The Chicago Bears reported to training camp at Halas Hall on Friday, just over seven weeks before they host the Tennessee Titans in their season opener.
and Rookie quarterback Caleb Williams With their new mainstay and an established defenseman ready to step up to a new level, the Bears came into camp with confidence and expectations high, but they also know they need to continue to immerse themselves in the rigors of camp and preseason practice to make the competitive leap they hope for.
General manager Ryan Pauls, coach Matt Eberflus and six players spoke to the media after arriving in Lake Forest. Here are four things we learned:
1. Making the playoffs is a reasonable expectation.
Even with a rookie quarterback and a new offensive system, the Bears’ roster is strong enough to compete for a playoff spot, and the bar has been set accordingly, both in and out of Halas Hall.
There was a lot of talk Friday about the postseason push, but no one was more candid or insightful on the topic than tight end Cole Kmet, who was on the only team to make the playoffs in his first four seasons (an 8-8 wild-card team during the pandemic-hit 2020 season) and finished with a career record of 24-42.
Kmet grew up a Bears fan.understands that the outside world’s expectations fluctuate from year to year, but stressed Friday that he continues to have playoff hopes every season.
“You might think, ‘Oh, that’s crazy to think that. You weren’t on a talented team this year or that year,'” Kmet said, “but that’s the mindset I’ve had coming in every year. … This isn’t college football where there’s just four teams competing (to win) every year. All 32 teams here are trying to win a Super Bowl and that’s part of the deal.”
Kmet also insisted the Bears’ approach won’t change even with increased outside expectations.
“That’s why I’m adamant about having the same expectations every year,” he said, “so even though the outside expectations have changed now, the expectations in the locker room haven’t changed.”
“For me, it’s always been about stability. You don’t necessarily have to worry about what people on the outside are saying. You just have to hear from Furth what he wants and his plan for how he’s going to approach the whole season and follow that.”
2. General manager Ryan Pauls continues to search for potential pass-rush additions.
Paules has been forthright about his desire to bolster his forward line. As of now, Pro Bowl selection Montez Sweat and eighth-year veteran DeMarcus Walker are projected as starters at defensive end, with Dominique Robinson, Khalid Kareem and 5th round pick Austin Booker Among those vying for key roles behind them.
Still, don’t rule out a summer deal.
“It’s our job in the front office to explore all options to improve our football team,” Pauls said. “We’re really happy with the players we have on the team right now and we’re really excited about it, and I’m looking forward to seeing (defensive line coach) Travis (Smith) and (coordinator) Eric (Washington) really get their hands on these guys and develop them at the beginning of training camp.”
“But we are constantly looking at the list of potential players we could acquire.”
The list of free agent defensive ends includes Yannick Ngakoue and Emmanuel Ogbah. Ngakoue, of course, spent last season with the Bears, so he checks off some familiar boxes. But he finished the season with a career-low four sacks in 2023, and is a long-time favorite to be traded. Broke his left ankle in the 14th week.
Porres said he did not yet have a full grasp of Ngakoue’s current health condition, but left open the possibility of a reunion.
“I really enjoyed my time with him,” Pauls said. “I thought he did a great job and provided leadership, so that’s a good thing.”
3. The Bears are formulating a plan for how they will manage playing time for Caleb Williams and the starting offense during preseason games.
They are Hall of Fame Games The Bears will play four preseason games, beginning Aug. 1 against the Houston Texans in Canton, Ohio, and will plan to allocate desired playing time to their rookie quarterback and the rest of their offensive starters.
Eberflus reiterated Friday that he has closely studied the preseason workloads of last season’s first-round draft picks — quarterbacks Bryce Young of the Carolina Panthers, C.J. Stroud of the Texans and Anthony Richardson of the Indianapolis Colts — and said he is aiming for Williams to play in about 45-55 games next month.
