The Chicago Bears held their first training camp practice in front of fans Tuesday during an invitation-only community day at Halas Hall.
The players will take a day off on Wednesday before returning for a series of three consecutive practices, including their first padded session on Friday.
Here’s a look at the training and the press conferences that followed.
Player in the spotlight
Gervon Dexter, the Bears’ 6-foot-2, 300-pound defensive tackle, said he tried to get into “marathon shape” during the offseason. He ran hills and worked out on the track, did “strongman training” and tried to eat healthier, including cutting out late-night snacks.
“Before, I would just think, ‘A honey bun won’t hurt me,’” Dexter said. “So yeah, I stopped and now I feel a lot better.”
Dexter said he lost body fat and felt “a lot different” as a result. He can move easier. He can get off the ball quicker. He can play longer in practice. He felt so good that he took his first-day conditioning test with the defensive ends instead of the tackles.
The Bears drafted Dexter in the second round out of Florida last year, and when he first walked into Halas Hall, he knew he wanted to be one of the big names adorning the building’s lobby. Body transformation is part of that goal.
Photos: Inside Chicago Bears Training Camp at Halas Hall
“I’ve noticed that good players can do it in one or two games, but the ones who are considered great are able to play one to four quarters consistently,” he said.
With the departure of three-technique defensive tackle Justin Jones in the offseason, the Bears are handing a lot of responsibility to Dexter, who had 2 1/2 sacks, 12 quarterback hits and two passes defensed in 17 games last year.
Dexter approaches the bigger role with a level of focus that defensive coordinator Eric Washington said is unusual for a second-year player.
“When Dexter practices every day, when he goes to meetings, for a young player, he has blinders on,” Washington said. “He’s really focused on himself, on what he needs to do in that particular practice. We kind of plan out what we’re going to do on the field the day before. So I can see that he’s taken that meeting outside, out on the field. And when he comes into the meeting, he’s ready to go.”
Caleb Williams Watch
Sophomore receiver Tyler Scott broke free along the left sideline and dove to catch a deep ball from Caleb Williams, providing the highlight of the day for fans who got their first look at the Bears’ new quarterback Tuesday. The play was part of a strong early performance for Williams.
But the Bears’ defense also stepped up, with linebacker Jack Sanborn breaking up a pass to tight end Gerald Everett earlier in the 11-on-11 period.
In a two-minute drill near the end of the drive without receivers Keenan Allen and DJ Moore, the defense stopped the offense three times from the 7-yard line. Williams threw an incomplete pass to Rome Odunze on third down. And linebacker Tremaine Edmunds broke up a pass to Cole Kmet in the end zone on fourth down to seal the defense’s victory in the drill.
Afterward, right tackle Darnell Wright said he thought Williams handled the early ups and downs well.
“He’s done a great job,” Wright said. “You see him getting better and better, gaining confidence and getting everyone on the same page.”
Today’s news
When Washington joined the Bears as defensive coordinator this summer from the Buffalo Bills, he inherited star pass rusher Montez Sweat.
As he got to know Sweat better, Washington discovered that Sweat was stronger than he thought, knew how to use his size, and was a quick learner.
That last part helps the Bears because Washington said they’re asking Sweat to do different things defensively than he’s done in his career.
“We want flexibility to be able to line him up,” Washington said. “We want to use his skill set against the offensive line and not just for a specific position. First of all, I really appreciate the fact that he’s accepting that challenge and everything he’s doing to make his game as complete as possible.”
Washington said Sweat’s professional approach and willingness to answer questions helps him understand.
Defensive tackle Andrew Billings said the idea of moving Sweat to disrupt opposing offenses was “great.”
“The offensive line doesn’t know where to go, and we know exactly where they’re going to go,” Billings said. “It’s like, okay, he’s going to be on this side? So I’ve got a face-off on this side now. The offensive line, they’re going to have to reverse the whole decision because he’s going to be somewhere else.”
Quote to note
“He has defensive line in his blood, so it all translates into the room.” — Billings on working under Washington, who provides helpful notes to the defensive line to complement position coach Travis Smith.
Seen and heard
Washington said cornerback Jaylon Johnson “has established himself as one of the best players at his position in professional football.” This season for Johnson, who finished practice with a pass breakup in the red zone, is about bringing more of the production that propelled him to be a Pro Bowler — and elevating his leadership as well, Washington said.
“It’s now about taking what he does and bringing the leadership, the production and pushing our defensive unit to elite status,” Washington said. “Every time I talk to him, that’s what I hear from him. He knows we need him to be at the top of certain production levels and continue to provide the leadership and direction that he’s capable of.”
Injury Report
Veterans Marcedes Lewis and Keenan Allen were given a day off Tuesday.
Nickel cornerback Kyler Gordon was limited in practice, as were left tackle Braxton Jones and linebacker TJ Edwards. Linebacker Noah Sewell remained sidelined.
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