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USA Today
7 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Chicago Bears training camp: Takeaways from Day 2
The Chicago Bears were back at Halas Hall for the second practice of training camp on Thursday, where it was another rough day for the offense. During Thursday's closed practice, the offense had another shaky workout marred by pre-snap issues that plagued them on Day 1 and need to be ironed out this summer. It's certainly no reason to panic at this point of training camp, and this is why practice is important to hammer out issues before the season starts. Here's what we learned from the second practice of training camp, where the offense continues to struggle, the left tackle battle is heating up and some young players are taking advantage of opportunities. Another sloppy day for the offense It's been a rough start for the Bears offense to open training camp, as they had another rocky outing on Day 2. According to Courtney Cronin, there were some issues that had to be corrected -- again -- for the starters that included huddle procedure and getting lined up. Ben Johnson pulled the first-team offense on Wednesday for their struggles lining up, but it doesn't sound like that happened today. There were also issues with false starts and botched snaps, which 79th & Halas Podcast said wasn't "because defense looked good, it just looked like the offense was out of sync more than anything." It's not a cause for concern at this point of training camp, and it's to be expected as the offense learns a new scheme. But it's a reminder that it's going to take some time for things to get going. Kiran Amegadjie gets crack with first-team offense The Bears have made it clear that the starting left tackle job is up for grabs, and the competition continued into the second day of training camp. After rookie Ozzy Trapilo got most of the reps with the starters, it was Kiran Amegadjie's turn on Thursday. But it's worth noting that Braxton Jones, the three-year starter, is still ramping up and he was with the first team during install before Amegadjie stepped in during drills. Jones' experience will no doubt help him -- and it seems like it could be his job to lose -- but this battle is far from over, especially as the pads have yet to come on. Kyle Monangai was a standout player The Bears didn't take a major swing at running back this offseason, but they might've found a hidden gem in seventh-round rookie Kyle Monangai, who's currently third on the depth chart behind D'Andre Swift and Roschon Johnson. Monangai was a standout player for Chicago during Thursday's practice, where he had a long run that included a juke move at the end to pick up some extra yards. According to Alex Shapiro, Monangai also got a little work with the first-team offense. Courtney Cronin said that Monangai and last year's "Hard Knocks" star Ian Wheeler are in competition for fastest player, noting "both had moments where they turned on the jets today." For Monangai , including a long run from Monangai during team. Tyson Bagent's turn with the second team The Bears have an open competition at backup quarterback between journeyman Case Keenum and third-year pro Tyson Bagent. Keenum was signed to serve as a mentor for starter Caleb Williams, but he's also a strong candidate for the QB2 role. While Keenum got second-team reps during the offseason program and on Day 1 of training camp, it was Bagent's turn with the backups on Thursday while Keenum worked with the third team. Expect this rotation to continue throughout camp and into the preseason. Noah Sewell continues as third linebacker Another position battle brewing this summer comes at the third linebacker spot between Noah Sewell and fourth-round rookie Ruben Hyppolite II. Hyppolite was a standout during veteran minicamp, and the battle between him and Sewell was deemed one to watch in training camp. Right now, it sounds like the job might be Sewell's to lose as Zack Pearson said Sewell continues to line up as the strong side linebacker alongside T.J. Edwards and Tremaine Edmunds. Nashon Wright getting work at CB2 with Jaylon Johnson sidelined The Bears are down Pro Bowl cornerback Jaylon Johnson, who suffered a leg injury while training away from the team. With Johnson sidelined, fifth-year veteran Nashon Wright has stepped up in his place. According to Alex Shapiro, Wright continues to work with the first-team defense alongside Tyrique Stevenson. It's an indication that Wright could very well have a chance to make the 53-man roster -- or perhaps find a spot elsewhere. Jaquan Brisker isn't wearing a guardian cap ESPN's Courtney Cronin had an interesting observation during Thursday's practice, where she noted that safety Jaquan Brisker hasn't been wearing a guardian cap. Cronin noted that some defensive backs and wide receivers are wearing the guardian caps, but not all. Brisker notably missed most of last season with his third concussion in as many seasons, so you'd expect Brisker to be donning one as an extra layer of protection. But it could be because the pads have yet to come on. It's definitely something worth monitoring heading into the remainder of the summer. Brisker is entering a contract year where he'll need to stay healthy for an entire season -- something he's yet to do in three seasons. Luther Burden III is day-to-day with soft tissue injury, other injury updates The Bears don't have a long injury report at this point of training camp, but rookie wide receiver Luther Burden III was a surprising addition on Day 1. The expectation was he was recovered from the soft tissue injury suffered during rookie minicamp -- which forced him to miss OTAs and minicamp -- but that's not the case. Head coach Ben Johnson provided an update before Thursday's practice noting that Burden is day-to-day with his soft tissue injury, which is believed to be a hamstring. But the good news is that it doesn't sound like anything serious. Elsewhere, rookie defensive tackle Shemar Turner injured his ankle during Wednesday's practice and didn't participate Thursday. Rookie cornerback Zah Frazier was excused from practice for personal reasons. Olamide Zaccheaus had a scare at the end of practice The Bears are hoping to avoid injuries during practice, and there was a scary moment involving wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus near the end of practice. According to Brad Biggs, newly-signed cornerback Tre Flowers put a big hit on Zaccheaus, who was down for a little bit before getting back up.
