Five lingering questions for the Bears heading into the first week of OTAs, including the availability of Colston Loveland
The Chicago Bears open up organized team activities this week, which will give us the first real look at the full 90-man roster meshing together on the field.That's especially critical with all the new pieces joining the roster, both through free agency and the incoming rookies. The Bears were active in adding players, which helps […]
The Chicago Bears open up organized team activities this week, which will give us the first real look at the full 90-man roster meshing together on the field.
That's especially critical with all the new pieces joining the roster, both through free agency and the incoming rookies. The Bears were active in adding players, which helps encourage more in-house competition on the field.
During rookie minicamp, head coach Ben Johnson made sure to note ahead of time that players aren't earning starting positions at this point in the offseason, but OTAs is still a good period to learn who's standing out and grasping the system early.
Based on that, and since the OTAs are not in full pads, it is difficult to make decisions relating to the depth chart, but there is still major questions and areas to follow this week. Here are five of those remaining questions:
How is Caleb Williams functioning under center?
One of the big changes coming for quarterback Caleb Williams in Year 2 is operating back under center, something he didn't do much at all during his rookie season. Ben Johnson's offense is built on the run, and working well under center helps take advantage of quick passing lanes and play-action opportunities off the run game.
"We're going to work to see the comfort level under center and how much of that applies. We had a lot of success where I was at last, going under center for the run game did translate in play action. Whether that works for us in Chicago, that's what time will tell," Johnson explained back in April.
Williams has already been seen with a different pre-snap stance and is working through all the new changes to help make his game more efficient.
"It's second nature, second habit, first nature, first habit of doing that," Williams said. "Getting under there, going through the cadence, going through the huddle sequence, getting up to the line, making checks if needed or anything like that. It's practicing those things now, visualizing those things now. And building on those."
What will Colston Loveland's workload look like?
The Bears didn't get to see much out of first-round pick Colston Loveland during rookie minicamp as the tight end continues to rehab from an end of season shoulder surgery. The same will be the case for OTAs, but there's still valuable reps to be had.
"That’s a priority for us, is getting him back healthy, because the sooner he gets healthy, then we get the full speed reps, and that’s where it really all comes together," Johnson explained. "It’s more mental, and we’re going to take full opportunity the time we have with him over the next, call it six weeks, in terms of getting him up to speed, with not only what the veterans know mentally, but how much can we walk through with him on the side to speed up the learning process."
During OTAs, Loveland will get a real opportunity to learn behind Cole Kmet at the position and starting laying the foundation for his relationship with Caleb Williams while mastering the playbook from the sidelines.
"The mental reps, they're huge," Loveland said. "They are just as important – knowing the play, seeing it, literally exactly like I'm in there. It's different doing it obviously. But, I'm doing everything I can, taking those mental reps, being in the playbook all the time. Just staying ahead, really."
How will Ben Johnson feed everyone while creating the play designs?
This will be key during OTAs when the plays being designed inside the building actually start to come out on the practice field. When Johnson was hired, he noted his offense will "look different" compared to the plays he was running in Detroit as the Lions' offensive coordinator.
A big reason why is personnel. The players and collection of play-styles are different in Chicago, which has been revamped this offseason. Keeping everyone involved and in the play design will be a tall task for Johnson, especially when you have players like rookie WR Luther Burden III saying: "every time I get the ball, I'm trying to make the play-caller give me the ball some more."
The good news is, Johnson has a plan. Players are going to have to earn the opportunity to get the football to come their way in this offense.
"What I'm going to be curious to see is what guys look like when the ball's not in their hands on offense," Johnson explained. "We have a lot of weapons. So how are you going to run your route when you might not be No. 1 in the progression? How are you going to block for your teammate when he has the ball? Because when you do those things right… we're going to want to get you the ball a little bit more."
How does Ozzy Trapilo continue to look at LT?
Judging the play in the trenches during OTAs is going to be tough without pads and contact allowed, but it's still going to be valuable reps for rookie Ozzy Trapilo, who will likely get the first-team reps at left tackle.
While speaking with reporters at rookie minicamp, Trapilo shared he's been focusing on left tackle fundamentals heavily since the 2024 season ended to freshen up on the position. Getting more work in next to a multi-time All-Pro in Joe Thuney at left guard will help push his development while already grasping all the concepts at a high-level.
"He’s exactly who we thought he was going to be,” Johnson said about Trapilo. "He’s super smart. He was able to apply those concepts to the field immediately. He’s very advanced in that regard."
How does Kyle Monangai fit into the RB room, is another addition needed?
Another rookie looking to mix in and earn his place among the veterans is running back Kyle Monangai, the team's seventh-round selection. Monangai will enter into the room with D'Andre Swift, Roschon Johnson, Travis Homer, and Ian Wheeler all returning.
Seeing how his style fits into that room will be key, but again we won't have much to go off of without the pads on. Regardless, this group will be coached tough by running backs coach Eric Bieniemy and will have a lot expected out of them.
And with the possibility of another veteran back joining the offense before the 2025 season, every opportunity to impress in front of the staff counts, especially for a young player looking to earn playing time early like Monangai.
