practicing a couple weeks or so ago, but he has been very dynamic and made a couple of grabs against the Dolphins.

At tight end, TE Cole Kmet and rookie TE Colston Loveland have had solid camps. I think Loveland is going to be a matchup nightmare for a lot of opponents. On the O-line, the left tackle battle isn’t going particularly well. None of the top three candidates has run away with the job, so Johnson has turned to T Theo Benedet this week, and he got most of the first-team reps in today’s joint practice. Rookie T Ozzy Trapilo has been switched to right tackle for three practices in a row, so it looks like the Bears might be getting him ready to be the swing tackle. I still think T Braxton Jones is most likely to be the Week 1 starter because of his experience.

On defense, DE Montez Sweat has had a good camp. Ditto for S Jaquan Brisker, who sets the tone with his playmaking ability and his personality. CB Tyrique Stevenson looks entrenched as a starter with CB Jaylon Johnson still a question mark for opening night and CB Kyler Gordon now injured again (hammy). CB Nahshon Wright continues to be a pleasant surprise. The defense picked off Tua Tagovailoa and Josh Allen three times each during the joint practices.

On special teams, PK Cairo Santos hit a 57-yard FG against the Dolphins. It likely would’ve been good from at least 60, showing off the work Santos has done in the offseason to gain some leg strength.

End.