The 2026 NFL training camps have kicked off around the league, and our team reporters are on the ground each day following all the action. The Chicago Bears' camp is taking place in Lake Forest, Illinois, and Bears reporter Courtney Cronin has the latest intel on standouts, highlights, position battles, depth chart movement, cut decisions and, of course, the quarterbacks room.
What follows is everything we are seeing and hearing at Bears camp. We will update this file often. Will the defense step up and lead the Bears back to the NFC North title? Who are the breakout players to watch, especially for fantasy football? And which players on the roster bubble could make the final 53?
Dive in to all the updates and be sure to check back for more information until the first full week of the preseason begins Aug. 13.
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Saturday, Aug. 1
Weather forced the Bears to begin practice inside the Walter Payton Center before moving outdoors for team drills while the rain tapered off to a drizzle.
QB Caleb Williams and the first-team offense were less on the money than in previous practices. Safety Coby Bryant had an interception and two pass breakups, and cornerbacks Jaylon Johnson, Jaylon Jones and Josh Blackwell all came away with pass breakups.
While the defense held the upper hand during Saturday's rain-drenched session, the challenge that the offense presents to Dennis Allen's unit is felt throughout.
"Honestly, this is probably the best offense I've had in seven years as far as going against them for sure," Johnson said. "They've got a lot of speed and then really just, Caleb's the best quarterback I've had since, maybe Nick Foles if you want to go back that far. Just as far as slinging it, he's doing his thing. You can see the accuracy. You can see the confidence throwing the ball in tight windows is something that's stood out to me. I just feel like top to bottom, they're a confident group. ... And it's what we need to go against on defense. ... It's going to be a fun camp."
The veteran cornerback feels a "night and day" difference physically after using the offseason to recover from the core muscle surgery he underwent last September. Despite returning in Week 13, Johnson battled through pain constantly and only felt pain-free months later during the Bears' playoff loss to the Rams.
"I easily could have sat on my ass and not played and just watch it be what it was, but for me I felt like what I had to give was enough to contribute to the team," Johnson said. "Of course, it wasn't nowhere near who I could be. I feel like people know that. For me it was just going out there competing, just wanting to be there."
Another practice, another left tackle running with the first-team offensive line. Jedrick Wills Jr. got the nod with the starters Saturday, while Braxton Jones was with the second-team unit and Kiran Amegadjie was with the threes.
More observations:
Running back Kyle Monangai missed his third straight practice with an undisclosed injury. He was the only player not on the physically unable to perform list or non-football injury list who was not practicing.
One day after tweeting that he wanted to attend a Bears practice, longtime NFL wide receiver Chad Johnson took in Saturday's session near coaches and player personnel members.
Zavion Thomas caught a touchdown pass from Tyson Bagent during the two-minute drill at the end of practice. The on-field chemistry is building between the veteran QB and the rookie. "Every time I have a question before practice or after practice, I go to him," Thomas said. "Whatever it is, he always tells me: 'If you ever need something or ever want to know something, just come to me.' Him making me feel comfortable and good. That relationship with him has been good."
Friday, July 31
The left tackle competition took a turn on Friday.
After taking every rep with the first-team offensive line from spring workouts through July 30, Braxton Jones now faces competition as the Bears look for their best option to protect quarterback Caleb Williams' blindside.
Former third-rounder Kiran Amegadjie took the majority of first-team reps during 11-on-11, while Jones and Jedrick Wills Jr. rotated with the second and third-team units.
The switch didn't come as a surprise to Jones.
"I assumed that it would be like that," Jones said. "Obviously they left it at it is a competition at the end of the day. Regardless of that, wherever we're put, ones, twos, threes, you've got to go perform and do your thing."
The former fifth-round pick from FCS Southern Utah went through a similar competition last year that involved four players vying for the left tackle job. Jones won that spot to start the season but was benched before halftime of the Bears' Week 4 win against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Jones attributes part of his struggles to rehabbing an ankle injury that put him behind the 8-ball throughout the 2025 offseason. He didn't trust that his ankle would hold up and found himself second-guessing his abilities, which is no longer the case now that he has a clean bill of health.
