Tag: bears otas

8 takeaways from Day 5 of Bears OTAs

The Bears returned to the practice field for the second week of OTAs. Here’s what we learned from Tuesday’s practice:

The Chicago Bears returned to Halas Hall for the second week of Organized Team Activities (OTAs), where they continue to adjust to learning their new respective schemes.

Tuesday’s practiced marked the fifth of 10 allotted OTA practices, and Chicago will return to the field Thursday to wrap up the second week of OTAs. They’ll return to the practice field for their final week of OTAs starting June 6 ahead of mandatory minicamp.

There were plenty of storylines from Tuesday’s practice, where tight end Cole Kmet, offensive tackle Teven Jenkins, linebacker Nicholas Morrow and head coach Matt Eberflus met with the media.

Here’s what we learned from the fifth practice of Chicago’s OTAs:

Best photos from Day 5 of Bears OTAs

The Bears held their fourth OTA practice on Monday. Take a look at the action:

The Chicago Bears returned to the practice field for the second week of Organized Team Activities (OTAs) on Monday, where the offense and defense continue to get accustomed to their new schemes.

Here’s a look at the best photos from the fifth day of Bears OTAs, including  a look at quarterback Justin Fields, tight end Cole Kmet and linebacker Nicholas Morrow.

Bears rookie CB Kyler Gordon has been lighting it up during practice

Bears rookie CB Kyler Gordon is already making a strong impression during offseason practices.

Kyler Gordon has only been a member of the Chicago Bears for a few weeks, but the rookie cornerback is already making a strong impression.

Gordon, who was Chicago’s top selection with the 39th overall pick in the draft, has already made an impact on the practice field.

Bears head coach Matt Eberflus said that Gordon has been “lighting it up” in practice so far during Organized Team Activities (OTAs) practices — particularly when it comes to making plays on the ball.

“Kyler’s been lighting it up the last two days,” Eberflus told reporters. “I’ll just tell you that. The guy’s got tremendous ball skills. He’s been playing the defense the right way, and we’re very impressed with him. I’ll just tell you that. And he’s doing a good job the first two days.

“We’ll see where it goes. He’s young. He’s got a lot to learn, but we’re excited with where he is with his ball-hawking skills. No question.”

Bears defensive coordinator Alan Williams confirmed Gordon will play outside at cornerback, at least to start, as he doesn’t want to overload the rookie. But given Gordon’s versatility inside and outside, perhaps we could see Gordon make the transition in the slot.

Gordon, along with fellow second-round rookie safety Jaquan Brisker, is expected to start immediately alongside Jaylon Johnson in the secondary. And after hearing he’s already been making plays in practice, it’s not exactly a surprise.

Follow The Bears Wire Podcast:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

[pickup_prop id=”23929″]

[listicle id=507792]

Best photos from Day 2 of Bears OTAs

The Bears held their second OTA practice on Tuesday. Take a look at the action:

The Chicago Bears kicked off their Organized Team Activities (OTAs) this week, where veterans and rookies gathered for two of 10 OTA practices ahead of mandatory minicamp.

Here’s a look at the best photos from the second day of Bears OTAs, including Justin Fields and his new group of quarterbacks Trevor Siemian and Nathan Peterman.

WATCH: Bears QB Justin Fields back at work during OTAs

The Bears returned to the practice field Tuesday for OTAs. Here are some videos of Justin Fields in action.

The Chicago Bears returned to the practice field Tuesday for voluntary workouts on the second day of Organized Team Activities (OTAs).

This is the first time this offseason where veterans and new rookies gather to get some work in. But it wasn’t perfect attendance as defensive ends Robert Quinn and Al-Quadin Muhammad, along with defensive tackle Mario Edwards, headlined the list of no-shows for the voluntary workouts.

Media members were able to take in Tuesday’s practice, and were allowed to share some brief video clips from the action. Not surprisingly, they feature quarterback Justin Fields working with offensive coordinator Luke Getsy and getting some throws in.

