Bears Training Camp Stock Watch: Coby Bryant’s injury opens up opportunity, plus one WR keeps impressing after second week of camp
The Chicago Bears have eight days of practice in the books at training camp with intensity starting to heat up now that pads were on during the second week. Here’s which players are rising or falling after the last four days of practice.
Eight days of Chicago Bears training camp are in the books, and the last four sessions this week brought a significant uptick in intensity. Three of those sessions were in full pads, including two heavy contact days highlighted by Thursday’s practice, the longest and most physical day of camp, so far.
With that intensity came injuries, however, and the Bears suffered a significant one this week. Starting safety Coby Bryant went down with a knee injury on Monday, with the outside timetable set at an 8 to 10 week recovery, though head coach Ben Johnson said the team is still evaluating the full extent of the injury and his timeline. That loss reshuffled the secondary this week and created opportunities for others to step up.
With that being said, here’s a look at the players whose stock is rising or falling after the last four days of Bears training camp practice.
Chicago Bears players on the rise after second week of training camp
DB Cam Lewis
Cam Lewis, the veteran addition the Bears brought in this offseason for his versatility, is already proving his value because of the injury bug in the secondary. Lewis started camp rotating at the starting nickel position with cornerback Kyler Gordon still injured. After Bryant’s injury on Monday, Lewis shifted back to working with the safeties alongside first-round pick Dillon Thieneman.
Thieneman spoke highly of Lewis’ veteran presence and what he’s been able to show, noting there’s been no disconnect with him sliding in for Bryant. As the season approaches, Lewis is shaping up to be a critical member of this defense. Once Bryant returns, Lewis can mix in at safety or nickel, proving his versatility is already worth every bit of his roster spot.
DT Jordan van den Berg
Jordan van den Berg has been one of the standout players since the pads came on. The rookie interior defensive lineman, a sixth-round pick the Bears traded up for out of Georgia Tech, came into camp with off-the-charts athletic testing scores and has started to put that on display now that pads are on, along with some tenacity.
He got into a little skirmish early in the week with fellow rookie Caden Barnett, showing the energy and physicality he can bring. More importantly, van den Berg started getting first-team reps for the first time on Thursday, mixing in behind Grady Jarrett and Gervon Dexter. He’s projected to potentially be the DT3 in a battle with Neville Gallimore. It’s a big early jump for the rookie.
WR Kaden Davis
Kaden Davis is a name few knew heading into training camp. The Bears brought him in earlier this offseason after he spent time with the Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, and other teams. Davis has made some of the most impressive catches at camp, starting with a diving grab from quarterback Caleb Williams that was the first eye-opening play from him. He followed it with even more highlight catches on Thursday.
Davis will be a name to watch when the preseason opens next week, working with quarterback Tyson Bagent and Case Keenum to see how far he can rise. Chicago is already five deep at wide receiver with locks at those spots, so the question becomes whether the Bears keep six, especially as they shift into more 13 personnel. Davis certainly is making a strong argument after this week for a practice squad spot at minimum.
DL Daniel Hardy
Daniel Hardy deserves a mention after Thursday’s practice. Montez Sweat left practice early Thursday with trainers and instead of sliding Dayo Odeyingbo to the outside opposite Austin Booker, it was Hardy who got those reps.
That’s a good sign for Hardy being one of the top reserve defensive ends on this roster when it comes to roster projections. He’s already one of special teams coordinator Richard Hightower’s favorite players on that unit, and the added defensive value could make him one of the roster locks going into cut down day.
S Skyler Thomas and S Anthony Johnson Jr.
Undrafted rookie safety Skyler Thomas out of Oregon State got reps mixing in at safety following Bryant’s injury. It wasn’t just Bryant going down in the secondary either. Dallis Flowers and Gervarrius Owens both left Thursday’s practice as well, opening opportunities for Thomas and also Anthony Johnson Jr., the former Green Bay Packers draft pick who joined the Bears earlier this offseason.
The safety position is thinning out with Elijah Hicks still on the PUP list as well with a shin injury, and the Bears already added one player earlier in the week in Marlen Sewell. Whether Chicago brings in additional help next week remains to be seen. But, going into preseason action, Thomas and Johnson will be the ones to watch at safety.
Chicago Bears players on the falling after second week of training camp
LT Braxton Jones
Braxton Jones has had a strong camp so far and opened with the first-team in team drills for three straight days this week. Ben Johnson said ahead of Thursday’s practice that there would still be rotation at the position and hopefully the team would have some clarity going into the first preseason game.
However, the one thing that could keep Jones from earning the starting job for a fifth straight Week 1 is injuries, and that’s exactly what happened Thursday. Jones was shaken up during a one-on-one drill, appeared frustrated, and walked off the field with trainers. ESPN’s Courtney Cronin reported he’ll be day-to-day, and Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune reported Jones avoided a serious injury. Jones has seemed healthier physically and mentally compared to the last two years, making this setback all the more frustrating.
WR Scotty Miller
Scotty Miller, the former Super Bowl champion with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who also spent time with the Pittsburgh Steelers, earned a spot on the 91-man roster after standing out at rookie minicamp as a veteran tryout. Johnson highlighted Miller’s speed earlier this spring, and the expectation was that he’d turn heads throughout training camp.
That hasn’t happened. Miller’s name has been absent from practice reports, and with Davis rising up the depth chart, Miller is falling. He’ll need a big preseason showing if he wants to stick around as a sixth wide receiver or on a practice squad spot in Chicago.
