The Chicago Bears, in general, have been getting raving reviews from OTAs, with mandatory minicamp capping off a great three weeks for the franchise.
They are getting big plays being made from their rookies and veterans alike. Buzz is growing with this Bears team looking even better than last year's 11-6 team.
There were way more players who were massive winners from the week, with a couple of losers listed for the same reason. Here are the big winners and losers from the Bears' final week of OTAs.
Winner: Dillon Thieneman, S
Thieneman finally got some first-team snaps in practice this week, and he did not disappoint. He made some plays and got a "sack" on Williams. The rookie has a long way to go, but after being with the backups for most of OTAs, it's good to see he is hitting his stride.
Loser: D'Marco Jackson, LB
Jackson suffered an injury earlier in the week and never returned to OTAs this week. There are some concerns about what happened since the linebacker room is pretty banged up at the moment. The hope is that Jackson will be back by training camp, and it's nothing serious.
Winner: Zavion Thomas, WR
The buzz around Thomas is real, and he continues to create highlight moments. He showed off his 4.28-second speed with a screen pass he caught from a Tyson Bagent pass and did the rest of the work after that. Who knows if Thomas ends up starting, but there's no way he will be on the sidelines the whole time the offense is on the field, as there will be plays designed for him to use his speed.
Winner: Jaylon Johnson, CB
What a monster week of work for Johnson, who grabbed two interceptions in the OTAs and has been making massive plays daily. Many are hoping this is just the first sign that Johnson is returning to his Pro Bowl form from two years ago. All indications so far seem to be the case.
Loser: Shemar Turner, DL
Things are not looking great for Turner to be ready for training camp after his ACL injury from last season. Bears head coach Ben Johnson gave the media a discouraging update, saying he doesn't know when he will be back for the moment. At a time when Chicago desperately needs more help with its pass rush, Turner's absence is a big problem, and the "bust" conversation might have to start being considered.
Winner: Kalif Raymond, WR
Some high praise from Johnson, Raymond is showing that he could very well be the WR3 the Bears need at this point. Raymond can do everything for this team on offense and special teams as a returner, so he truly is a weapon on this roster. Watch for the veteran to roll into training camp with a ton of confidence.
Read more: Ben Johnson was honest about what he had seen in Bears 2-time Pro Bowler
Winner: Caleb Williams, QB
Yes, Williams threw an interception this week, but the continued reports of him making spectacular throws are certainly an encouraging sign. More importantly, though, how he is stepping up as a leader on the team, from what Johnson said in his press conference, is just as important.
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