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Bears’ Brutal Practice Forces Jones, Sweat Out Early
Chicago Bears Training Camp: Injuries, Standouts, and a Perfect Two-Minute Drill
What Happened at Practice?
The Chicago Bears held their longest and most physical practice of training camp so far in Lake Forest, Illinois. While the intensity was high, the day came with a cost—several players got hurt, but some young stars also shined brightly.
Important Injury Updates
- Braxton Jones (Left Tackle): Left practice early during one-on-one drills. He was the front-runner for the starting Week 1 job.
- Montez Sweat (Defensive End): Slowed up during 11-on-11 drills and left the field with trainers.
- Dallis Flowers (Reserve DB): Apparent right knee injury, helped off by trainers.
- Gervarrius Owens (Reserve DB): Carted off the field later in practice.
- Kyler Gordon (Nickel Corner): Still not practicing; no update from Coach Ben Johnson.
The Big Story: Left Tackle Battle Heats Up
With Braxton Jones sidelined, third-year pro Kiran Amegadjie stepped in to take the starting left tackle reps.
Why this matters:
- Jones was having his first fully healthy offseason since his rookie year.
- Coach Ben Johnson said they hope for clarity on the position by mid-next week, but emphasized: "This is not a done deal by any stretch of the imagination."
- Other competitors: Jedrick Wills and Theo Benedet.
Player in the Spotlight: DE Austin Booker
Why Everyone’s Talking About Him
Austin Booker had a standout practice and earned praise from his head coach.
His offseason transformation:
- Focused on lower-body strength and improving his stance to get off the ball faster
- Added weight training and finishes every workout with sled pushes
- Listed at 6’6", 245 lbs → now playing around 250 lbs
What Coach Johnson said:
"He’s approached this offseason really well… it’s a little bit harder to get low in your stance when you’re long-legged like that, and I think he’s really making that a mission of his… I like where he’s at right now."
On the field Thursday:
- Beat Braxton Jones in one-on-ones (the play where Jones appeared to get hurt)
- Got in the backfield for a tackle for loss on RB D’Andre Swift during team drills
- Raved about the nine-on-seven drill (focuses on inside run game): "We love it. That’s our mentality this year. We’re getting off the ball, we’re being aggressive at blocks and getting in the backfield."
Keep an Eye On: DT Jordan van den Berg
The Rookie Making Noise
Background story:
- Born in South Africa, played rugby growing up
- Moved to Atlanta area at age 10
- No-star recruit → zero Division I offers
- Walked on at Iowa Western Community College (2020) → gained 40 lbs in first year
- Transferred to Penn State (3 seasons as backup)
- Finished college career at Georgia Tech
- Drafted by Bears with their final pick in 2026 NFL Draft
- First South African-born player ever drafted
Physical profile: 6’3", 310 lbs — brings size and power
Camp highlights so far:
- Tuesday: Instigated first mini-scuffle of camp (showed intensity)
- Thursday: Earned reps with starters during nine-on-seven run drills
- Made a big stop in the backfield → ignited biggest defensive celebration of the morning
- Won one-on-ones against offensive linemen Logan Jones and Luke Newman
What teammate Austin Booker said:
"He’s a dawg. I love playing with him. I have super high standards for him because of how hard he works, and I think we all see on the field that he’s a really good player."
The Perfect Two-Minute Drill
Situation: 1:41 left, down by 3, ball on own 35-yard line
The Drive (Step by Step)
- D’Andre Swift — 14-yard run
- Colston Loveland (TE) — 5-yard catch
- Caleb Williams → Kalif Raymond — 23-yard out route
- Williams → Raymond — 7-yard quick pass
- Austin Booker — tackle for loss (defensive play)
- Williams → Rome Odunze — third-down conversion
- Swift — catch and run to the 3-yard line
- Williams → Luther Burden — TOUCHDOWN
The stat line: Williams 6-of-6 passing on the drive, fired up with a fist pump after the score.