The Bears still have eight OTA practices left — May 19, May 23-24, May 26, June 6-7 and June 9. That’s followed up with mandatory minicamp June 14-16, which will be the last official offseason work before they break ahead of training camp in late July.

Follow The Bears Wire Podcast:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

Bears rookies could possibly report to Halas Hall before June 26

The next time the Bears will reunite in person will likely be training camp in late July. But certain players might get an earlier start.

Now that we’ve hit the dead month in the NFL offseason, the countdown is on for training camp when NFL teams will finally reunite on the football field after an entirely virtual offseason. But certain players might be able to get an earlier start than returning veterans.

According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the NFL and NFLPA are discussing possibly allowing certain players, including rookies and veterans who switched teams that need physicals, returning to team facilities on a limited basis before June 26.

Last week, the NFL allowed coaches to return to team facilities, and there are some that have already done so. But there’s no word on whether Matt Nagy and his coaching staff have returned to Halas Hall.

Obviously, you expect Nagy and his coaching staff to return before certain players would be permitted to, assuming this is something that the NFL and NFLPA come to an agreement on.

As Pelissero noted, it doesn’t appear that there will be minicamps, and the first time all players report to team facilities will likely be training camp in late July.

The NFL’s memo also discussed social distancing measures in the locker rooms, virtual meetings whenever possible, disinfecting equipment and the use of masks.

[vertical-gallery id=447919]

[lawrence-related id=447973,448234,448220,448208,448158]

Bears coaches will be permitted to return to Halas Hall on Friday

The NFL sent out a memo to teams that coaches will be allowed to return to team facilities beginning Friday.

While most of the sports world has been at a standstill during the coronavirus pandemic, the NFL has been able to operate business as usual, with some notable changes.

Free agency, the 2020 NFL Draft and offseason programs have been conducted from an entirely virtual format. But as we approach training camp in July, the NFL is beginning to pull back restrictions and allow teams to return to their facilities.

The NFL sent out a memo to teams that coaches will be allowed to return to team facilities beginning Friday, and that the maximum number of people allowed at those facilities is 100 people.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the league expects every team’s coaches, minus the San Francisco 49ers, to be able to start returning to their facilities Friday.

This means that Matt Nagy and his coaching staff will be allowed to return to Halas Hall and continue virtual organized team activities (OTAs) ahead of training camp in July.

Earlier this week, the NFL informed teams that all training camps must take place at team facilities to ensure the protection of players, coaches and staff. The Bears, who had practiced at Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais for the last 18 years, decided back in January to move training camp to Halas Hall in Lake Forest, in order to take advantage of their team facilities.

Teams were also informed that joint practices, which have become a common occurrence among teams during the preseason, will not be taking place. The Bears had planned on taking part in joint practices with the Broncos ahead of their Week 2 preseason contest in Denver.

[vertical-gallery id=445985]

[lawrence-related id=448061,448095,448085,448071,448046]

Akiem Hicks: There was a ‘level of healing’ with Bears’ team meeting

Bears DT Akiem Hicks didn’t think anything positive was going to come out of Monday’s team meeting. He left feeling completely different.

Akiem Hicks has garnered a reputation for being a monster on the football field. He’s also someone that’s not afraid to speak his mind off the field.

When Hicks met with the media on Wednesday, he was asked about Monday’s two-hour meeting that kicked off organized team activities. He admitted that he “didn’t think anything positive was going to come from” the meeting, believing it was an attempt to control a specific message.

“It was the complete opposite,” Hicks said. “It was totally different.”

“As a team, there was a level of healing involved in that call, and a moment of just us coming together,” Hicks said.

Bears coach Matt Nagy chose to put football on the back-burner Monday and discuss the social injustice happening in this country following another needless murder of a black man. Nagy spent the entire two-hour meeting listening and supporting his players.

