‘Motivated’ Dayo Odeyingbo returned to team drills on the first day of Mandatory Minicamp, much to the surprise of Ben Johnson
Chicago Bears defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo was a big ticket addition last offseason who’s first season was cut short due to injury. His return at mandatory minicamp was the first positive step in what the team is looking to see.
Pass rush was a big area of concern for the Chicago Bears coming out of the 2024-25 season and finding a complement to Montez Sweat off the edge was a big priority going into the first year under defensive coordinator Dennis Allen.
In free agency, the Bears zeroed in on Dayo Odeyingbo as the ideal target to boost the pass rush and be a strong scheme-fit in this system. The Bears ponied up to make it happen, giving Odeyingbo a hefty three-year, $48 million contract.
Odeyingbo’s first year in Chicago showed minimal flashes early on and right as he started to turn the corner, he suffered a torn Achilles in Week 9 that forced him to miss the rest of the season and put a major cloud of his Year 2 expectations. If anything, last year made him hungrier than ever to prove his worth to this team.
Chicago Bears DE Dayo Odeyingbo shocks everyone with his return at mandatory minicamp
Last week during the open practice session at OTAs, Odeyingbo was back on the field for the first time since suffering his second career Achilles tear, much to the surprise of everyone watching from the sidelines.
That surprise became even greater on Tuesday, during the first day of mandatory minicamp, when Odeyingbo took part in team drills with little to no restriction just seven months since his injury date.
“This is really a bonus for us,” Bears head coach Ben Johnson told reporters Wednesday before practice. “We weren’t quite sure when we started the offseason program we’d get him for any length of time. The fact that he’s on the field, he wants to be out there, it’s just another step forward in terms of him gaining confidence again in how he’s moving. He’s done a great job being attentive in meetings and so I know he was really itching to get back out there with his teammates. It’s a step in the right direction, for sure.”
With coaching and technique being under the spotlight for the defensive line in particular, it’s incredible and encouraging to see Odeyingbo back out there and fans are hoping it pays dividends this upcoming season.
Outlook is not as encouraging, yet, for 2025 second-round pick Shemar Turner
One week before Odeyingbo went down last season, the Bears lost another defensive lineman in second-round rookie Shemar Turner, who was just starting to come into his own off the edge. Turner suffered a torn ACL in late October and is a player the Bears are still waiting to get back on the practice field.
“We’ll see with Shemar,” Johnson added. “This summer’s going to be a big part for him. We’ll have a good six weeks off and we’ll see where he’s at when we come back for camp.”
Once the Bears get Turner back into the mix, the staff can really see what they have up-front on the defensive line and how they look together on the field. It’ll also be a key measuring stick to monitor when considering any outside additions being made.