Bears’ Brutal Practice Claims Two Stars: Jones, Sweat Exit Early
Chicago Bears Training Camp: Injuries, Standouts, and What We Learned from the Most Physical Practice Yet
The Big Picture: A Tough Day at the Office
The Chicago Bears held their longest and most intense practice of training camp so far on Thursday in Lake Forest, Illinois. Think of it like the hardest gym class of the year—lots of hitting, lots of running, and unfortunately, a few players got hurt.
Important Callout: Two projected starters left practice early with injuries, and two backup defensive backs suffered what looked like serious leg injuries. This could shake up the roster before the season even starts.
Injury Report: Who Got Hurt?
1. Braxton Jones — Left Tackle (Starting Offensive Lineman)
- What happened: Got hurt during one-on-one blocking drills.
- Why it matters: Jones was the front-runner to start at left tackle (the guy who protects the quarterback’s blind side) in Week 1.
- Backstory: This was supposed to be his first fully healthy offseason since his rookie year. He missed the end of 2024 and parts of 2025 with an ankle injury.
- Current status: Visibly frustrated. Coach Ben Johnson says the team hopes for clarity by mid-next week, but "this is not a done deal by any stretch of the imagination."
2. Montez Sweat — Defensive End (Starting Pass Rusher)
- What happened: Slowed up during an 11-on-11 team drill, got stretched out by trainers, and walked off the field with the head athletic trainer.
- Why it matters: Sweat is a key piece of the defense. Losing him, even briefly, is a big blow.
3. Reserve Defensive Backs (Backups)
| Player | Injury | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| Dallis Flowers | Right knee | Helped off by trainers |
| Gervarrius Owens | Unknown | Carted off the field |
4. Still Out: Kyler Gordon
- Position: Nickel cornerback (covers slot receivers)
- Status: No update from Coach Johnson.
Next Man Up: Who Steps In?
With Jones out, third-year pro Kiran Amegadjie took the starting left tackle reps. But he’s not the only option. The competition now includes:
- Kiran Amegadjie — Got the first reps Thursday
- Jedrick Wills — Veteran with starting experience
- Theo Benedet — Another contender in the mix
ELI5 Explanation: Left tackle is like the bodyguard for a right-handed quarterback. If the QB is looking downfield to throw, the left tackle stops the scariest pass rushers from hitting him from behind. It’s one of the most important jobs on the field.
Player in the Spotlight: DE Austin Booker
Why Everyone’s Talking About Him
- Second-year pro who had a breakout practice
- Coach Ben Johnson praised his offseason work: "He’s approached this offseason really well… I like where he’s at right now."
- Physical stats: 6-foot-6, ~250 pounds (up from listed 245)
What He Did Differently This Offseason
- Focused on lower-body strength
- Improved his stance to get lower and explode off the ball faster
- Secret weapon: Finishes every workout with sled pushes (pushing a weighted sled across turf—great for explosive power)
Thursday’s Highlights
- Beat Braxton Jones in one-on-ones (the play where Jones got hurt)
- Blew up a run play, tackling RB D’Andre Swift in the backfield for a loss
- Set the tone for a defense that was 6th-worst against the run in 2025
Booker’s Mindset: "We’re getting off the ball, we’re being aggressive at blocks and getting in the backfield. That’s our mentality this year."
Keep an Eye On: DT Jordan van den Berg
The Most Interesting Rookie You’ve Never Heard Of
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Position | Defensive Tackle (interior line) |
| Size | 6-3, 310 lbs |
| Draft Status | Final pick of the 2026 NFL Draft (Mr. Irrelevant) |
| Historic Note | First South African-born player ever drafted |
His Wild Journey to the NFL
- Born in South Africa → played rugby growing up
- Age 10: Family moves to Atlanta, Georgia
- High school: Zero-star recruit — no Division I offers
- 2020: Walks on at Iowa Western Community College → gains 40 lbs in one year
- Transfers to Penn State → plays 3 seasons as a backup
- Finishes at Georgia Tech → gets drafted by Chicago
Why Coaches Love Him
- Energy: Started the first camp scuffle Tuesday, celebrated biggest Thursday
- Production: Won 1-on-1s vs. offensive linemen, made a big stop in the backfield during 9-on-7 drill
- Teammate endorsement: Austin Booker calls him a "dawg" — "I have super high standards for him because of how hard he works."