“Talking to some of the guys helped me decide on Monday into really spending our allotted two hours [of our team meeting] just listening and to let our players know how much I and we support them,” Nagy said. “It was probably the most powerful two hour meeting I have ever been in and will ever be in.”

Nagy also mentioned that black players were interested in their white teammates’ opinions of what was happening, and that there was compassion and understanding. Hicks echoed Nagy’s sentiment.

“I don’t put any extra weight on anyone… I’m not gonna push anybody in any direction… What I will say about our team is we do a good job, I think, of stopping the separation and keeping guys together.”

[vertical-gallery id=445985]

[lawrence-related id=448071,448046,448034,447875,447909,448003]

Matt Nagy details ‘most powerful 2-hour meeting’ he’s ever been a part of

Bears coach Matt Nagy understands that some things are bigger than sports, including the social injustices in this world.

The Chicago Bears kicked off their organized team activities (OTAs) in a very different way than years’ past. And no, it wasn’t just because of the virtual format.

The senseless, brutal murder of George Floyd have sparked protests and outrage across the nation, and it’s a reminder that some things are bigger than sports.

Which is something Bears head coach Matt Nagy understands.

“Football is extremely secondary,” Nagy told reporters Wednesday. “We have to get life right.”

Nagy put football aside and spent the entirety of the Bears’ two-hour meeting on Monday listening and supporting his players amid the social injustices that continue to ravage our world.

“Talking to some of the guys helped me decide on Monday into really spending our allotted two hours [of our team meeting] just listening and to let our players know how much I and we support them,” Nagy said. “It was probably the most powerful two hour meeting I have ever been in and will ever be in.”

Nagy said that more than 40 players spoke during Monday’s meeting, where they shared their feelings and stories.

“There was a lot of anger, there was a lot of fear in the conversations,” Nagy said. “There was disgust, there was sadness, there was compassion, hurt… There was a vulnerability in people’s stories.”

Nagy told reporters that black players were interested in what white players thought of what was happening, and that there was a lot of love and compassion. One of the themes Nagy continues to stress is the power of love, which was felt following the meeting.

The meeting was met with a ton of appreciation by players involved, and some of them shared their thoughts on Twitter.

[vertical-gallery id=445985]

[lawrence-related id=448046,448034,447875,447909,448003]

Bears announce key dates for 2020 offseason

Here are a list of key dates for the Bears’ offseason, including two minicamps, 10 OTA practices and press conferences.

The Bears offseason has just started, and there’s plenty on the horizon for a team looking to rebound after a disappointing 2019 season.

While we already knew the dates of the NFL Scouting Combine and NFL Draft, the Bears released some new key dates, which include offseason workout dates and Ryan Pace/Matt Nagy press conferences.

Here are a list of key dates for the Bears’ offseason, which includes dates for Bears rookie minicamp, 10 OTA practices and mandatory full-squad minicamp.

February 2020

  • Feb. 24-March 1 – NFL Scouting Combine
  • Feb. 25 – Ryan Pace/Matt Nagy meet with media at NFL Combine

March 2020

  • Feb. 24 – March 1 – NFL Scouting Combine
  • March 18 – Free agency and new league year begins

April 2020

  • April 7 – Ed Block Courage Award presentation
  • April 20 – Bears may begin offseason workout programs
  • April 21 – Brian Piccolo Awards presented to rookie and veteran
  • April 21 – Ryan Pace will speak with the media ahead of NFL Draft
  • April 23-25 – 2020 NFL Draft in Las Vegas

May 2020

  • May 8-10 – Bears rookie minicamp at Halas Hall
  • May 16 – Bears Care Gala at Soldier Field
  • May 27 – May 29 – OTA practices

June 2020

  • June 2-4 – OTA practices
  • June 8 – 11 – OTA practices
  • June 16-18 – Mandatory full-squad minicamp

[lawrence-related id=438146,438112,438086,438075]