The Chicago Bears are finishing up their final mandatory OTA session which means that they will enter the six-week dead zone in the NFL schedule. While the work at OTAs is more about getting new players familiar with things, and letting old players understand changes, there were some takeaways that may end up bleeding into training camp.
Who are six players that did not get the most out of the mandatory OTA sessions?
6. Kyler Gordon
The Chicago Bears rookie cornerback is on the losers list, but it is not quite his fault. Gordon has not been practicing the past three sessions, all of them apparently due to an injury. There were some reports that Gordon was riding the bike at times, but often he was sitting off to the side and looking on as the team practiced.
Again, this is not red flag time, but more of a time to keep your head up and be aware of the situation. It hurts that Gordon did not get this type of introduction to the NFL and now will have to be ready to hit training camp hard to get back on track.
Beyond that, Bears fans may be nervous themselves when they hear about injuries and rookie draft picks. Teven Jenkins was not long ago, and even Ryan Poles has already seen an injury blow up his big free-agent signing Larry Ogunjobi.
The hope is that the Bears are being cautious and that Gordon will be set for training camp. However, at this point, it is just speculation and we will have to wait for any updates.
5. Robert Quinn
This one is quite obvious as well. Robert Quinn has typically said and done the right things during his time with the Chicago Bears. Still, he did voice his frustration with the direction of the Bears once this offseason. Then, we saw him miss this week of OTAs, a mandatory session.
It makes sense that Quinn would not want to be on a team during a transition year at this stage of his career. He does not know how many more seasons he will be healthy and does not want to waste one.
Still, the Chicago Bears are in a spot where he is more valuable to them than Khalil Mack was and was not going to get nearly the same return as Mack. Trading Mack made a lot more sense, and now they may not be interested in trading Quinn.
So, Quinn appears to be taking matters into his own hands. One thing Ryan Poles has done well is be upfront and shoot people straight. If Quinn does not want to be here, Poles may not want him here, so this absence may lead to a summer trade. At the same time, we could see Poles play hardball for the first time and force Quinn to show up to training camp, or be subject to heavier fines. This will be worth monitoring.
4. Al-Quadin Muhammad
The Chicago Bears signed Al-Quadin Muhammad from the Indianapolis Colts. Considering most of the defensive coaching staff was with the Colts last season you could argue that AQM already has a leg up on the rest of his competition.
That certainly helps, but he will be competing with Trevis Gipson for playing time, considering Quinn does not get traded.
While AQM knows the defense, so these sessions may be less meaningful for him, what is meaningful is that he missed the entire week of practices with an injury.
The Chicago Bears have not been specific with injuries, and they do not have to at this time. Still, that could lead us to think it is anything from minor to serious.
Muhammad knows the defense, but there will certainly be bits and pieces of changes. Beyond that, every snap he gets with his new teammates will help familiarity. On top of everything, this is not a big-name free agent, but rather a player who needs to be competing for every snap, and even for his roster spot. The Bears had better hope that they can see plenty from him in training camp.
3. Duke Shelley
This one may have been the most expected when the Chicago Bears started their mini-camp sessions. Still, Duke Shelley appears to be going from starting in the slot last season, to a potential cut in 2022. First, the team signed Tavon Young.
Considering Young and his pedigree, it would be hard for Shelley to do anything to pass him, barring injury.
Still, beyond that is Thomas Graham. Graham played outside in college and during his rookie season as well. Still, the new front office and coaching staff see him in the nickel and has had him working on both this summer.
Early in camps, Graham has got more looks with the first team than Young and Shelley. So, Shelley is now not only behind Young but now is the third-string slot cornerback behind Graham as well.
Not many teams will carry any more than two slot cornerbacks. With that in mind, Shelley is going to enter training camp knowing that he could easily get released. Not a great start to his time with the new regime.
2. Teven Jenkins
Teven Jenkins has been making headlines, and not for any good reasons. The second-year second-round pick is now entering training camp behind the eight ball after what could not have been a good offseason session.
Jenkins missed most of his rookie season with back surgery. When he played, the Chicago Bears were shifting him from right tackle to left.
Now, he has a new coaching staff and they are asking him to go from left-back to right. Jenkins Is more natural on the right side, but it apparently has not been going well because Jenkins started the first time, and finished with the second team.
Considering it is rookie Braxton Jones, and second-year player Larry Borom ahead of him at both tackle spots, it is a bit concerning. These two do not have nearly the draft pedigree, and they barely have experience as well, but Jenkins is currently behind both.
Again, things get more serious when training camp starts, but this is obviously something to watch. Did Ryan Pace blow another pick?
1. Dakota Dozier
Perhaps the most serious takeaway from OTAs is Dakota Dozier. While the Chicago Bears have not given an update on Dozier, the lineman missed the end of OTAs after he was carted off of the field during a practice session.
In the case of Gordon and AQM, they missed practice but were able to finish the day prior and then not come out. For Dozier to get carted off of the field makes it sound a bit more serious.
This is big because Dozier is not only fighting for a roster spot, but he could easily be a starter for week one. The right guard job is wide open and he was right in the mix to take it.
The Bears probably hope that rookie Zach Thomas steps up and takes it, but that is asking a lot for a rookie. They also have Sam Mustipher in the mix, which cannot make Bears fans happy.
With that in mind, Dozier needs to stay healthy because this may be his last chance to earn an NFL starting job. The Chicago Bears need him because they may not have a right guard without him. This is a lot of pressure on Dozier now and both sides are making it a much bigger deal due to need.
This will be a huge development moving forward.