Kalif Raymond on the execution:
"It doesn’t matter if the defense knows what we’ve got, but as long as we know what we’ve got, everything will work."
Personnel notes during the drill:
- Rookie Malik Muhammad took starting nickel corner reps (Jaylon Jones absent)
- With Sweat out: Daniel Hardy at DE opposite Booker, Dayo Odeyingbo slid inside
Quote of Note: Coach Johnson on Darnell Wright
Right tackle Darnell Wright just signed a four-year contract extension. Here’s what younger players can learn from his journey:
"I’ve been in here for a year and a half, and I don’t know that I’ve seen a guy improve as much as him. More so from a consistency standpoint than anything else. He’s always had it in him in flashes, but the way he played a year ago… we really relied on that right side of the offensive line for our run game engine to go, and he was a huge part of that."
Translation: Talent shows up in flashes. Consistency turns flashes into a career.
Quick Hits: Other Practice Notes
- Opening touchdown: Williams faked handoff, rolled right avoiding blitzing LB Devin Bush, hit Rome Odunze for TD
- Interception: CB Tyrique Stevenson picked off Williams (Odunze slipped on route)
- Physical practice = skirmishes:
- LB D’Marco Jackson vs. TE Qadir Ismail
- TE Ismail vs. rookie S Dillon Thieneman (shove led to extracurriculars)
- Kicker Cairo Santos: Perfect day — 6/6 FGs, including three from 50+ yards (long of 56)
- Undrafted rookie Skyler Thomas: TFL in team drills, getting second-team safety reps with Anthony Johnson Jr.
- Not spotted at practice: CB Terell Smith, DB KC Eziomume, OL Jordan McFadden
Summary
| Category | Key Takeaway |
|---|---|
| Injuries | Multiple key players hurt (Jones, Sweat, Flowers, Owens); Gordon still out |
| Position Battle | Left tackle wide open with Jones hurt — Amegadjie, Wills, Benedet competing |
| Rising Star | Austin Booker transformed body, winning reps, setting tone for run defense |
| Rookie to Watch | Jordan van den Berg — incredible journey, earning starter reps, high motor |
| Offense | Caleb Williams surgical in two-minute drill (6/6, TD); chemistry with young WRs |
| Special Teams | Cairo Santos automatic from distance (56-yarder) |
| Culture | Physical, competitive practices — skirmishes show intensity both ways |
FAQ
Why is the left tackle position such a big deal?
A: The left tackle protects the quarterback’s blind side (for a right-handed QB like Caleb Williams). It’s one of the most important positions on the field. If the starter gets hurt, the whole offense can struggle.
What is a "nine-on-seven drill"?
A: It’s a practice drill with 9 offensive players vs. 7 defensive players (usually no wide receivers or cornerbacks). It focuses on the inside run game — offensive line, tight ends, running backs vs. defensive line and linebackers. Great for practicing physical, run-blocking football.
Who is Jordan van den Berg and why is his story unique?
A: He’s a rookie defensive tackle from South Africa who played rugby growing up. He had zero college offers, walked on at a junior college, worked his way up through Penn State and Georgia Tech, and became the first South African-born player ever drafted in the NFL. A true underdog story.
How did Caleb Williams look in the two-minute drill?
A: Perfect. He went 6-for-6 passing, made quick decisions, spread the ball around (Raymond, Odunze, Loveland, Swift, Burden), and led a game-winning touchdown drive. He also showed emotion (fist pump), which teammates love to see.
What does "consistency standpoint" mean in Coach Johnson’s quote about Darnell Wright?
A: It means Wright didn’t just have good games here and there — he became reliable every single snap, every single week. Flashy plays are nice, but coaches trust players who do their job consistently without mental errors or physical lapses.
Training camp continues — stay tuned for injury updates and the left tackle decision expected by mid-next week!
