The Chicago Bears finalized their offseason program and now are looking ahead to the start of the 2023 season with training camp. While jobs are never won or lost in OTAs or minicamps, the foundation can be set in these days. So, while some players did more than expected or may be in for a bigger shot in training camp, all the moves are minor and only point toward the next time the group gets together.
Who are five players who may have beat expectations so far?
5. Lucas Patrick is still getting work with the Chicago Bears ones
The Chicago Bears are telling us that there is no competition at center. However, when Nate Davis showed up, and all of the starters were there, there was only one of the five positions where somebody was not taking every single snap with the ones. It was center.
Cody Whitehair is the starter, and the Chicago Bears have said that from the start. Still, Lucas Patrick is getting work with the starters, and that is at least something to feel good about if you are him. It could be that the Bears are telling us the truth, and Whitehair is locked in.
Patrick may just be getting the work because they know the injury history of Whitehair and do not want to give him too much work this early in the summer.
At the same time, we could see them show up to training camp with a full split and a potential competition. The fact that this is open for discussion is a win for Lucas Patrick. Patrick was supposed to be the starter at this time last year, and while most fans wrote him off, he may still be in the mix.
4. Terrell Lewis is a sleeper on the Chicago Bears roster
The talk all summer has been and will be that the Chicago Bears did not do enough at edge rusher. They doubled down along the interior and then stuck to their board, making sure not to reach for anyone on day three. This led to them missing out on the position through the entire draft.
Some fans will say that DeMarcus Walker and Rasheem Green can step up, while others will say that Trevis Gipson or Dominique Robinson will be better in a lesser role and with more help. However, not many people were pointing to Terrell Lewis.
The Bears claimed Lewis off waivers last year, and he got minimal time toward the end of the season. He is back and has a real chance to make the roster. On the field, Lewis is a talent. He was drafted in the third round back in 2020 and came from Alabama. The issue he fell and has not stuck is injuries.
As of this very moment, Lewis is healthy. Some of it may be due to Darnell Wright getting welcomed to the NFL, but reports were that Lewis was giving Wright struggles. Lewis was one of the clear winners on the field, and in a wide-open edge rusher room, he now has a decent shot at making the roster. Healthy will be what we are watching and may dictate where he ends up.
3. Dante Pettis continues to fight for his roster spot with the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears fans seem to be counting down the days until Dante Pettis is gone, but he continues to stick around. Last year, the lack of depth and then injuries had him leading the team in snaps from the WR spot. Now, he enters the offseason program to see Darnell Mooney and Chase Claypool both injured and missing time. Guess who stepped in again?
What is funny is that every practice ended with reports that Pettis made a big catch or a big play. It kept going, too. Pettis is still the starting punt return option. Velus Jones and Tyler Scott appear to be his biggest competition.
Jones lost the job last year, and Scott only has seven career punt returns, so this is new to him. Injuries are getting him wide-out snaps, and a lack of punt return options may keep him on the roster. Dante Pettis is not a fan favorite, but he continues to win over the coaches for a second straight season.
The roster crunch will be tight, but it will be hard to keep him off until we see evidence that the team has options to push him to the side. This has to be a week where Pettis feels like a big winner.
2. Noah Sewell is ready to push Jack Sanborn
The Chicago Bears biggest loser this offseason has been Jack Sanborn. Most of it has been out of his control as well. The Bears signed Tremaine Edmunds, and TJ Edwards, ending any shot he would start in nickel looks.
However, he may even be losing his starting role in the SAM before he even locks it down. Sanborn has spent the offseason rehabbing a foot injury that ended his rookie season prematurely. He is expected to be fine by training camp, and the coaching staff has been clear that he will not lose his job because of the injury.
Still, they must keep reaffirming this because Noah Sewell has looked so good in his place that he may be coming for that spot a lot quicker than some realize. Sewell was drafted on day three, but he has serious talent, and his stock fell this year.
With Sanborn out, the team has had to start Sewell next to Edwards and Edmunds. All reports are that he looks great. Sewell is less experience in the NFL, but he is younger, this front office drafted him, and he is healthy. Sanborn has more experience and won the staff over last year, but he fell to UDFA for a reason, and now he is older with less control and an injury to recover from.
The Chicago Bears may give Sanborn every chance to win the job, but if Noah Sewell progresses even faster, that job could be gone quickly.
1. Gervon Dexter is showing Chicago Bears what they want to see
There is a misconception when fans talk about Gervon Dexter. Scouts say that he is late off of the football, and that typically has to do with technique and anticipation. Regarding sheer speed and acceleration, Gervon Dexter can fly off of the football.
So, how much of a winner Dexter is probably depends on how you perceive that. If you hear he was slow off of the football and thought that meant he was slow-footed, then Dexter is easily the biggest winner. Either way, he is a winner based on all reports.
Guys like Justin Jones have marveled at the talent Dexter has. Matt Eberflus has talked about how he has his track shoes on, and for his size, he runs everywhere with serious speed. This is what we are talking about. Physically, it is there for Dexter.
The question is whether he can mentally get the reads in his head that allow him to shoot off the football quicker. The coaches have talked about his ability to take things on as well, and some of the issues he has may be down to the college scheme he was asked to run.
When fans see Dexter up close and personal, some of the questions about his size and speed will be put to rest.