Tag: bears training camp

Bears one of three teams eligible for ‘Hard Knocks’ in 2024

For the second year in a row, the Bears can be forced to appear on Hard Knocks. Will this finally be the year it happens?

The Chicago Bears narrowly avoided Hard Knocks in 2023. Will that be the case in 2024? For the second year in a row, the Bears are one of a few teams in the NFL that can be forced to be the focus of the long-running HBO series Hard Knocks during training camp.

Hard Knocks follows one NFL team throughout their training camp, providing fans with glimpses into players and coaches journeys as they prepare for the upcoming season. Any team can volunteer to be featured, but certain teams can be forced to do it if there are no takers.

If a team has made the playoffs within the last two seasons, has hired a new coach, or has appeared on the show within the last 10 years, they are exempt from that year’s Hard Knocks. The New York Jets were featured last year after the NFL forced them to do it, having been one of four teams eligible. The Bears, New Orleans Saints, and Denver Broncos are the only teams that do not fit that criteria this year.

Halas Hall would make for an intriguing setting for next season’s series, given the possibility of having a rookie quarterback like Caleb Williams in the fold as well as boasting an ascending team, particularly on defense. But chairman George McCaskey has been adamant about not having the cameras around in past seasons, and his stance likely hasn’t changed. “We feel there are a number of teams that have compelling stories to tell on Hard Knocks,” McCaskey said during last year’s owners meetings. “31 others,” he clarified.

Time will tell if the league will respect his wishes, but the Bears may not be able to avoid the series this year.

Remembering 10 favorite Bears training camp players

With Bears training camp 2023 well underway, let’s remember some former standouts that became fan favorites in previous years.

Chicago Bears training camp is well underway and fans are getting a close look at the team as they prepare for the upcoming 2023 season. Star players like Justin Fields, D.J. Moore, Tremaine Edmunds, and Jaylon Johnson are of course the focus as the team looks to improve upon its dismal 3-14 record from a year ago, but camp is also about finding those undrafted players near the bottom of the roster that can turn heads.

Guys like Terrell Lewis, Aron Cruickshank, and Buddy Johnson have stood out at different times already. Camp is a prime opportunity for players to make a name for themselves, which in turn gets fans excited about what they’re seeing on the field. Let’s take a trip down memory lane and remember some former Bears training camp and preseason standouts who may not have been household names.

Bears notebook: What we learned from Day 3 of training camp

Our own Brendan Sugrue took in Friday’s Bears training camp practice at Halas Hall. Here is what he saw and learned.

Halas Hall was buzzing on Friday as fans eagerly arrived for Chicago Bears training camp. It was the second practice with fans in attendance and the third overall as the team gears up for what should be an entertaining 2023 season.

The Bears are still ramping up activity without pads on and went through a lighter practice in the grueling heat and humidity. But there was still plenty to see, experience, and learn about the team as they inch closer to their Week 1 date at Soldier Field with the Green Bay Packers.

As someone who was in attendance for Friday’s practice, here are some of my notes and observations from the hot practice fields at Halas Hall.

WATCH: The final episode of ‘1920 Football Drive’ wraps Bears camp

The Bears protested the Jacob Blake shooting, named Mitchell Trubisky starting QB and TE Cole Kmet was mic’d up in ‘1920 Football Drive.’

For years, Chicago Bears fans have had to deal with limitations when it comes to media access at training camp. But in a year where we’re craving football more than ever, the Bears have brought training camp to the fans.

The series, 1920 Football Drive, has brought fans behind-the-scenes of  Bears training camp, which has included an inside look at team meetings and exclusive access from the practice field.

In the third and final episode, the Bears canceled practice to protest the Jacob Blake shooting, the Bears came to a decision at starting quarterback and rookie tight end Cole Kmet was mic’d up during the team’s final scrimmage.

You can catch past episodes of 1920 Football Drive on the Bears’ YouTube channel.

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Nick Foles called Mitchell Trubisky to congratulate him on winning starting job

Want to know the kind of person Nick Foles is? Look no further than his response to learning that Mitchell Trubisky had won the QB battle.

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If you want to know the kind of person Nick Foles is, look no further than his response to learning that Mitchell Trubisky had won the Chicago Bears’ quarterback competition.

Following a 90-minute meeting with head coach Matt Nagy, where he explained that Trubisky would be the Bears’ starting quarterback, Foles’ first reaction was to call Trubisky and congratulate him.

