4️⃣4️⃣ Days Until the Season Opener!
Good morning, Bears fans!
The first two public camp sessions are today and tomorrow and of course we’re set for an amount of rain that could turn Lake Forest into an actual lake.
Today’s ticketholders should be good with the rain set to arrive in the afternoon. But I have tickets for Saturday and I’m not holding out any hope for a day that literally has a 100 percent chance of rain 😔
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Headlines
Rome Odunze clarifies ‘new normal’ quote: The wide receiver says any worries of a ‘chronic condition’ interpreted from his quotes this spring are unfounded. (Chicago Tribune)
Thieneman and Jones named to preseason all-rookie team: Would it be greedy of me to ask for a third player in there not drafted in the first two rounds? (NFL.com)
Chris Olave signs four-year, $132 million extension: With a cool $90 million guaranteed. The Saints WR caught five passes for 98 yards and two touchdowns in a loss to the Bears at Soldier Field last year. He’ll be back on Nov. 22 with Tyler Shough instead of Spencer Rattler.
Quotable
“I set up a fastball for y’all on that one … My foot feels great. My foot feels amazing.”
Bears Offense: Good Vibes Only
(Photo via Chicago Bears/Twitter)
“Sloppy.”
“Out of sync.”
“Not on the same page.”
Those have been the easy Mad Libs for describing the offense during almost every Chicago Bears training camp of our lifetimes. That includes last year’s session, the first with Ben Johnson at the helm.
But two practices into Training Camp 2026 and the old descriptions are left in the dust, replaced by words like “impressive,” “on point” and “accurate.”
Yes, we may have entered the upside-down world with the Chicago Bears offense looking great at Halas Hall while the defense struggles to get it together.
There will be plenty of time to discuss the worries that come with that latter point, but let’s look at what we know about an offensive unit that’s clearly shooting for a Top 5 finish and maybe even more.
Caleb Williams is down 10-15 pounds, the product of a focused offseason plan to move quicker and “smoother” in and out of the pocket.
Johnson said the pre-snap fog that plagued Williams during last year’s camp is gone with the routine having become second nature. Williams has moved on to mastering the post-snap process.
Williams completed “well over 70 percent” of passes on Thursday, according to CHGO’s Adam Hoge, with only four incompletions on the day. The pass of the day came on a 50+ yard bomb to newcomer Kalif Raymond.
The hype hasn’t died down for Luther Burden with comments from Ryan Poles and Williams suggesting that Johnson isn’t the only one buying stock in the second-year wide receiver.
The hype has reached another level for Colston Loveland, who Williams believes can become the best tight end in the NFL … not just one of the best.
Rome Odunze has looked good during his first two sessions and says he’s all the way back from a foot injury that derailed an impressive start to his 2025 season.
Rookie Zavion Thomas is already getting plenty of run (including with the first team) as Johnson figures out how to fully weaponize his talents. He hasn’t been fully plug-and-play so far as he’s still figuring things out, but he could well be an X-factor in a game or two this season.
All of the usual disclaimers apply here, of course. It’s only two practices. No one’s wearing pads. The offense succeeding means the defense is failing.
At the same time, it seems clear we can be confident this isn’t the old Bears training camp, just as we’ve been confident in knowing that Johnson has completely reframed the expectations of a Chicago Bears offense.
It really is exciting to watch and follow as it all comes together.
What’s been your favorite part of training camp so far? Let me and other newsletter readers know in the Bears By 7 community!
Worth Your Time
Danny Parkins: “A million things have to go right for him to actually win MVP… but like you can squint and see a world where it happens.” (Right Time With Bomani Jones)
Brad Biggs on pass rushing being a concern among all four NFC North teams, not just the Bears. (Chicago Tribune)
Extra Point
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