Here’s the latest Chicago Bears news as of Monday, July 28, 2025, with training camp now in full swing at Halas Hall:
Pads Are On! Monday, July 28th, marked the first padded practice of training camp, a significant step in player evaluation. This is where the real competition begins, and players like JP Richardson are reportedly continuing to impress even with the added physicality.
Caleb Williams’ Progress: Growing Pains and Glimpses of Greatness: The early days of camp have been a mixed bag for Caleb Williams and the new offense. While some reports from Friday indicated a “rough” day with pre-snap issues and inconsistent play, Saturday saw a rebound, with Williams having his “best day of camp so far,” including a red zone touchdown connection with Rome Odunze. Ben Johnson is intentionally putting Williams through challenging “wake-up” periods to accelerate his learning of the complex new system. Williams is reportedly comfortable in shotgun and tempo but is being pushed mentally with more shifts and motions.
Luther Burden III Returns to Practice: In excellent news for the Bears offense, rookie wide receiver Luther Burden III was finally back on the practice field today for the first time since rookie minicamp. He was seen participating in individual drills and suited up in full pads, a major step forward after a hamstring issue. While he’ll be ramped up slowly, his return is a significant boost for the receiving corps.
Offensive Line Nearly Full Strength: The offensive line saw a positive development with veteran left tackle Braxton Jones returning to his starting spot in practice today. He had been eased back after his broken ankle. This means the highly anticipated left tackle competition between Jones, Ozzy Trapilo, and Kiran Amegadjie is officially underway. Trapilo and Amegadjie practiced with the backups today, but are expected to continue pushing for starting reps. Center Drew Dalman also spoke after practice, noting the intense heat and humidity.
Colston Loveland Taking Steps Forward: Rookie tight end Colston Loveland, recovering from shoulder surgery, continues to progress. He participated in 7-on-7 drills and made some notable catches, including what’s being called his “best catch of training camp” today.
JP Richardson and Tyler Scott Impress: Undrafted wide receiver JP Richardson is having an “official” breakout in camp, winning reps in one-on-one drills even with pads on. Tyler Scott also made some nice grabs in 7-on-7s.
Montez Sweat is “Disruptive”: Montez Sweat is reportedly looking strong and disruptive in camp, ready for a big season.
Defense Holding Strong: The defense, particularly in the red zone, has shown its teeth early in camp, with safeties Jaquan Brisker and Alex Cook making plays. Jaquan Brisker is focused on staying healthy to make a consistent impact.
Special Teams Focus: Special teams coordinator Richard Hightower emphasized that his primary focus for kickers and punt returners is securing the football.
Coaching Philosophy: Ben Johnson’s competitive coaching style continues to be highlighted, and he’s reportedly drawing lessons from Bill Belichick’s attention to detail. There’s even talk of Johnson taking subtle digs at previous coaching regimes.
Devin Hester at Camp: Hall of Famer Devin Hester was a special guest at practice today, greeting fans.
Kiran Amegadjie Returns, Other O-Linemen Still Out: Kiran Amegadjie returned to practice today after leaving Saturday’s session with an injury. However, center Doug Kramer was still out with a leg injury suffered Saturday and is considered day-to-day.
Shemar Turner and Zah Frazier Remain Out: Rookie defensive tackle Shemar Turner (ankle) missed his fourth straight practice, and rookie cornerback Zah Frazier (personal) missed his fifth.
Jaylon Johnson on NFI List: Jaylon Johnson is on the non-football injury list to start camp, with Nahshon Wright stepping into first-team reps at cornerback.
Ryan Poles’ Approach: General Manager Ryan Poles has spoken about his new contract and his meticulous process of building the offensive line.
Early Offensive Struggles & Patience: Some fans are reacting negatively to early reports of offensive struggles, but the coaching staff is emphasizing patience as they install a complex new system with a young quarterback.
Colin Cowherd’s Take: FS1’s Colin Cowherd commented on Caleb Williams, stating “We’re going to know by early October if this guy can play. The coach is fine. The offensive line has been upgraded. The weapons are good enough.”
Training camp is in full swing, offering daily insights into the team’s progress and the challenges of implementing a new system. The return of Luther Burden III and Braxton Jones are significant positive developments.