ELI5 Explanation: A "9-on-7 drill" means 9 defenders vs. 7 offensive players (no wide receivers). It’s all about practicing stopping the run—pure hitting and blocking, no passing routes.
The Two-Minute Drill: Caleb Williams Shines
Situation: 1:41 left, down by 3, ball at own 35-yard line.
Result: Touchdown. Perfect drive.
The Drive, Play by Play
- D’Andre Swift — 14-yard run
- Colston Loveland (TE) — 5-yard catch
- Kalif Raymond (WR) — 23-yard out route (perfect throw)
- Kalif Raymond — 7-yard quick pass
- Austin Booker — Tackle for loss on Swift (defense strikes back!)
- Rome Odunze (WR) — 3rd down conversion
- D’Andre Swift — Catch and run to the 3-yard line
- Luther Burden (WR) — Touchdown catch
The Stat Line
- Caleb Williams: 6-of-6 passing on the drive
- Emotion: Fist pump after the score
- Teammate take (Raymond): "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."
Defensive Adjustments During Drill
| Missing Starter | Replacement |
|---|---|
| Montez Sweat (DE) | Daniel Hardy |
| Jaylon Jones (Nickel CB) | Rookie Malik Muhammad (got starting reps!) |
| — | Dayo Odeyingbo slid inside |
Quote of the Day: On Darnell Wright’s Extension
Right tackle Darnell Wright just signed a 4-year contract extension. Coach Johnson on what young players can learn from him:
"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: Wright didn’t just have good games—he became reliably great every single week. That’s what earns you big money.
Quick Hits: Other Practice Notes
- Opening play: Williams faked a handoff, rolled right, hit Rome Odunze for a TD vs. blitzing LB Devin Bush
- INT: Tyrique Stevenson picked off Williams (Odunze slipped on route)
- Chippiness: Multiple mini-skirmishes — D’Marco Jackson vs. Qadir Ismail; Dillon Thieneman vs. Ismail
- Kicker Cairo Santos: 6-for-6 on FGs, including three from 50+ yards (long: 56 yards)
- UDFA Skyler Thomas: Tackle for loss in team drills; getting 2nd-team safety reps due to injuries
- Not spotted: CB Terell Smith, DB KC Eziomume, OL Jordan McFadden
Summary: What You Need to Know
| Topic | Key Takeaway |
|---|---|
| Biggest Concern | Two starters hurt (Jones, Sweat) + two carted/helped off (Flowers, Owens) |
| Position Battle | Left tackle wide open — Amegadjie, Wills, Benedet competing |
| Rising Star | Austin Booker — transformed body, winning 1-on-1s, coach’s praise |
| Feel-Good Story | Jordan van den Berg — rugby → walk-on → Mr. Irrelevant → making plays |
| QB Progress | Caleb Williams — surgical in 2-minute drill (6/6, TD) |
| Special Teams | Cairo Santos — automatic from distance (56-yarder!) |
| Team Vibe | Physical, competitive, chippy — exactly what Johnson wants |
FAQ: Your Questions Answered
1. How serious are the injuries to Braxton Jones and Montez Sweat?
We don’t know yet. Jones was "visibly frustrated" and Sweat walked off with the head trainer. Coach Johnson wants clarity by mid-next week. In the NFL, "day-to-day" can mean anything from one practice to several weeks.
2. Who is Kiran Amegadjie and why is he suddenly starting?
A third-year pro who hasn’t played much. With Jones hurt, he got the first crack at left tackle. But Coach Johnson emphasized the job is not his yet — Wills and Benedet will get looks too.
3. Why is everyone excited about a guy drafted last (Mr. Irrelevant)?
Jordan van den Berg’s journey is unprecedented (South Africa → rugby → walk-on → NFL), and he’s producing immediately in pads. Plus, teammates love his energy. Late-round picks who play hard often make rosters.
4. Is Caleb Williams actually good in Year 2?
One drill doesn’t make a season, but a perfect 6-for-6 two-minute drive with a TD — against a starting defense missing only Sweat — is exactly what you want to see. He looked decisive and accurate.
5. What’s a "nickel corner" and why does Kyler Gordon matter?
A nickel corner covers the slot receiver (lines up inside, not wide). It’s a specialized, high-IQ position. Gordon was the starter; his absence forced rookie Malik Muhammad into first-team reps — a big test for a first-year player.
Stay tuned — the Bears’ next practice could bring injury updates, more position battles, and another chapter in the van den Berg story!
