Tag: Bears rookies

Bears rookies Caleb Williams, Rome Odunze make appearance at White Sox game

The Chicago White Sox hosted the Bears rookies on Thursday evening, including Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze.

The Chicago White Sox began a homestead on Thursday night and they had some special guests in attendance for the game.

The White Sox got set to take on the the Baltimore Orioles, who have one of the best records in Major League Baseball. It is going to be a tough series for the Southsiders as they continue a tough season, but the good news is that fans have the new-look Chicago Bears to look forward to this fall, which includes all of the new rookies that are hoping to impact the squad going forward.

The Bears’ rookie class was at the White Sox game on Thursday, including first-round picks Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze, and took the mound for the first pitch. Odunze took the ball himself and fired an outside pitch to Nicky Lopez.

Williams and Odunze are going to be key pieces of the Chicago sports scene for a long time. It is great to see them making their way around the city so everyone can see them before the season starts. It is also beneficial for the White Sox and other teams in town to have them.

The city needs a winner. It has been a while since they’ve had one, but the Bears provide hope that one will be coming soon. Williams and Odunze, in particular, have that star-like feel to them. Perhaps they can even rub off on the White Sox and bring them back to relevance.

 

 

Bears 2021 rookie season review: RB Khalil Herbert

Khalil Herbert was arguably the Bears’ rookie of the year last season, where he made the most out of his opportunities.

The Chicago Bears drafted seven players in the 2021 NFL draft, where a number of them made significant contributions on offense, defense or special teams during their rookie season.

Though Justin Fields got all of the shine last season, the team’s rookie of the year was arguably Khalil Herbert. The running back out of Virginia Tech was drafted in the sixth round last year and was pressed into starting duty thanks to injuries and made the most of his opportunity.

We’re taking a look into Herbert’s rookie year and how he might project going forward.

First look at Jimmy Graham, rookies wearing a Bears uniform

The Chicago Bears shared a first look at their rookies and new TE Jimmy Graham donning navy and orange.

While there’s still a lot of uncertainty surrounding the 2020 season, it’s starting to feel more real with the start of training camp. It also helps to finally get a look at some new Chicago Bears players sporting their new gear.

The Bears released a look at Chicago’s top rookies donning navy and orange, including second-round picks tight end Cole Kmet and cornerback Jaylon Johnson, who are poised to make an immediate impact as rookies. Also pictured were fifth-round picks receiver Darnell Mooney and edge rusher Trevis Gipson.

While Kmet and Mooney are all smiles, Johnson still looks like he knows there were six cornerbacks taken ahead of him in the NFL Draft, and he’s out to prove everyone wrong.

Another new addition to Chicago’s tight ends room is veteran Jimmy Graham, who the Bears inked to a two-year, $16 million contract with $9 million guaranteed.

Graham took to Twitter to share a first look at him in a Bears uniform, which is refreshing after having to look at photos of him in a Green Bay Packers uniform. He tweeted that he can’t wait to get “back to hunting for that endzone.”

Next step: Getting to see these players and the rest of the Bears wearing their uniforms in regular-season games.

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6 things to watch at the start of Chicago Bears training camp

There are a lot of question marks for the Bears ahead of the 2020 season, ranging from position battles to the effects of COVID-19.

Following a grueling offseason that had its share of challenges amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Chicago Bears finally hit the practice field at Halas Hall with the start of training camp.

There are a lot of question marks for the Bears ahead of the 2020 season, ranging from position battles to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. And with the start of training camp, we’re going to start seeing those answers become more clear.

Here are six things to watch at the start of Bears training camp.

1. The QB competition

USA Today

The quarterback battle between Mitchell Trubisky and Nick Foles has been the talk of the offseason for the Bears, and it’s certainly only going to heat up at the start of training camp. Given that training camp will be the only reps for head coach Matt Nagy to evaluate Trubisky and Foles, it’s certainly not going to be an easy task to make the right decision given the shortcomings of this 2020 season.

Nagy said they’re going to be evaluating Trubisky and Foles on every single play — not just their throws. They’ll be looking at every check at the line of scrimmage, how they get in and out of the huddle and how they react to specific plays in practice. Evaluating these quarterbacks in training camp alone certainly isn’t ideal, but it’s all they have to go off at this point.

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WATCH: Bears rookies arrive at Halas Hall for training camp

Bears rookies have arrived at Halas Hall ahead of the start of training camp on Tuesday, and they’re ready to get started.