“It’s not easy when you’re competitive, and one person has to get named the starter,” Nagy told reporters Sunday. “But Nick ended his conversation with me when I told him what we’re gonna do with, ‘Can I call Mitch and congratulate him?’ And if that doesn’t speak to who he is as a human being, I think there is some realness that you all need to understand what kind of guy he is.”

That’s just who Foles is, and it’s who the Bears knew they were getting when they traded for him. Foles is going to do everything to support and help his teammates and do what’s best for this team.

“I’ve just learned to embrace it the best I can through the ups and downs,” said Foles, “so whatever wisdom I can give [Trubisky] as it pertains to the emotions of the game, as it pertains to the plays going into the game, the philosophy, the philosophy, the thought process, how you do third downs, how I think during games. So whatever it is, I look forward to helping him in any way possible.”

While Trubisky won the training camp competition, there’s no guarantee that he’ll play the entire season. History says otherwise, as Trubisky has yet to play a full season. He didn’t start until Week 5 as a rookie and he missed three games between 2018-19 due to injury.

But this case could be different. If Trubisky reverts to his 2019 struggles, the Bears could turn to Foles to save the day. And, luckily, Foles is known for coming off the bench and finding success.

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5 takeaways from Mitchell Trubisky being named Bears’ starting QB

After an underwhelming competition in camp, the Bears have finally chosen their starting QB in Mitchell Trubisky. Here are my takeaways.

After an underwhelming competition in training camp, the Chicago Bears have finally chosen their starting quarterback.

Fourth-year signal caller Mitchell Trubisky will get the nod over veteran Nick Foles in what was a hotly-contested battle that spanned three weeks in training camp. While the decision was surprising, at the same time it wasn’t. Especially after neither Trubisky or Foles managed to pull away in this competition.

Bears head coach Matt Nagy will hold a press conference Sunday, where he’s expected to make the announcement official.

But until then, here are my five takeaways from Trubisky being named Chicago’s starting quarterback.

1. A presumptive tiebreaker went to the incumbent starter

Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

While there were challenges with this quarterback battle, the hope was that Trubisky or Foles would pull away in this competition. That obviously didn’t happen, as reports out of camp indicated neither quarterback looked particularly impressive. Even Nagy said Trubisky and Foles “have done a good job at making it difficult.”

Which led to questions about a potential tiebreaker. Who would get the nod? Well, the answer appears to be the incumbent starter with two years of experience in this offense and with Chicago’s personnel. It always felt like Foles was going to have to outright win the job to supplant Trubisky. And with that not happening, Trubisky gets one last chance to prove himself.

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Twitter reacts to Mitchell Trubisky being named Bears’ starting QB

The Bears are expected to name Mitchell Trubisky the starting QB. And the reaction on Twitter, especially with Bears fans, went as expected.

The Chicago Bears have finally made a decision at quarterback. After an underwhelming quarterback competition, the Bears are expected to name incumbent Mitchell Trubisky the starting quarterback, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

This after a three-week competition between Trubisky and veteran Nick Foles, where neither was impressive or managed to separate himself in the competition. Matt Nagy and his coaching staff evaluated every rep at training camp, from decision-making to situation football. And it appears that, given neither appeared to win the job, Nagy went with the incumbent with two years of experience running this offense in Trubisky.

Now, the former No. 2 overall pick has one last chance to prove himself in Chicago. Although, expect the leash to be short. Especially with Foles, a quarterback known for coming off the bench and winning, sitting just behind him.

The reaction to the Trubisky news on Twitter, especially with Bears fans, went about as expected. Those that were Pro-Trubisky celebrated and those that were Anti-Trubisky raged. Then there are some Bears fans out there hoping that maybe — just maybe — this will finally be the year where Trubisky puts it all together while also trying not to get their hopes up once again.

The good…

The bad…

https://twitter.com/jmorri22/status/1302036170449145856?s=20

The optimistic…

And those whose first reaction was to support whoever was named the starter.

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Matt Nagy having difficult time choosing Bears starting QB

Bears coach Matt Nagy knows he’s running out of time to choose a starting quarterback ahead of the season opener in just over a week.

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Bears head coach Matt Nagy knows he’s running out of time to choose a starting quarterback ahead of the season opener in just over a week.