"Oh, night and day," Jones said regarding how much better he's feeling physically. "Last year I mentally wanted to be there but I physically was not. That battle, a lot of people would never understand. I'm so blessed for that battle and I just thank God, genuinely, for showing me his light."
More observations:
Right tackle Darnell Wright believes getting a contract extension done with the Bears is a matter of when, not if. "Obviously, I know I'll be here for a long time, hopefully my whole career," Wright said. "Those things kind of just handle themselves but I mean, I just have to stay focused on the main things. That's just getting better, consistency every day."
The first-team offense continues to stack strong days. Friday highlighted Williams' connection with tight end Colston Loveland and wide receiver Rome Odunze, who caught back-to-back deep balls in the first 11-on-11. Odunze came away with an impressive one-hand grab during a move-the-ball drill.
Cornerback Jaylon Johnson picked off Williams in 7-on-7, which was the first interception thrown by the QB in training camp.
The defense had the upper hand in the first red-zone period. Defensive ends Austin Booker and Montez Sweat recorded "sacks" on back-to-back plays. Loveland finished off the drill with a TD.
Coach Ben Johnson said the two-minute drill in end-of-half situations is a "huge emphasis" in training camp. "We were not good two-minute, end-of-half," Johnson said. "We weren't very good in the second quarter in general. We didn't score as many points as the other quarters. We gave up more points in that quarter as well. We talked about that as a team ... and [Friday] will be our first chance to work that situation at two-minute before halftime." The two-minute drill at the end of practice forced the offense to drive 61 yards down field in 1:37 with two timeouts and the score tied 10-10. Williams connected with Loveland four times, including on a tight window throw that resulted in a 14-yard touchdown.
Running back Kyle Monangai was absent for a second straight practice. His reps went to Salvon Ahmed behind D'Andre Swift.
Thursday, July 30
Rome Odunze poured cold water on the idea that the left foot injury he sustained during last fall will hinder him in his third season.
Odunze suffered a stress fracture in his foot that cost him five games during the regular season and caused his production to dip in early November. During OTAs, the wide receiver said he was getting used to a "new normal" with his foot, which raised concerns about how effective Odunze would be upon returning to game action.
"I really didn't articulate it well, honestly," Odunze said. "That's not really what I meant. I just kind of meant that I had an injury. That's it. That's football. My foot feels great. My foot feels amazing."
Odunze looked the part during the first two days of practice. He had two catches during team drills on Thursday, including a deep ball hauled in on the sideline that was called back due to a holding penalty. He believes "without a doubt" that he's capable of being a top-tier No. 1 receiver and set goals for himself to reach 1,000 yards, 100 catches and double-digit touchdowns in 2026.
Those are lofty expectations considering how much competition surrounds Odunze for targets. Luther Burden III is making his case to become Caleb Williams' top target while tight end Colston Loveland is coming off a rookie campaign in which he led the Bears in receiving.
Still, Odunze has his sights set on a career year and believes the issues he had with his foot are firmly behind him.
"Honestly, it's not even really something that I think about anymore, which I think is the best thing I think you can have after an injury," Odunze said. "I know 'new normal,' that has a bunch of connotations of chronic and severe, like it's never going to be the same. It's not like that at all.
"I'm completely fine. I went through my process of recovery and rehab and it's been great. Obviously I do my due diligence and all those things. Being out sucks. That really is the No. 1 thing as a football player, any athlete, you all know, you don't want to be out -- practice, game, whatever it is. Went through my process of getting that right and I feel amazing."
More observations:
Williams was perfect during 7-on-7, which included a diving catch from Loveland.
Defensive end Montez Sweat participated in his first practice after being activated off the non-football illness list on Wednesday.
Veteran wide receiver Kalif Raymond had the catch of the day during 11-on-11 when he sped by defenders and hauled in a 50+ yard touchdown pass. "He's quick," Odunze said. "You guys saw him today. He can get over the top of the defense."
