The Chicago Bears completed their third practice of training camp Monday morning at Halas Hall, a closed session of approximately 90 minutes. The team’s first practice in front of fans will come Tuesday during a community invite day. As the camp ramp-up continues, here’s our rundown of all that happened Monday.
News of the day
In his bid for a contract extension, guard Teven Jenkins said he had been given an updated timetable from the Bears front office for when negotiations may resume.
“Last I was told,” Jenkins said Monday, “I’ll have to wait until after the bye week to reconvene about it.”
For those scoring at home, that’s Week 7, in mid-October after the Bears return from playing the Jacksonville Jaguars in London. That will give general manager Ryan Poles more time to assess the performance and, perhaps more significantly, the durability of his starting left guard.
Jenkins is coming off a promising 2023 season in which he showed marked growth on the interior of the offensive line. But he started the year on injured reserve after suffering a preseason calf injury. That setback kept him out of the team’s first four games. Jenkins also missed the team’s Week 16 game against the Arizona Cardinals with a concussion and has missed 20 games total over his first three seasons.
Now in the final year of his rookie deal, Jenkins fully understands he must check the availability box in 2024 to cash in with a second NFL contract that meets his expectations.
To that end, Jenkins said he invested almost twice as much monetarily this past offseason to take better care of himself, spending extra for additional physical therapy work and chefs to help him improve his nutrition.
Jenkins plans to continue down that road.
“I’ve made it vocal many times that I want to be here on the Chicago Bears,” Jenkins said, “and whatever I need to do, or how much I’ll need to pay forward to get it back on the back end, that’s the determination I have to keep.”
Caleb Williams watch
During one bumpy five-snap 11-on-11 segment of practice Monday, Caleb Williams went without a completion. Included in that stretch were incomplete passes to DJ Moore and Tyler Scott; a hurried throwaway; a play blown dead as a sack; and a tuck-and-run scramble.
For context, head coach Matt Eberflus pointed out that, without pads and with limited contact at this stage of camp, it’s far easier for the defensive line to be disruptive. “It’s very hard to evaluate pass rush and pass protection right now,” Eberflus said. “It’s a little bit of an advantage to the D-line.”
Williams led a successful end-of-game 2-minute field goal drive at the end of practice, capped off with a clutch completion to Moore to convert fourth-and-3. That pushed the Bears into field goal range. The rookie quarterback also completed balls to Rome Odunze, Keenan Allen and Roschon Johnson on the series.
Overall, Williams seems to be growing more comfortable and has displayed an encouraging pocket feel. Arguably his most attention-grabbing flash Monday came during an 11-on-11 period when he felt pressure off the edge, quickly and decisively climbed the pocket and ripped a dart down the middle of the field to Moore for a big gain.
Player in the spotlight
Defensive end DeMarcus Walker hasn’t spent much time worrying about the speculation around possible additions the Bears may make to their defensive line before the regular season begins.
“My dad has a saying,” Walker said. “If you listen to what people are saying, you’re not working.”
Thus Walker continues to push through training camp without worrying about the free agency shopping activity of general manager Ryan Poles.
For now, Walker is a potential starter at defensive end opposite Montez Sweat. The Bears also value his versatility and again have designs of using him as an interior rusher in known passing situations.
“You can be a dangerous man if you can win outside and inside,” Walker said. “So having that mindset and those goals, I believe can help not only me but help the team.”
In his first season with the Bears, Walker contributed 3 1/2 sacks. As part of an effort to improve his production, he went to Las Vegas earlier this summer to attend Von Miller’s “Sack Summit” for pass rushers. While there, Walker said he picked the brains of players like Miller, A.J. Epenesa and DaQuan Jones, who all had experience playing under new Bears defensive coordinator Eric Washington in Buffalo.
“Coach E, man, when he walks in the room you feel his presence,” Walker said. “The confidence he speaks in me, he sees my potential. I thank God for him.”
Walker said he also latched onto Cam Jordan and Maxx Crosby at the summit for trade secrets.
“That definitely motivated me leaving Vegas to come back here and come share what I know and apply it as well,” Walker said.
Quote of note
On a day when the Bears offense seemed to be noisier in its battles with the defense, Walker was asked if he appreciated the added edge shown by players on the other side of the ball.
“Yes!” he said through gritted teeth. “I did! Yes I did. Because they’re (like) a little brother. You pick on them and pick on them and you want them to swing back.”
Walker asserted that the constant barking of the Bears defense has a dual purpose of keeping the D fired up while challenging the offense to match the competitive tenacity.
“And when you’re doing all that stuff and things hit the fan, then you know what type of person you’ve got,” he said. “So bullying works.”
Seen and heard
Cornerback Kyler Gordon has a list of individual goals for 2024 in his head, hoping to earn Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors while also setting a target of at least five interceptions. But Gordon also knows he is part of a strong Bears secondary that feels confident about where it’s headed with five proven starters. Asked about the value of playing alongside players like cornerbacks Jaylon Johnson and Tyrique Stevenson and safeties Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker, Gordon noted how the cohesion creates added comfort which enhances the group’s focus.
“It’s just a lot of dependability, a lot of trust,” he said. “It’s people knowing their assignments and not really worrying about if, oh, I may have to help a little bit over here or help a little bit over there. You get to really lock in on your job.”
Injury update
Linebacker Noah Sewell and receiver Nsimba Webster missed practice again on Monday. Coach Matt Eberflus said neither player is dealing with a serious injury with both expected back on the practice field soon.
Beyond that, the Bears remain healthy overall through the first three full days of camp. The team’s first two padded practices of the summer are scheduled for Friday and Saturday.
