Presented by
Good morning, Bears fans!
Great to see the team back on the field and in our social media feeds for the first of three practices before six or so weeks of summer break.
Let’s get into it below …
01 Minicamp
Two defenders hurt in practice
Tyrique Stevenson (ankle) and D’Marco Jackson (shoulder) left the first minicamp practice on Tuesday, Patrick Finley reported.
02 Minicamp
Dayo and TJ show, Kyler doesn’t
Meanwhile, Kyler Gordon wasn’t on the field, but Dayo Odeyingbo and TJ Edwards participated in team drills for the first time since last year’s injuries.
03 Stadium News
Pritzker says special session still in play
But it’ll take both chambers of the Illinois legislature to agree on the framework of a stadium bill for the Illinois governor to pull that lever. Elsewhere, a Republican rep says he’ll introduce new PILOT legislation this week that could both keep the Bears and lower property taxes.
9️⃣5️⃣ Days Until The Season Opener
🎂Bears Birthdays: Amobi Okoye (39), Dieter Eiselen (30), Marion Barber III (🪽43)
Summer starts here (free gummies!)
The sun is here and we're back outside!
Longer days, lighter hangs, and THC gummies that fit the vibe. Grab a free pack of gummies from Cycling Frog! Just cover $4.99 shipping. Fruity, perfectly dosed, and made for campfires, park days, and whatever summer turns into.
Must be 21+ and only valid on 10ct bags of gummies.
NOT VALID IN OH, CA, CO, AL, LA AND NJ.
Want to get rid of these ads and support the mission?
Become a Bears By 7 member today!
Minicamp Notes: Love for Loveland
Luther Burden got plenty of love from Ben Johnson last month.
But it was Colston Loveland’s turn on Tuesday.
“I love what he brings to the table,” Johnson said to reporters before Tuesday’s minicamp practice at Halas Hall . “He's one of the most consistent players I've been around, and that's saying a lot for a young guy, because I think it takes a while before guys can truly understand what it means to be a professional.”
Loveland, of course, is coming off a monster finish to his rookie season.
Sparked by his two-touchdown performance in Cincinnati, Loveland caught 47 passes for 597 yards and six touchdowns over the final 10 games.
He then turned in one of the Bears’ all-time great playoff performances against the Packers, catching eight passes for 137 yards. The route he ran on the successful two-point conversion might be the most underrated play of the season.
No Bears opponent will fail to see Loveland coming in 2026 with what he put on film.
And yet Johnson knows there’s another level for Loveland to reach in Year 2.
“He’s in early, he’s always in his playbook, he’s always taking notes,” Johnson said. “I think he really thrives with being available in the pressure moments, that’s the guy he wants to be.
“I’m really happy with where he’s at right now. We’ve been able to take his route tree to the next level.”
A few other notes from minicamp …
Jaylon Johnson had two interceptions during the practice and ESPN’s Courtney Cronin reports the Johnson-Luther Burden reps will be must-watch when the fans get to watch in training camp.
Multiple reporters noted Kalif Raymond had a good practice. The former Lions WR also spoke to reporters and said being reunited with Ben Johnson “is a blessing.”
Ben Johnson was asked about other teams being ready for the Bears offense with a year of tape under their belts. Johnson said the multiple complexities of his schemes plus the improvisation of Caleb Williams should help protect the team from that danger.
“As (Williams) continues to grow and develop, if the structure of the play is there for him, he’ll take it,” Johnson said. “But what he can do out of structure is really unique and I think it makes us even more difficult to defend.”Johnson says he’s sat in on more defensive meetings than he has in the past and confirmed that the offense and defense is communicating more.
While minicamp is good for engagement, Johnson was real about the stakes.
“No one’s making the team, no one’s really earning a role quite yet,” he said. “That’ll all get figured out in training camp.”
“It was good for a rookie, but it’s not going to be good enough for a second-year or third-year guy.”
Micah Parsons on Caleb Williams … respect
Brian Urlacher tells Jacob Infante that Olin Kreutz should be the next Chicago Bear to hit the Hall of Fame. (Pro Football Network)
Why using Soldier Field as an event space may help Chicago in the long run. (The Matthews Market Pulse)
How Ben Johnson is Challenging Caleb Williams To Become an Elite QB. (Fox Sports)
Is this the last stand for the 2023 draft class? Adam Jahns looks at what’s ahead for Gervon Dexter, Tyrique Stevenson and crew. (CHGO)
“The ask here was nothing heroic” - Arlington Heights mayor Jim Tinaglia is taking aim at his fellow Illinois politicians (The Score)
Will Illinois politicians mount a two-minute drill to keep the Bears? Dan Wiederer looks at the entire situation. (The Athletic)
This issue hit the inbox of {{active_subscriber_count}} Bears fans!
Bears By 7 grows when you tell a friend!
Get two to sign up with your personalized referral link and get a Bears By 7 sticker for your water bottle, laptop or car window!
{{rp_refer_url}}
Panic is a financial news strategy. Clarity is ours.
Markets move. Headlines catastrophise. But somewhere inside the noise is the story that matters — the opportunity, not the fear.
The Daily Upside was built by Wall Street insiders to find it — global business and finance, reported without the alarm.
