The Chicago Bears wrapped up their OTA and minicamp sessions, and now the offseason is technically over. When the team shows up to training camp later next month, they will embark on starting a new season. So, now that we have the long delay between the end of the offseason and the start of the season, what were the biggest takeaways from the past few weeks?
Which players are gaining steam, and which positions still have needs? What are the big takeaway headlines?
5. Tyrique Stevenson is ready to compete to start for the Chicago Bears
Tyrique Stevenson is ready to start, and I mean as soon as week one. He looked ready to roll the second he took the field for the Chicago Bears, and every day you heard of a pass breakup, he made or someway in which he impressed the coaching staff.
Stevenson is starting in three cornerback sets, which was expected from the start. However, the question will be when the Chicago Bears go their base looks, is it Jaylon Johnson with Stevenson or Kyler Gordon?
Jaylon Johnson has missed enough time that both Stevenson and Gordon have had a fair share of work on the outside, and it will be a training camp battle. However, based on how quickly Stevenson has been picking things up, you could probably put him in the pole position to hold down the outside job, no matter how things look.
This may help Kyler Gordon as he gets to settle into one position, but it speaks more to the reality that Stevenson will be earning it. If the first few weeks of his being an NFL player are any indication, he will start on the outside in week one and play every snap.
4. Tyler Scott is doing a lot for the Chicago Bears
Tyler Scott is doing a lot and it starts with him playing the slot—a nice rhyme to start things off. The fifth-round rookie will be asked to do much more in the NFL than he was in college when he was the number one target last year. This year he is the number four wide receiver, and that may be at best.
So, the Chicago Bears have been asking him to wear many hats to get used to the NFL. Scott played about 97% of his snaps as an outside wide receiver, so the team has thrown him into the deep regarding getting work in the slot.
Because that is the role of Darnell Mooney, and Mooney has missed every practice nursing his injury, the Chicago Bears have given Scott a plethora of first-team snaps in the slot. Many see this as foreshadowing for what will come next year when Mooney hits free agency.
Still, for the time being, being able to step in for someone on the outside or the slot is a massive feather in his cap.
Beyond that, Tyler Scott is being asked to jump in and compete for the starting punt returner job. Velus Jones coughed it up last season, and it went to Dante Pettis. Pettis is back and will demand a roster spot until someone can knock him out of the punt return job. The Chicago Bears realize they need to move on from Pettis sooner than later, so they are giving Scott a chance to earn that role.
The issue is that like playing in the slot, Tyler Scott does not have return ability from college. He returned seven punts but often ceded the way to Tre Tucker, who was drafted before Scott.
One of the reasons Scott fell is because he is fast and small but was not a slot or returnman. The Chicago Bears are not wasting time, and they are throiwng him right into the mix to get used to both. Now, we can track progress from the end of OTAs to the end of the preseason.
3. Is there a competition for the Chicago Bears at center?
The Chicago Bears do not have a center competition on their hands. Sort of, we think. At least right now, despite splitting time in what looks like a competition, they are not competing. This will be something to watch in training camp.
Essentially, when the starters were out there, there were six guys. It was the five expected starters and then Lucas Patrick, the backup center. During most of the week, Patrick split snaps with Cody Whitehair at center with the first team.
The Chicago Bears have been clear that this is not a competition, but it is also true that no other position is getting this sort of treatment. Eberflus has been pretty open and honest about everything so far, so it is hard to say he is lying here. Still, for a non-competition, it looks like the two will continue to split time in training camp at this rate.
One of the factors may be the health of Cody Whitehair. The Chicago Bears told Whitehair he will start, but they also know that the past three seasons have begun to see some struggles with his ability to stay healthy. They may want Patrick ready.
Still, Patrick was in-line to start at center last year, so you have to think his mind in the same spot. Do the Chicago Bears move Cody Whitehair, does he continue to split snaps, are they telling the truth that the split time is a non-story? We have a month or two to find out.
2. Justin Fields to D.J. Moore seems legitimate
When the Chicago Bears traded for D.J. Moore, it felt like a game-changing decision. Moore just so happened to be a perfect fit for Fields on the field, and the duo seems to be changing the culture in the locker room.
One of the more interesting notes from OTAs is how Moore has set the tone in the locker room. His professional nature has led him to naturally be the alpha in the room, and the group is rising together around him,
Beyond setting the tone in the locker room, every day, there is a report about Justin Fields hitting D.J. Moore deep. Moore was great at deep ball catching, and Fields was great at throwing deep, so it makes sense that the big plays would come. Still, the ability to click down the field quickly speaks to them having an energy on the same level.
They seem to be going to work with the same demeanor and performing the same way, which rubs off on the whole team. You cannot miss how instant the connection between these two has been. If this means anything for next season, Fields is ready to take that big-time leap.
1. Chicago Bears injury updates
Another good note from the Chicago Bears getting together at this point is that the team provides some injury updates on all of the players in the building. Three key names suffered severe injuries to end their season. All of them were present at OTAs, but none could participate.
Jack Sanborn appears to be the closest to recovery, followed by Eddie Jackson and Darnell Mooney. They are not pessimistic about Mooney, but there does appear to be more talk about hoping for him to be ready by the start of training camp, whereas in the case of Sanborn, it is expected. Still, Jackson spoke for all three when he said they had not taken any days off to return to the field.
The Chicago Bears said they plan for all three to be good to go in training camp, even if they missed this period.
Then, there is Chase Claypool. This offseason period seemed like an excellent chance for him to get back on track with Justin Fields and get momentum on his side heading into training camp. Justin Fields spoke highly of him during OTAs, but early into the minicamp session, he was sidelined with a minor injury and did not return the rest of the week. Once again, he dampened some of the good vibes.