Entering Year 12, defensive tackle Grady Jarrett is subscribing to the belief that the Bears are not yet the hunted: "We're always the hunters and that's the mindset. Because it doesn't really matter about what anybody else is doing. It's about how we're going about our process and what we do. We're always the hunters. That's the mindset we've taken."
Wednesday, July 29
Caleb Williams showed up to training camp looking and feeling different, a credit to the 10 to 15 pounds the quarterback says he dropped this offseason by consistently eating well, not eating past 7 p.m. and prioritizing his sleep.
"I'm excited about that to be able to move a little bit better, be smoother," Williams said.
His physical attributes are part of what Williams believes will help him take the next step in his second season in Ben Johnson's offense. His mental aptitude to grasp more of the playbook and take on more responsibility is another factor in his projected growth.
The quarterback noted that Johnson is adding more to his plate in terms of coverage recognition, and he is handling more checks, kills and pre-snap responsibilities. The shared goal of Williams and Johnson of a 70% completion percentage remains a focus for training camp.
What's clear from the first two days of players and coaching being back inside Halas Hall and plotting a path forward for the next six weeks of camp is how much Johnson and Williams are in lockstep.
"I know we have a real common goal and it's to find a way to make the Chicago Bears champions at the end of the day," Williams said. "So everything he says and what he says to me, I'll do it at 200% and won't look back. That's kind of how it is now. If he yells and curses at me or anything like that, I know it's for the greater good of the team, and so whatever it takes is what it's going to take."
More observations:
As is tradition under defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, all defensive players practicing on Wednesday kicked off training camp with 40 up-downs.
The Bears plan to look at several contingency plans at nickel corner while Kyler Gordon is on the PUP list. Reserve DBs Cam Lewis, Jaylon Jones, Josh Blackwell and rookie Malik Muhammad are all expected to get reps in the slot.
New safety Coby Bryant has quickly become the standard for the type of player Allen wants in his defense. "I love his play style," Allen said. "I think it epitomizes the way that we want to play the game. He plays fast. He plays violent. He's smart. He's instinctive. He just does a lot of really good things. He was an impressive guy to watch on tape, and I think when you watched him on their defense, I thought his play demeanor was contagious, and that's kind of what I'm hoping that he brings, and I believe he will bring that type of mindset to our team."
Tuesday, July 28
General manager Ryan Poles reiterated his desire to keep right tackle Darnell Wright in the fold long term as veteran players reported to Halas Hall on Tuesday. The Bears typically like to get contract extensions done before the team is in the thick of training camp, like they did with tight end Cole Kmet in 2023 and wide receiver DJ Moore in 2024.
Poles said he believes there is a window to do the same with Wright, the 10th pick in the 2023 draft, and intimated the sooner the two sides come to an agreement, the better.
"At the end of the day I don't want any distractions or anything like that, so when it's time to go play football, we'll go play football and keep it moving," Poles said. "But, yeah, he's a guy we would like here for a while."
Wright earned second-team All-Pro honors last season despite playing with an injured elbow for more than half of the season.
One piece of news that could drive up Wright's contract demands is the four-year, $96 million extension signed by two-time Minnesota Vikings Pro Bowl tackle Brian O'Neill on Tuesday. O'Neill became the second-highest paid right tackle in the NFL ($24 million per year) behind Philadelphia's Lane Johnson ($25 million).
More observations:
There is no timeline on Kyler Gordon being activated off the physically unable to perform list after the cornerback had a "delay" in his recovery from a calf injury.
Linebacker T.J. Edwards sustained a calf injury while training away from Halas Hall during the summer. The Bears do not expect him to miss too much time despite starting camp on the non-football injury list.
Defensive end Montez Sweat reported to camp with an illness that is expected to sideline him for only a few days.
The Bears expect a competition at center between Garrett Bradbury and Logan Jones, but it might take a while for that position battle to form. "From a physical standpoint, [Logan Jones is] in a really good place," Poles said. "But obviously as a young center, this game's a lot different at this level."