The first full week of training camp practices has concluded for the Bears, and they are now transitioning to padded practices.
But before we get too far ahead, let’s take a step back and look at the biggest winners and losers from Week 1 of training camp. It’s important to remember that we shouldn’t overreact too much based on non-padded practices, but here are the players whose stock is on the move:
Winner: Ozzy Trapilo
The Bears have put a ton of investments into their offensive line this offseason, including adding Joe Thuney, Jonah Jackson, and Drew Dalman. They also selected Ozzy Trapilo in the second round, with the hopes that he could eventually take the left tackle spot in a few years.
But with Braxton Jones in-and-out of the lineup (rest days), it has given Trapilo a chance to start at left tackle with the first-string unit. And while we can’t overreact too much to how he is performing without pads, the fact that he is in the starting lineup tells the story.
We will see how Trapilo looks once the pads come on, but don’t be surprised if he’s pushing for snaps sooner rather than later. The fact that Trapilo is being asked to play on the left side, despite being a college right tackle, shows the level of faith the team has in the former Boston College star.
Loser: Luther Burden III
It’s been a rough offseason for Burden in more ways than one, as the former Missouri star seemed like a lock to be a first-round pick back in January and February, but eventually fell out of Round 1 entirely after some questions regarding his route running and overall professionalism.
Things have only gotten worse as he continues to deal with a hamstring injury that kept him out of offseason workouts and the first week of camp. Burden did dress for Monday’s practice, but he was limited, and it sure seems like the Bears are going to be cautious with him as they ease him into the rotation.
Burden has missed so much time this offseason and in camp that it’s fair to wonder what his role might be as a rookie. He is talented, but the Bears do have several other pass catchers ahead of him on the depth chart, and it’s going to take him time to get involved in the offense. Things could change quickly here, but it hasn't been a great start for Burden.
Winner: The Defensive Backs
It’s been a rough start for Caleb Williams and the rest of the offense through the first week of camp, but that should be expected considering they are installing a new offense. However, the defensive backs deserve credit, as the unit has had some outstanding days to start the camp.
Tyrique Stevenson and Kyler Gordon each recorded a pass deflection during Friday’s 11-on-11 work, and it was Jaquan Brisker who recorded the interception, according to Courtney Cronin of ESPN. The secondary has a lot of veteran talent, and it’s not a surprise to see that they are ahead of the offense early in camp.
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The Bears hope that their veteran secondary, even with Jaylon Johnson out with an injury, can be among the best in the NFC. And after a strong week of camp, that should be the expectation heading into the season. Expect the Bears' defensive backs to continue their strong performances now that pads are being used in practice.