The hope was that Mitchell Trubisky or Nick Foles would make it easy on the Bears in choosing a starter. That obviously hasn’t happened as neither Trubisky or Foles have been impressive or managed to separate themselves in this competition. Which leaves Nagy and his coaching staff in a difficult spot.

“The longer that things string out, the harder it is for these quarterbacks, the harder it is for our team, and I think that has to carry some heavy weight as well,” Nagy told reporters Thursday.

“It’s hurting yourself if you do that, and you need to be able to make a decision to help both of these quarterbacks. And not to mention help our staff, as well. So we are taking all of that into consideration. We want to do it the right way.”

Given the circumstances of this COVID-19 offseason, this competition hasn’t exactly been ideal. Trubisky and Foles missed out on valuable reps in organized team activities and preseason, which would’ve given Nagy and his staff live-game reps to make the most important decision of this preseason.

But after three padded practices where Trubisky and Foles have essentially remained neck and neck, Nagy remains torn on who will ultimately win the job.

“Both of these quarterbacks have done a good job at making it difficult,” he said.

The evaluation will be an in-depth one, as Nagy and his coaching staff will look at every rep — everything from decision-making to accuracy to “situational football.” Nagy also said that each quarterback’s playing history will factor into the decision.

“Both of them, we thought did well,” Nagy said of Trubisky and Foles over the last three weeks of practice. “I know it probably is frustrating in hearing things sound somewhat grey. I completely understand that. But for us, it’s not easy.”

Time is almost up for Nagy, who is expected to announce the starter Monday or Wednesday as the Bears officially begin preparation for their Week 1 contest against the Detroit Lions.

Check out the new Bears Wire Podcast!

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Bears DT Akiem Hicks returned to practice Thursday

The Bears received some good news as DT Akiem Hicks returned to the practice field on Thursday two weeks after suffering a quad injury.

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The Chicago Bears received some good news as defensive tackle Akiem Hicks returned to the practice field on Thursday. Hicks had missed the last two weeks after injuring his quadriceps.

While the practice was short and light, it was encouraging to hear that Hicks made his return just over a week out from the season opener against the Detroit Lions. It was a good sign that Hicks should be ready to go for Week 1.

‘‘Just preparing for football, man,’’ Hicks said, via the Sun-Times. ‘‘You know, this time of year and this situation that we’ve been in have been taxing on everyone.

‘‘The biggest battle is making sure that you remember what you’re focused on or what you’re pushing toward, and that’s coming out Week 1 and playing good football.’’

The Bears defense, while not unimpressive, struggled without Hicks last season after he went down with an elbow injury in Week 5. Hicks’ return this season is more important than ever, especially as the Bears will be without nose tackle Eddie Goldman, who opted out of the season due to COVID-19 concerns.

‘‘Anytime you see [No.] 96 out there, that’s a good thing,’’ coach Matt Nagy said of Hicks’ return to practice. ‘‘We like that; we know opposing offenses don’t. We want to make sure we have him out there, so it was good.’’

Despite the challenges that have come with this shortened offseason, Hicks feels comfortable as the defense is entering its second season under defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano.

‘I would say this: Everybody’s a little bit more comfortable,’’ Hicks said. ‘‘We have some things that we’ve been familiar with over the past year, so anytime that you get that continuity from your [coordinator], guys just feel more comfortable.

‘‘So I think that going into this season, we’re going to be just a little bit more sharp on some of the things that we’ve tried to install and do over here for the past couple of years.’’

Check out the new Bears Wire Podcast!

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Check out the new Bears Wire Podcast!

In the debut of the new Bears Wire Podcast, we addressed the QB battle with Mitchell Trubisky and Nick Foles and more.

The NFL Wire Network is rolling out new podcast series this week, including the brand new Bears Wire podcast.

The podcast will be hosted by Ryan O’Leary (@RyanOLearySMG) and I’ll join him each week to break down the latest Bears news.

The show will be Bears-focused but will also feature tips on NFL picks and fantasy football news.

With the 2020 season just around the corner, we addressed the quarterback battle with Mitchell Trubisky and Nick Foles, the cornerback situation opposite Kyle Fuller, tight ends Jimmy Graham and Cole Kmet and more.

You can listen to the first episode below:

Starting next week, you can catch a new episode every Thursday on Apple Podcasts or your podcast service of choice (including right here at the top of the page.)

Next week’s episode will delve into the Bears’ season opener against the Lions.

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