Ranking 2024’s top 12 free-agent tight ends

Top tight ends hitting free agency this offseason:

Even after last year’s signing of Hayden Hurst, could the Carolina Panthers be in the market for a new tight end?

If so, here are some of the best that free agency has to offer:

5 Bears-Packers connections ahead of Week 1 matchup

There are a number of former Packers now playing on the Bears.

The Chicago Bears will kick off the 2023 NFL season against the rival Green Bay Packers today at Soldier Field.

It’s a new chapter in the NFL’s oldest rivalry, following the departure of Aaron Rodgers. Now, it’ll be Jordan Love taking the reins, where he’ll battle the likes of Bears quarterback Justin Fields.

Chicago is looking to snap an eight-game losing streak against their rivals, with their last victory coming in Dec. 2018.

When the Bears and Packers face off, there will be plenty of familiar faces. Between the two teams, there are some player and coach connections. Let’s take a look:

Bears TE Robert Tonyan now questionable for Sunday’s game vs. Packers

The Bears added Tonyan to the injury report with a back issue and announced a few roster moves ahead of Sunday’s game.

The Chicago Bears were set to enter their Week 1 matchup against the Green Bay Packers with essentially a healthy roster, but now they could be without one of their tight ends. On Saturday, the Bears added Robert Tonyan to the injury report with a back issue, and he is now questionable to play. He practiced in full all week and had no injury designation up to this point.

Tonyan was signed as a free agent this offseason after spending six years with the Packers. He was set to face his former team for the first time, but that is now in jeopardy. His status for the game will be announced no later than 90 minutes prior to kickoff.

With Tonyan landing on the injury report, the Bears elevated tight end Stephen Carlson, as well as linebacker DeMarquis Gates, from the practice squad. They also released linebacker Dylan Cole, who was the lone player with an injury designation on Friday.

Carlson saw the most action of any Bears tight end this preseason but hasn’t played in a regular-season game since 2020 due to injuries. Gates, meanwhile, played in three games for the Bears last season, totaling one tackle.

5 Bold predictions for Bears vs. Packers

D.J. Moore snapping the 100-yard receiving drought & Tyrique Stevenson getting his first pick are just a few of our Bears bold predictions.

There’s rarely any shortage of drama, big plays, or juice when it comes to the Chicago Bears taking on the Green Bay Packers. Even over the past decade, when the historic rivalry has been one-sided, big moments and incredible plays (both good and bad) have been prevalent. But now as Green Bay turns the page to the Jordan Love era while Chicago continues developing Justin Fields, those moments will still remain and perhaps even favor the Bears for the first time in years.

The Bears and Packers are set to square off to open the 2023 NFL season on Sunday at Soldier Field, and it’s anyone’s guess as to what we’re going to see when the ball is finally kicked off. But we’re doing our best to predict the big moments and performances that will take place.

Our weekly bold predictions series returns for the start of the regular season, and we’re feeling optimistic about those moments and performances going the Bears way this weekend.

8 Bears players to watch in preseason finale vs. Bills

Here are eight players we’ll be watching for when the Bears take on the Bills in Saturday’s preseason finale.

Just as quickly as it started, the 2023 NFL preseason finale is already here for the Chicago Bears, meaning the regular season isn’t far away. The Bears take on the Buffalo Bills on Saturday at noon CT at Soldier Field in a game that will serve as a tune-up for both teams.

Bears head coach Matt Eberflus announced that the starters on offense and defense who are healthy will see action, including Justin Fields. Head coach Sean McDermott of the Bills is doing the same with his team before giving way to the reserves.

Saturday’s contest will be the final chance for many players to make their case for why they deserve a spot on the final roster. But it’s also an opportunity to see the starters get game action since most of them sat out last week’s preseason game against the Colts. Here are eight players to keep an eye on when the Bears and Bills kick off.

10 Bears players to watch on Saturday vs. Colts

Here are 10 Bears players to keep an eye on when they take on the Indianapolis Colts this weekend.

Preseason game No. 2 is on deck for the Chicago Bears this weekend as they prepare to take on the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. This week’s squad will look a bit different than the one that took down the Tennessee Titans 23-17 last weekend, however.

According to head coach Matt Eberflus, quarterback Justin Fields and a few other select starters will not suit up,  The Bears coaching staff believes Fields and others put in plenty of work this week when they held two joint practices with the Colts at their facilities in Westfield, IN.

Even with some of the starters out, there are still many intriguing players worth watching as the Bears look to solidify their team. Many backups and reserves will receive more playing time as a result of Eberflus’ decision, which will help determine the back half of the roster as the regular season inches closer.

Here are 10 players we’ll be watching when the Bears and Colts kick off on Saturday evening at 6 pm CT.

Winners and losers following first week of Bears training camp

After seven days of Bears training camp practices, here are our winners and losers up to this point.

Seven training camp practices have come and gone for the Chicago Bears up at Halas Hall and things are starting to fall in place at certain positions. There’s been some good, some bad, and even a little ugly at certain points depending on your perspective. But it’s all with a goal to grow as a team and prepare for the 2023 regular season that lies ahead.

Over the course of those seven practices, specific players have risen to the top and shined at crucial moments. Others, however, haven’t had the camp many envisioned they would up to this point.

It’s still early, but it’s clear some are in better spots than others. Here are the winners and losers of the first week of Bears training camp

30 Most Important Bears of 2023: No. 1 Justin Fields

We’ve reached the end of our list and it should come as no surprise to see Justin Fields is the most important Bear of 2023.

The Chicago Bears are gearing up for the 2023 NFL season, which features plenty of new and returning faces within the organization. There are a number of players, coaches and front office members that are crucial to the team’s success this season.

Every day from now until the start of training camp, we’re counting down our 30 Most Important Bears for the 2023 season. We’ll recap their 2022 season, look ahead to 2023 and tackle the biggest question facing them this year.

We’ve reached the end of our list and it should come as no surprise to see Justin Fields is the most important Bear of 2023.

5 under-the-radar Bears players to watch on offense at training camp

Ahead of Bears training camp, we’re taking a look at some under-the-radar names to watch on offense.

The Chicago Bears kick off training camp in just a couple of weeks, where there’s plenty to keep an eye on at Halas Hall.

We all know the popular names fans will be watching, including quarterback Justin Fields, receiver DJ Moore, linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, as well as rookies Darnell Wright, Gervon Dexter Sr., Tyrique Stevenson and Roschon Johnson. But there are also a handful of underrated players who beat watching when Chicago kicks off camp.

Ahead of Bears training camp, we’re taking a look at some under-the-radar names to watch on offense.

Bears 2023 training camp preview: Tight ends

Our next Bears position preview going into training camp is tight end, headlined by Cole Kmet and newcomer Robert Tonyan.

Chicago Bears training camp is less than a month away, which means it’s time to start looking ahead at the roster the team is bringing to Lake Forest.

We’re unveiling our Bears 2023 training camp position previews, where we’re breaking down every player by position and examining the biggest question facing the group.

Up next is the tight end position, led by Cole Kmet who is coming off the best season of his young career. But he’s not the only tight end on the team who can be a dynamic receiving threat.

The Bears added veteran Robert Tonyan in free agency, giving Chicago another weapon for quarterback Justin Fields. Veteran Stephen Carlson and second-year players Jake Tonges and Chase Allen round out the group.

Here’s a closer look at the Bears’ tight ends heading into training camp.