Chicago Bears training camp is in full swing ahead of the 2026 regular season. Under second-year head coach Ben Johnson, the Bears are looking to build on their success from last year and keep pace in a crowded NFC with important meetings and practices at Halas Hall.
Following every Bears training camp practice, we at Bears Wire will highlight the top players who stood out on the field. Here are the players who stood out on Day 1 of practice:
1. CB Jaylon Jones
It’s only Day 1, but veteran cornerback Jaylon Jones got the first crack at starting in place of the injured Kyler Gordon. Jones, who returned to the Bears last season after being released from the Arizona Cardinals, didn’t see much action at nickel in 2025 but got work in during offseason workouts. He rotated along with Cam Lewis and Josh Blackwell, as Shaw Media’s Michal Dwojak observed. It doesn’t mean much right now, but it’s a good start for Jones, who could play a significant role when the season begins.
2. WR Luther Burden
The offseason hype for Luther Burden has been sky-high, but the second-year receiver is already showing why it’s deserved. Burden is off to a fast start, showing off his speed to those in attendance and getting plenty of targets, according to CHGO’s Mark Carman. The best play of the day, however, has to be Burden working on punt returns and catching balls while holding one on his hand. Bears reporter Nicholas Moreano said it was the best thing he saw in practice. We’re still in the infancy of camp, but Burden is making a strong impression early.
3. Garrett Bradbury
Pads won’t come on until Monday and there’s very little contact happening, but Garrett Bradbury deserves a shoutout for helping the offense run a clean and smooth operation. FOX 32’s Chris Kwiecinski notes that the offense as a whole was much more organized than this time last year when Johnson had to stop practice to get them off the field. The whole unit deserves credit, but Bradbury stands out for being the new center and getting everyone in line. Bradbury, who was acquired via trade from the New England Patriots in March, saw snaps with the starters as expected and should remain the starter barring a surprise or a strong push from rookie Logan Jones.
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: 3 standouts from Day 1 of Chicago Bears training camp
Reporting by Brendan Sugrue, Bears Wire / Bears Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Brendan Sugrue, Bears Wire | USA TODAY Network
