Halas Hall starting getting lively on Thursday when rookie draft picks, undrafted free agents, and veterans reported to the Chicago Bears team facilities for the start of rookie minicamp, which will be held throughout the weekend.

However, the Bears did make one transaction move on Thursday when the team waived cornerback Zah Frazier, the fifth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft that missed the entirety of his rookie season due to a personal matter.

Ahead of the first day of rookie minicamp, Bears head coach Ben Johnson addressed the decision and the reasoning behind it.

Ben Johnson addresses Zah Frazier’s release after missing his rookie season

“Zah’s a guy that we’ve had here for over a year and it’s just one of those things when we’re looking at the roster – where he’s at, and where we’re at – it was time to part ways,” Johnson told reporters on Friday. “Appreciate everything that he contributed while he was here and it opens up a roster spot and an opportunity to make this team.”

Frazier was initially expected to attend minicamp this week as a “first-year player” and hasn’t been on the field for the Bears since last year’s rookie minicamp sessions. Given the makeup of the cornerback room, fans were also hopeful Frazier would have been a player to watch going into the 2026 season.

“We were hopeful,” Johnson added of Frazier. “It just wasn’t going that direction, the trajectory was off. So, we decided to go a different direction.”

That different direction shook up the cornerback room for the Bears and will create an opportunity for other players to step up. One to watch this weekend will be fourth-round rookie Malik Muhammad.

It’s Malik Muhammad’s turn to show what he can bring to Chicago

The Bears traded up to select Muhammad in the second-round and are excited about the coverage traits he can bring to the position.

With Frazier now off the roster, Muhammad’s top competition for the starting outside cornerback spot will be Tyrique Stevenson. However, Muhammad still has a ways to go this offseason before being able to challenge for a starting job.

On Friday, the staff will get their first in-person opportunity to see Muhammad on the field and start working with him hands-on.

“I think Malik is a very sharp young man,” Johnson added. “He’s going to be able to embrace that coaching style with open arms.”

Other players to watch at the position this weekend will be UDFA signing KC Eziomume and multiple tryout players (UDFAs and veterans).