The Chicago Bears returned to the fields at Halas Hall on Tuesday morning, holding a shorter practice in shells. The team’s second preseason game is slated for Saturday on the road against the Buffalo Bills, with coach Matt Eberflus aiming to play many of his healthy starters for at least the opening chunk.
The Bears have two more practices before departing for Buffalo. Here’s the rundown of what went down Tuesday in Lake Forest.
News of the day
Yes, that was Velus Jones working exclusively out of the backfield, an experiment Eberflus said would last through Saturday’s game before the team reassesses. Eberflus again insinuated that Jones is fighting to claim a spot on the 53-man roster, leaving him work to do to carve out a niche on offense.
So for now? Halfback it is.
Jones, drafted in the third round in 2022, has struggled to make an impact at wide receiver in his first two seasons with only 11 catches, 127 yards and a touchdown. His greatest value has been as a kickoff returner.
But to lock down that role for 2024, Jones will have to prove he can be valuable in other areas. This week’s shift into the backfield is an attempt by the Bears to try something new.
“He was welcome to that,” Eberflus said. “And we feel that because of the versatility, the talent and his skill set, he offers our offense another way to have a weapon back there.”
Veteran wide receiver Keenan Allen sees a window of opportunity for Jones as a ball carrier.
“Velus looks good with the ball in his hands,” Allen said. “He can make plays with his feet. So I think it’s a good spot for him.”
Jones will have to show dependability and production to prove to the coaches and front office that he’s worth keeping on the roster.
“If you’re on the fringe of the roster,” Eberflus said, “the more you can do (the better).”
Caleb Williams watch
The Bears won’t have full clarity on Williams’ status for Saturday’s game until Thursday afternoon, a decision that partly hinges on the overall health of the offensive line. Right tackle Darnell Wright and right guard Nate Davis remained limited in Tuesday’s practice, but Eberflus has been firm in saying his preference is to play Williams against the Bills if possible.
Eberflus was asked how he strikes a balance between pushing Williams to be ready for Week 1 and keeping in perspective the need to position the rookie quarterback for sustained career success. Bears coaches are cognizant that Williams is in the early stages of his first NFL training camp, experiencing a lot of firsts and being flooded with new information.
“He’s doing outstanding. He’s on his way,” Eberflus said. “And, yeah, he does have some bumps in the road. He has some days that are up and some days that are down and some days that are half up and half down. He’s working through that process.
“But we have to go through the process. There’s no teacher like experience and exposure. … With experience and exposure, you learn, you get better, you keep growing, you invest, you grow and you improve.”
The Bears’ ability to stay wedded to the development process has been notable through the spring and summer. It will be interesting to monitor how things may change when the regular season arrives and the stakes elevate.
Player in the spotlight
Safety Jonathan Owens was back from Paris, where he watched his wife, Simone Biles, add four more Olympic medals — three golds and a silver — to her collection. As much fun as the whole world had watching Biles put on a show in the gymnastics arena in France, you can imagine how the experience felt to Owens.
“I was super excited. Overjoyed for her,” he said. “She became the most decorated American gymnast ever. It was amazing that I was able to be there and witness that.”
After helping the United States win the gold medal in the women’s team competition, Biles went on to capture gold in the individual all-around and vault while taking silver in floor exercise. It was an emphatic response for the 27-year-old star, whose last Olympic experience was much less enjoyable. In 2021 in Tokyo, Biles withdrew from competition citing mental health concerns and a condition known in the gymnastics world as “the twisties.”
Her ability to not only return to compete in these Olympics but excel was remarkable.
“(I’m impressed by) her resilience,” Owens said. “And when she did decide to come back, she accomplished everything she set her mind to. Just being able to witness every day the training you go through (was amazing).”
Owens pointed out that Biles was bothered by a calf injury during the early stages of the team competition in Paris but persevered.
“It was amazing to watch. My wife is a warrior,” Owens said. “That’s the one thing I tell people. Because I equate it to how we are in football. You’ll limp around and it will hurt a little bit right before (competing). But as soon as you go, it’s like you forget about it.
“It’s just pain tolerance. And the way she was able to go out there and look graceful with everything, people really didn’t have a clue what was going on. I’m just so happy and proud for her.”
Quote of note
Eberflus was asked about the continued uncertainty with Davis’ health and made it clear the Bears wouldn’t just wait around for the veteran to get healthy, especially with Ryan Bates filling in admirably at right guard.
“People say you can’t lose a job because of injury,” Eberflus said. “I don’t think that’s true. I think if the guy that’s playing there gives our team a good look and there’s a benefit for him being in that position, then it’s a competition. Or the other guy could take it over.”
Message sent.
Seen and heard
Referee John Hussey and his crew are passing through Halas Hall this week and visited with coaches, players and reporters to talk through the rule changes for 2024. Among the more notable modifications is a ban on the hip-drop tackle, which now will result in a 15-yard personal foul.
For a tackle to be identified as the hip-drop variety, it must include a defender wrapping up a ball carrier, leaving his feet to take down the runner and then landing on the player’s legs. All three criteria must be met for an infraction to be called.
Hussey emphasized that he expects those calls to be enforced conservatively, at least at first, likening it to the 2013 rule change that made it illegal for a ball carrier to lead with the crown of his helmet while in the open field or for a defender to do so while making a tackle.
“I would put this in the same category,” Hussey said. “When (that rule) came out, it took us a little while to assimilate to the ‘use of helmet’ (foul). I think now we understand that. And we’ve been told (with the hip-drop tackle) that unless you’re really sure that clearly all three indicators have been met, let them deal with it in compliance.
“It’ll take us some time to get used to seeing it on the field knowing now that it’s a foul. So if we’re not sure, we won’t throw the flag.”
Injury update
Five defensive starters — Montez Sweat, Jaquan Brisker, Kyler Gordon, Andrew Billings and Tyrique Stevenson — were held out with various injuries that the team hasn’t specified.
Gordon’s absence, originally labeled by Eberflus as “tightness,” traces back two weeks now with the third-year cornerback again dealing with an injury interruption in the early part of the season. Gordon broke a hand in last year’s opener and needed surgery that sent him to injured reserve and kept him out of four games. His current issue is believed to be in his left leg.
Others who didn’t practice were running backs Roschon Johnson and Ian Wheeler, linebacker Noah Sewell, defensive end Jacob Martin and offensive lineman Theo Benedet.
