Lake Forest, Ill.– With the third straight practice of training camp in the books for the Chicago Bears, the dust is beginning to settle at Halas Hall. We’ve seen a number of offensive line combinations, the defense flying all over the field, and rookies continuing to impress, leading to a number of questions about what the Bears can accomplish heading into 2022.
The energy at Halas Hall brings about a renewed sense of urgency. From first-year head coach Matt Eberflus down to the 90th man on the roster, everyone seems to be eager to get this right. The Bears current circumstances convey that this isn’t a one-year plan. It’s a multi-year plan that Eberflus and general manager Ryan Poles are willing to see through.
With another training camp practice in the books, let’s look at some key takeaways from Friday’s practice.

1) The Bears are excited about rookie wide receiver Velus Jones Jr.
Velus Jones Jr. believes in the Bears just as much as the Bears believe in him. The 73rd overall pick detailed the team’s plans for him at wide receiver on Friday.
“Quite a few, they’re moving me from Z, F,X, they want me to know everything,” Jones said. “So it’s been really fun getting to work with my QB’s and stuff like that. They know my abilities, they know the reason why they drafted me. I am really good with the ball in my hands. Wherever they need me to be, I’m just going to be there and execute.”
The Bears rookie class has turned some heads so far in training camp, generating excitement for the present and future. As Jones Jr. continues to break into the Bears offense, his potential could allow him to cement his status as a core player for the immediate future.

2) Running back David Montgomery is reenergized and recharged for 2022.
A pro’s pro, running back David Montgomery enters his fourth NFL season, hoping to make it his best season yet. After three years where he seemingly surpassed expectations, the former third-round pick recognizes that he still hasn’t been given the credit he’s earned around the NFL.
“I take everything personal,” Montgomery said. “It’s just like y’all see lists, I see them too.”
Part of this new mindset is because Montgomery is set to have a baby in January 2023, he told the media on Friday. Yet he’ll continue to take care of business both on and off the field, hoping to have a career-year in hopes of earning a contract extension next offseason.

3) Expect big things from Trevis Gipson throughout the upcoming season.
After finishing the 2021 season on a high note, Trevis Gipson has entered 2022 with a chip on his shoulder. The stars continue to align for him to take another step forward, hopefully cementing his status as a member of the Bears long-term core.
“I would say I’m more confident,” Gipson said. “Just the way that I ended last year and the things that I know I’m capable of doing. I’m getting more reps. I’m being coached even more. Everything is all coming along. I’m getting the ball rolling. I just focus on getting 1% better every day, man. It doesn’t matter who lines up in front of me.”
Gipson proved on Friday that he could easily become one of the foundational pillars of the defense, giving the Bears a young, ascending pass rusher to build the front seven around.

4) Injuries along the offensive line are a blessing in disguise for the Bears.
While head coach Matt Eberflus refused to detail what the exact timetables were for offensive linemen Teven Jenkins and Lucas Patrick, both of whom were absent on Friday, there is a silver lining in Jenkins and Patrick being absent.
Without Jenkins and Patrick, the Bears are forced to turn to reinforcements such as Sam Mustipher, Doug Kramer, Zachary Thomas, Dieter Eiselen, Ja’Tyre Carter, and Julien Davenport as names that could possibly play either center or tackle if needed.
The Bears are getting a chance to evaluate their depth early and often throughout training camp, something that could allow the team to gain a better understanding of where the entire offensive line is at throughout the preseason.

5) The Bears defense is having fun flying around.
Throughout camp, the Bears defensive coaching staff has placed an emphasis on flying to the football, a philosophy that is predicated on allowing players to play freely within the scheme. The Bears are hopeful that this will lead to more turnovers, providing a much-needed spark that the defense could need throughout the season.
Everything remains as a work in progress for the Bears but the defense appears to be coming together much quicker than anyone expected.