Chicago Bears training camp is in full swing ahead of the 2025 regular season. Under new head coach Ben Johnson, the Bears are preparing a return to relevancy with important practices and meetings at Halas Hall.
The starters, such as quarterback Caleb Williams, wide receivers Rome Odunze and DJ Moore, and defensive linemen Grady Jarrett and Montez Sweat, will hone their skills as they adjust to a new system. Rookies such as tight end Colston Loveland, receiver Luther Burden III, tackle Ozzy Trapilo, and defensive tackle Shemar Turner will look to hit the ground running ahead of their first season. And depth players like offensive lineman Doug Kramer, defensive end Dominique Robinson, and safety Jonathan Owens will try and hang on to a roster spot with competition nipping at their heels.
The Bears were back on the practice field Monday morning for their first padded practice of the summer, and there were some notable standouts from the session. That included some repeat names, players who will be integral to the team’s success and some under-the-radar players.
TE Colston Loveland
Rookie tight end Colston Loveland has made a strong impression in his two full days of practice. The 10th overall pick was the standout of Monday’s practice, where he shined during 7-on-7 with some nice catches. According to Patrick Finley, that included “leaping to catch a Caleb Williams pass over the middle.” Loveland returned to full speed on Saturday after missing the entire offseason program recovering from shoulder surgery. But after just two days, he already looks like he hasn’t missed a beat and could be a key contributor in Ben Johnson’s offense.
WR DJ Moore
While Rome Odunze has been the standout wide receiver so far in training camp, DJ Moore once again showed why he’ll be a key playmaker in Ben Johnson’s offense. According to Zack Pearson, Moore won a rep against cornerback Tyrique Stevenson on a deep ball where he made a sliding catch from quarterback Caleb Williams during 1-on-1 drills. Moore’s helmet even came off during the catch. While there’s no denying that Moore will serve a key role in the passing game, Alex Shapiro revealed that Moore got a look at running back during this padded practice, which “could be fun” with Johnson calling the shots on offense.
DT Grady Jarrett
The Bears offensive line appeared to best the defensive line during one-on-one drills during Monday’s practice, but veteran Grady Jarrett held his own — and there were plenty of comments about his practice. Mark Carman said “Jarrett was a problem in one-on-one drills” while Alex Shapiro noted Jarrett “looks disruptive as ever.” Clay Harbor added that Jarrett “still has juice plays with a motor” and “still has quicks and explosiveness.” Following practice, center Drew Dalman wasn’t sure Jarrett has any weaknesses and believes it’s beneficial for any offensive lineman to go against him. Jarrett has been an impactful run defender and disruptive pass rusher with the Falcons, and it appears like he hasn’t lost a step with the Bears.
WR JP Richardson
This isn’t the first time JP Richardson has landed on this list, and it certainly won’t be the last. It appears like every other day the undrafted rookie wide receiver is making waves during training camp as he states his case for a roster spot, and he continued his impressive showcase once the pads came on. According to Zack Pearson, Richardson won two reps during 1-on-1 drills — which was impressive considering defensive backs had the edge on the day. But he did drop one pass and another was a deep overthrow (not from Williams). According to Alex Shapiro, Richardson has excelled “creating space,” which was evident on Monday.
DT Chris Williams
While Grady Jarrett was the standout defensive lineman on Monday, it was a roster bubble player who’s also making a strong case for a roster spot. According to Brendan Sugrue, Williams was a standout during offensive line and defensive line drills where “he got the best of Joe Thuney a couple times.” There’s certainly a roster spot up for grabs along the defensive line, where Williams could even position himself to pass up former third-round pick Zacch Pickens.
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: 5 standouts from Day 5 of Chicago Bears training camp
Reporting by Alyssa Barbieri, Bears Wire / Bears Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