Chicago Bears rookies have arrived at Halas Hall for the first time ahead of the start of training camp on Tuesday. They got a tour of the facility, as well as completed their COVID-19 testing as mandated by the NFL. And, like everyone, they’re ready to hit the practice field.

Tight end Cole Kmet, cornerback Jaylon Johnson, receiver Darnell Mooney, cornerback Kindle Vildor, pass rusher Trevis Gipson and offensive lineman Arlington Hambright addressed Bears fans from Halas Hall via the team’s Twitter account.

Rookies were allowed to report to team facilities for training camp on Tuesday, which is when the Bears inked their entire rookie class to contracts. They underwent COVID-19 testing, which will continue for the first two weeks of training camp.

Considering players needed to have more than one negative test before being permitted to enter Halas Hall, it’s safe to assume that Kmet, Johnson, Mooney, Vildor, Gipson and Hambright all tested negative. The only member of the 2020 rookie class not in the video was seventh-round offensive lineman Lachavious Simmons.

Bears veterans will report to camp on Tuesday, where they will undergo COVID-19 testing and physicals one permitted inside the facility.

Here’s a look at the timeline for training camp, beginning Tuesday.

  • Day 1: Testing/virtual meetings
  • Days 2-3: Virtual meetings
  • Day 4: Testing/virtual meetings
  • Days 5-6: Physicals
  • Days 7-15: Strength and conditioning (with a day off)
  • Day 16: Practice starts
  • Day 21: First padded practice

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Here’s what Bears training camp will look like in 2020

The Bears are gearing up for the start of training camp on Tuesday, although it’ll look a lot different than it has in the past.

The Chicago Bears are gearing up for the start of training camp on Tuesday, although it’ll look a lot different than it has in the past. With the COVID-19 pandemic, the NFL has implemented safety protocols to protect players as they gear up for their first on-field meetings of the new season.

One of the big changes will be daily COVID-19 testing for the first two weeks of training camp. But before they’re permitted to enter the team facility, they need to have more than one negative test.

Bears rookies have already reported to camp, per Adam Jahns. Following the first wave of rookie COVID-19 testing league wide, 12 rookies had positive tests, although the teams and players weren’t revealed. According to NFL.com, “the NFL plans to isolate those individuals and prevent the spreading of the virus through robust testing, contact tracing and education.”

We also have a look at how the training camp will play out this year. There will be an eight-day strength-and-conditioning ramp-up, which rookies can start as early as Monday, and a maximum of 14 padded practices.

Here’s what you can expect the Bears’ training camp timeline to look like, via Albert Breer.

  • Day 1: Testing/virtual meetings
  • Days 2-3: Virtual meetings
  • Day 4: Testing/virtual meetings
  • Days 5-6: Physicals
  • Days 7-15: Strength and conditioning (with a day off)
  • Day 16: Practice starts
  • Day 21: First padded practice

Here’s the email that Bears players received, which breaks the schedule down even further. It’s important to note that the Bears’ first padded practice won’t take place until August 17, which is the day after teams are expected to trim their rosters to 80 players.

According to Jahns, Bears veterans were to begin reporting Saturday for physicals and their first round of COVID-19 testing. That will be followed by a second round of testing and the hope that they can begin camp on Tuesday.

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Bears Camp: Veterans will report for physicals, COVID-19 testing on Saturday

Bears veterans will report Saturday for physicals and their first round of COVID-19 testing with the hope they start practices on Tuesday.

While it’s been an unconventional offseason, we’re just days away from the Chicago Bears returning to the practice field for the start of training camp.

The official report date is Tuesday, but according to The Athletic’s Adam Jahns, Bears veterans will report Saturday for physicals and their first round of COVID-19 testing. That will be followed by a second round of testing and the hope that they can begin practices on Tuesday.

Per the agreement between the NFL and NFLPA, players will receive daily COVID-19 testing for the first two weeks of training camp. But before they’re permitted to enter the team facility, they need to have more than one negative test.

Jahns continued by noting that there’s an expectation that there will be some positive tests given the states where some players are coming from. But the Bears will handle that accordingly with quarantines.

Rookies were permitted to report to camp on Tuesday, and Chicago’s entire rookie class signed that same day and have since reported and had COVID-19 testing.

If all goes to plan, the Bears will begin conditioning and practices on the official report date on Tuesday.

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It’s official: Bears sign all seven of their 2020 draft picks

The Chicago Bears are wasting no time getting their rookies to work for the 2020 season, inking all seven draft picks to deals.

The Chicago Bears are wasting no time getting their rookies to work for the 2020 season. The team inked all seven of their 2020 draft selections to four-year deals on Tuesday, the day rookies are allowed to report to training camp (and for COVID-19 testing).

