More news and notes from Bears camp and preseason as we rev up for the regular season…

Quarterback

QB Caleb Williams had a solid camp and played pretty well in his only preseason appearance. The main things that stood out for him were improved command of HC Ben Johnson’s offense and smoother pre-snap operation. QB Tyson Bagent had a great preseason finale, completing 16 of 17 passes for 208 yards and two TDs.

Running back

RB D’Andre Swift had a very good camp and looks primed for another 1,000+ yard season. RB Kyle Monangai suffered a hyperextended right knee on August 16th and was listed as week to week by Johnson at the time. RB Roschon Johnson and RB Salvon Ahmed competed to be RB3, but Ahmed was cut today, so Johnson is the winner here. He was always more likely to win the job as the more experienced special teamer and the more powerful back. Once Monangai is healthy, I think touch distribution between the top two backs will look pretty similar to last season.

WIde receiver

WR Rome Odunze said the foot he injured last season felt amazing a few weeks ago, and he backed it up by having a very good camp. Now, it’s time for him to finally start looking like a #9 overall pick. He may have been on his way to doing that last year before he got injured, but hopefully he can do it for a whole season. Odunze mentioned earlier this month that he wants to "be better at the catch point this year, make a lot more contested catches." That was great to hear, because it’s been my main criticism of him since he was drafted.

After the preseason finale last night in Nashville, Johnson said that WR Luther Burden III (groin) looked 100% after returning to practice on Wednesday and running routes before Saturday night’s game. This is obviously great news, as I’ve been very high on Burden all offseason and think he’s going to have a big year. I’m higher on him than Rome to be honest, because I think Luther is the more dynamic playmaker.

WR Kalif Raymond had a good camp and looks likely to have a bigger role than Olamide Zaccheaus did last season. Rookie WR Zavion Thomas showed why the Bears drafted him this year with a 97-yard TD catch last night where you could see his 4.28 speed. He wound up with five catches for 140 yards and the TD and had a 39-yard punt return, though he did fumble an exchange on a jet sweep. He still isn’t likely to get enough touches to be a fantasy factor most weeks with so many pass catchers ahead of him, but he’s an exciting player to keep an eye on.

Tight end 

TE Colston Loveland had an outstanding camp and looks ready to have a huge season. TE Cole Kmet is mainly a deep league play at this point. Rookie TE Sam Roush will mainly be used as a blocker in 13 personnel, but he did catch the ball well when thrown to in camp/preseason. On the O-line, T Braxton Jones looks to have won the left tackle job by default.

Defense/Special teams

DT Gervon Dexter never quite seemed to fit this defense, so it wasn’t too surprising that the Bears traded him to Atlanta today for CB Clark Phillips III and a fifth-round pick. The team signed three D-tackles in free agency, including DT Kentavius Street, who according to the Chicago Tribune’s Brad Biggs appeared to have passed Dexter on the depth chart recently.

Phillips will help with corner depth with CB Kyler Gordon perpetually injured. Rookie CB Malik Muhammad looks like he may start the season as the nickel corner. CB Jaylon Johnson had a good camp, and so did CB Tyrique Stevenson according to Biggs. Rookie S Dillon Thieneman impressed and has locked up a starting spot, but S Cam Lewis and S Xavier Woods have struggled to replace injured S Coby Bryant.

Rookie DT Jordan van den Berg has already become something of a cult hero with his ridiculous athleticism and high motor. DE Austin Booker (groin) did some pregame work on the field last night. He needs to approach double-digit sacks for this defense to be competitive. After this defense led the league in takeaways last season, there’s probably going to be some regression in that department this year.

Kicker

PK Cairo Santos had a solid camp and will be the kicker.

Look for me Week #1 preview in about a week or so!

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