CHICAGO (670 The Score) — The Bears opened their preseason slate with a 24-24 tie against the Dolphins on Sunday at Soldier Field. Here are five takeaways from their exhibition opener.
Growing pains on display offensively
Following each practice of Bears training camp, the same question is often asked.
How did quarterback Caleb Williams look?
The answer is typically complicated as first-year head coach Ben Johnson is installing a new offense. Williams’ work in camp is never quite black and white.
On Sunday, Williams sat out and the Bears' offense had an up-and-down performance as they turned to Tyson Bagent, Case Keenum and Austin Reed at quarterback.
The Bears went three-and-out on their first two series, which were led by Bagent. On the Bears' third drive, Bagent led a 16-play, 94-yard touchdown drive that was capped by his four-yard touchdown pass to receiver Maurice Alexander.
Bagent went 13-of-19 for 103 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
Keenum found his stride as the Bears’ second quarterback in the game. He was 8-of-10 for 80 yards and two touchdowns, including a pinpoint 14-yard scoring connection to rookie receiver Jahdae Walker in the fourth quarter.
Reed was 5-of-10 for 41 yards while primarily leading the way in the two-minute mode. The Bears’ offense had 295 total yards and averaged 4.5 yards per play. The offense was set back by penalties and three sacks. A touchdown run by running back Ian Wheeler in the third quarter was called back because of an illegal formation penalty as Alexander failed to get set properly.
The preseason opener was a reminder that the struggles of the Bears offense are the byproduct of circumstances rather than the responsibility of any one player. Johnson is testing his players, and their comfort is still lacking.
“It’s been challenging,” Keenum said. “Ben’s offense isn’t simple or easy. It’s tough on the quarterback. There’s a lot of checks and multiple plays called in the huddle. So, every day, you’re going to be challenged. Every game, you’re going to be challenged. I think we’ve responded. It’s this game of, they give us more, we catch up, they challenge us again. We keep building. We’re building that reputation, that chemistry, that trust, that bond where we’re starting to see the game through the coaches’ eyes.”
The continued growth of Williams is what matters the most for the Bears during training camp. Sunday illustrated that learning the offense will take time for everybody involved, no matter where they are on the depth chart.
Emerging defensive role players
The Bears defense was impressive in the joint practice against the Dolphins on Friday at Halas Hall.
Most of the Bears’ defensive starters got Sunday off. That allowed young players to step in for opportunities.
Bears linebacker Noah Sewell played well in a performance that included shooting the gap on a fourth-and-goal to stuff Dolphins running back Jaylen Wright. Sewell had four combined tackles on the Bears’ opening defensive series, while rookie linebacker Ruben Hyppolite had three. Those two players are competing to line up alongside starting linebackers Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards in a 4-3 look.
Nobody on the Bears’ defense had a better day than second-year defensive end Austin Booker, who had three sacks – the third being a strip-sack that set up Chicago’s offense three yards away from a touchdown.
Booker added eight pounds to his frame this offseason, but the most notable difference in his performance is how the game is slowing down.
“I’m being more consistent than I was last year,” Booker said.
Bears reserve nickel cornerback/special teams standout Josh Blackwell had a pair of pass break-ups.
There are roles to be earned on this defense, and several players stated their case Sunday.
Burden makes an impression
Early in training camp, Bears rookie receiver Luther Burden III was called out by his head coach.
It wasn’t meant to be a cruel takedown by Johnson so much as it was candor that shed light on how Burden has struggled with pre-snap details and alignment. The comments came after Burden had missed much of the offseason program with a hamstring injury.
Burden had two receptions for 29 yards in the preseason opener – a 16-yard catch on third-and-15 that extended a drive in the first half and a 13-yard reception with one second remaining on the clock in the second quarter, which set up a field goal.
Afterward, Johnson pointed to the growth that he has seen from Burden.
“He’s working his tail off behind the scenes,” Johnson said. “He’s with (wide receivers coach Antwaan Randle El), I see him at breakfast, he’s asking questions, I see him walking through. Like, he’s doing some extra stuff that maybe most don’t appreciate right now. Because of that, we’re starting to see some details tighten up on the field. It’s not where it needs to be yet, it frankly isn’t, but I love the way he’s going, I love how hard he’s working. Everything we thought about him in terms of the weapon he is with the ball in his hands, that has shown up since day one.”
Burden was the 39th overall pick in the second round of the NFL Draft. The Bears didn’t necessarily need a wide receiver that high in the draft, but general manager Ryan Poles and his staff viewed Burden as a first-round talent. Now, he's fighting for a role alongside top receivers DJ Moore and Rome Odunze.
Opportunity knocking for Monangai?
The Bears have been quietly optimistic about their backfield, but questions remain.
Bears running back Roschon Johnson exited practice with a toe injury early last week and hasn't worked since. The team is reportedly seeking to sign reserve running back Brittain Brown, an indication that Johnson could perhaps miss time.
Lead running back D’Andre Swift rested for Sunday, which allowed rookie Kyle Monangai to lead the way. He rushed six times for 30 yards.
“He’s very downhill,” Bagent said. “Very downhill. Rarely does the first guy tackle him. And he’s always falling forward. That coupled with the ball security, it’s really kind of most of what you’d want of a running back.”
As the Bears seek to establish roles in their backfield, Monangai could be competing directly with Johnson for the second spot on the depth chart.
A seventh-round pick out of Rutgers, Monangai has inspired confidence from the Bears. On Sunday, he showed a glimpse of why that’s the case.
It won’t count, but...
Bears kicker Cairo Santos' career-long field goal is 55 yards, which he converted in 2023.
On Sunday, Santos hit a 57-yard field goal with one second remaining in the first half. It won't count as his career-long considering it came in the preseason, but it was a good sign and cleared the crossbar with plenty of room to spare.
“That was pretty strong,” Johnson said. “I was joking with him, shoot, we didn’t need that many yards (on Burden’s catch); we could’ve kicked that from back up the way he nailed that thing.”
Injury report
Bears cornerback Terell Smith suffered a groin injury Sunday and didn't return to the game. Linebacker Amen Ogbongbemiga (shoulder) and running back Travis Homer (calf) also didn't return after leaving with injuries.
Rookie safety Major Burns suffered a knee injury and was quickly ruled out, an indication that it could potentially be serious.
The Bears will return to practice Monday afternoon at Halas Hall. Their next preseason game comes next Sunday against the Bills at Soldier Field.