Here’s a look at Chicago’s 2020 draft class that signed four-year deals with the team:

  • Round 2 (43): TE Cole Kmet, Notre Dame
  • Round 2 (50): CB Jaylon Johnson, Utah
  • Round 5 (155): OLB Trevis Gipson, Tulsa
  • Round 5 (163): CB Kindle Vildor, Georgia Southern
  • Round 5 (173): WR Darnell Mooney, Tulane
  • Round 7 (226): OL Arlington Hambright, Colorado
  • Round 7 (227): OL Lachavious Simmons, Tennessee State

The Bears addressed two roster needs with second-round selections tight end Cole Kmet and cornerback Jaylon Johnson, both of whom are expected to contribute in their rookie seasons.

Kmet will occupy the starting “Y” tight end role, where the Bears can utilize his blocking and pass catching ability. Johnson will compete for the starting cornerback opposite Kyle Fuller, where he’ll have to compete with veterans Tre Roberson, Kevin Toliver and Artie Burns. But with his athleticism and ball skills, Johnson is the favorite to win the starting job.

General manager Ryan Pace has been known for his late-round gems, and he targeted three fifth-rounders in this year’s draft. He added some depth at pass rusher with Tulsa’s Trevis Gipson, a versatile cornerback and special teams contributor in Kindle Vildor and a speedy wideout in Tulane’s Darnell Mooney.

Pace used both of his seventh-round selections on developmental offensive linemen in Colorado’s Arlington Hambright and Tennessee State’s Lachavious Simmons.

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Bears ink rookies Jaylon Johnson, Lachavious Simmons to contracts

As rookies are permitted to start reporting to training camp, the Bears are starting to sign their 2020 rookie class.

As rookies are permitted to start reporting to training camp today, the Chicago Bears are beginning to sign their 2020 rookie class. Which makes sense given the uncertainty about safety concerns earlier this offseason.

Second-round cornerback Jaylon Johnson announced on Twitter that he had signed his rookie contract. Johnson, pegged by many as a top-three cornerback prospect, could wind up being one of the biggest steals of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Johnson will be among a slew of cornerbacks competing for the starting job opposite Kyle Fuller. He’ll battle the likes of veterans Kevin Toliver and Artie Burns and CFL star Tre Roberson. Still, Johnson figures to be the favorite to win the job, although he’ll have to do it without the benefit of a preseason.

Some teams were concerned about his past shoulder injuries, but general manager Ryan Pace saw the upside in Johnson and didn’t hesitate to take him. Not unlike teams overlooking safety Eddie Jackson in the 2017 NFL Draft, where Pace selected him in the fourth round, and Jackson has been Pace’s best draft pick. We’ll have to wait and see what Johnson is able to do for Chicago.

Offensive lineman Lachavious Simmons also signed with the Bears on Tuesday. The seventh-rounder out of Tennessee State started all 12 games for the Tigers, where he played seven at guard and five at tackle.

Simmons will serve as a developmental prospect for the Bears, providing versatility across the offensive line.

Expect more Bears rookies to sign their deals and for official announcements from the team.

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8 Chicago Bears rookies to watch at 2020 training camp

As Bears rookies begin to report to training camp, here are eight players to keep an eye on.

It’s been a bumpy ride this offseason in the NFL, but we’re getting closer to the start of the 2020 season as the Chicago Bears are preparing for the start of training camp. Bears rookies are the first to report Tuesday, and there are plenty of players that could make an impact in their rookie seasons.

With the recent news that the NFL has offered the NFLPA zero preseason games, that means less opportunities for some of these rookies, especially the undrafted free agents, to prove themselves with live-game reps.

Still, there are a lot of intriguing rookies to keep an eye on as the Bears start training camp, including some undrafted rookies competing for a roster spot.

Here are eight Bears rookies to watch at training camp.

1. TE Cole Kmet

Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

After an embarrassing outing by tight ends last season, the Bears overhauled the position this offseason. One of the key additions is second-round rookie Cole Kmet, who was the most pro-ready tight end in the NFL Draft and could make a significant impact as a rookie in this offense.

Kmet will occupy the starting “Y” tight end role, as he’s thrived both as a blocker and pass catcher at Notre Dame, and he figures to do the same in Chicago. Despite a virtual offseason, Bears coach Matt Nagy has praised Kmet and his ability to grasp the playbook so early. It certainly helps that Kmet has gotten some reps in with quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, who has been organizing workouts this offseason in the Chicago area.

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