Recapping the Bears First Week of OTAs
The Chicago Bears were back in action this week for their first OTAs of the offseason.
We got to see Ben Johnson on the practice field for the first time, showcasing his intensity. Jaquan Brisker is finally back and ready to roll.
Kiran Amegadjie started at left tackle with an absent Braxton Jones. And the battle for QB2 is officially underway.
In this article, I’ll update you on everything that took place during the first week of OTAs and the top storylines surrounding the Chicago Bears.
First Look At Ben Johnson
Bears fans have been licking their chops to see Ben Johnson’s coaching ability in action. While we’ll have to wait for the full Ben Johnson experience until Week 1, we did get our first glimpse of who he is as a head coach and how he operates during practice.
Johnson displayed intensity during his first week of OTAs. He was demanding and wasn’t afraid to stop practice and call somebody out. The Bears’ media recalled Johnson stopping practice to yell at Cole Kmet and tell him that he was lined up wrong.
Bears veteran safety Kevin Byard gave his initial thoughts on Ben Johnson as a head coach, saying:
“The intensity level of Ben Johnson is very evident.”
Byard went on to say, “He’s stopping practice. You can definitely hear him out there.”
Nicholas Moreano, a Bears reporter covering the team for The Bigs, said that Johnson had to blow the whistle several times to correct things. Moreano also said that if something was off, Johnson wouldn’t let it slide.
It’s still early in the process, but it’s a breath of fresh air having a head coach who holds his players accountable.
Jaquan Brisker is Back!
Jaquan Brisker has dealt with multiple concussions and head injuries during his short tenure in the NFL. Last year, Brisker missed 12 games with a concussion injury he suffered in Week 5 against the Panthers. It’s unusual for a player to miss so much time for a concussion, so fans began to worry.
Worry no more, because Jaquan Brisker is back for OTAs. He was spotted on the field by multiple members of the Bears media, and looks to be 100%. Brisker is one of the vocal leaders on the Bears’ defense and is a rising star in the NFL.
Following the first day of OTAs, Brisker tweeted:
“Ayo, I’m really BACK! It’s amazing actually. No Comparisons. I’m the Standard.”
It’s great to see a fan-favorite back on the field. His energy and dynamic play will be critical for the Bears’ defense.
Kiran Amegadjie Gets Starting Nod at Left Tackle
PHOTO: David Banks/Imagn Images
While presumed starting left tackle Braxton Jones nurses an ankle injury, the competition for the starting spot is wide open. Second-year tackle Kiran Amegadjie earned reps with the first team during OTAs. The young tackle from Yale didn’t play much last season, but when he did, he struggled. Now he’s fighting for the starting job.
The Bears drafted Boston College OT Ozzy Trapilo in the second round of this year’s draft, and he will get some looks as well. But for right now, Trapilo is running with the second team while Amegadjie starts.
It’ll be interesting to see how the left tackle battle shakes up. I assume when Jones returns, it’ll be his spot to lose, but you can’t rule out Amegadjie.
Battle for Backup QB
During the first week of OTAs, quarterbacks Tyson Bagent and Case Keenum split reps with the second team. The Bears signed Keenum in the offseason to provide some experience for their quarterback room. His 11 seasons in the NFL will be vital in helping Caleb Williams develop. Now he battles with young quarterback Tyson Bagent for the backup spot.
Bagent was an UDFA from a couple of years ago. The Bears took a chance on him, and he’s run with the backup job for the past two seasons. I anticipate Bagent will be the team’s QB2 come September, but Keenum’s experience and leadership give him a compelling case to be the guy.
Rome Odunze Impresses
In Ben Johnson’s press conference on day two of OTAs, he was asked if he was impressed with Rome Odunze.
Johnson responded:
“Yeah, I’m extremely impressed with Rome. To be a second-year guy, you would expect a little more inconsistency.”
Johnson went on to say: “The way he approaches the meeting room, the walk-throughs, the drill work, it’s very much like a seasoned pro.”
Ben Johnson likes what he sees from Rome Oduzne, so hopefully, we get to see him in a bigger role next season. Odunze caught 54 balls for 734 yards and three touchdowns in his rookie season. Expect that role to expand without Keenan Allen, and with the trust from his head coach.
Caleb Williams Doesn’t Speak With Reporters
The news that was heard around the world last week was the story about Caleb Williams trying to avoid being drafted by the Bears. With press conferences looming for OTAs, everyone expected Williams to speak to the media. However, he was not available. It would have been nice for the QB to clear the air and put these annoying opinions to rest.
I’m tired of people harping on Williams for wanting to do something valid, because the Bears were truly a dumpster fire. There’s no way I would want to play somewhere with zero success at the position I play. Ultimately, Williams decided he wanted to join the Bears. He wanted to do it for Chicago.
Ben Johnson jumped on the story last week and gave his two cents.
When discussing the news, Johnson said:
“And just to get out in front of that a little bit, I just wanted to say I wasn’t here last year. So I can’t speak too much in terms of what it was like before he got here and when he got here last year.”
Johnson added, “But from my four months on the job, he has been outstanding to work with, and we are focusing on getting a little better every day.”
Ben Johnson isn’t worried about what Caleb Williams wanted to do before the draft. It’s about the here and now, because there’s no sense in trying to change the past.
All that matters now is that Caleb Williams is a Chicago Bear, and he loves being a Chicago Bear. Why else would he end every press conference with a subtle, “DA Bears.”
Other Notable Storylines
- Kyle Monangai RB2? Rookie running back Kyle Monangai was seen getting the second-string handoffs behind D’Andre Swift. Caleb Williams hands the ball off to the first and second string backs, and Monangai was the #2. I expected this to be the case by Week 1, but I didn’t expect Monangai to jump up the depth chart this early.
- Luther Burden Sits Out With Injury – Rookie receiver Luther Burden sat out on day 2 of OTAs with a soft-tissue injury. I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about, but we’ll keep an eye on it going forward.
- Dennis Allen’s Tight Coverage On Display – Bears reporter Herb Howard with The Bigs tweeted that the corners have been playing press coverage often. He mentioned it was fun to watch Jaylon Johnson press up on D.J. Moore. It sounds like Dennis Allen will be bringing some tight coverage to Chicago, which will be a big change to Eberflus’ conservative defense.
The Bears have concluded their first session of OTAs, marking the beginning of the offseason football period.
Ben Johnson showcased his intensity. Rome Odunze has been impressive. Kiran Amagedjie took reps as the starting left tackle. And the battle between Bagent and Keenum is on.
There will be plenty of storylines and hype throughout the Bears’ offseason.
Let’s just hope that hype can translate on the field.
PHOTO: David Banks/Imagn Images
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