USA Today
14-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
5 under-the-radar Bears players to watch on offense in training camp
The Chicago Bears are gearing up for the start of training camp, where first-year head coach Ben Johnson will prepare his team ready for the 2025 season. The Bears have a number of players on offense who will be the focal point of fans and analysts alike, most notably quarterback Caleb Williams, running back D'Andre Swift, wide receivers DJ Moore, Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III, as well as tight ends Cole Kmet and Colston Loveland and Chicago's revamped offensive line. But there are also some players flying under the radar heading into the summer who bear watching. With that in mind, here are five under-the-radar players on offense to watch during training camp: RB Kyle Monangai D'Andre Swift and Roschon Johnson are entrenched as Chicago's top two running backs right now, but seventh-round rookie Kyle Monangai could shake things up with a strong training camp. Monangai was one of the standout players from the offseason, and he enters his rookie season with the opportunity to compete for significant reps in a Bears run game that needs a boost. Monangai has impressive contact balance and embraces his reps in pass protection. A notable stat: Monangai has zero career fumbles in 670 attempts, per Pro Football Focus. WR Devin Duvernay The Bears have no shortage of wide receivers that will be the focus on offense, including returning veterans DJ Moore and Rome Odunze, along with rookie Luther Burden III. But one wideout who had an impressive offseason and could turn waves in training camp is veteran Devin Duvernay. The former All-Pro and Pro Bowler is in position to be the starting kick returner, which could be huge for Richard Hightower's special teams, and should be a weapon for head coach Ben Johnson on offense. OT Kiran Amegadjie The Bears have a battle brewing for the starting left tackle job as incumbent Braxton Jones remains sidelined after a broken fibula. In Jones' absence, it's been rookie Ozzy Trapilo and second-year pro Kiran Amegadjie rotating with the starting offense at left tackle. While the battle for left tackle feels like it could come down to Jones or Trapilo, Amegadjie is nothing to shake your head out. While he was thrown to the wolves as a rookie, he's had an offseason to prepare and should be a real contender for the left tackle job. TE Joel Wilson Joel Wilson probably isn't going to make the 53-man roster. And that's not counting him out, rather the Bears already have a loaded tight end group and just three roster spots up for grabs, which will go to rookie Colston Loveland, Cole Kmet and Durham Smythe, a proven blocker who previously played for Ben Johnson in Miami. With that said, Wilson has plenty to gain this summer as he contends for a spot on the practice squad or another roster. Wilson was one of the players mentioned by Johnson as the biggest standouts from minicamp, so he's someone to watch in training camp. QB Tyson Bagent For the first time since his rookie season, quarterback Tyson Bagent will be fighting for a roster spot come training camp. While Bagent has been the backup quarterback for his first two seasons, the former undrafted free agent could be unseated by veteran Case Keenum, who was signed to a one-year deal this offseason. Keenum took reps with the second-team offense throughout the offseason program, which certainly seems to indicate he's the favorite for the QB2 role. Bagent has a lot to prove if he hopes to usurp Keenum or give Chicago a reason to carry three quarterbacks on the roster. Follow Bears Wire on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
USA Today
05-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
D'Andre Swift shares first impression of Bears rookie Kyle Monangai
D'Andre Swift shares first impression of Bears rookie Kyle Monangai The Chicago Bears didn't make any major moves at running back this offseason, with the only addition coming with the selection of Kyle Monangai out of Rutgers in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL draft. Adding Monangai to the running back room, which will feature new position coach Eric Bieniemy, brings plenty of eyes and attention to every running back on the roster, especially D'Andre Swift. In what many, including himself, felt was a disappointing 2024 season, Swift not only vows to bounce back, but is also ready to be a mentor for his rookie teammate. Swift had high praise for Monangai, a two-time All-Big Ten selection in 2023 and 2024, and what he's done so far this offseason. "Real good, really good. Really excited for him," Swift said. "Very talented, very talented. He's cool, and he's from Jersey. I'm from Philly, he's from Jersey, so close. But he's been really good so far, excited for him." While there could be an opportunity to crack into the rotation as a rookie, it's equally as important to see the veteran Swift speak highly of him early in the offseason program. With Swift, Roschon Johnson, and Monangai, head coach Ben Johnson will have plenty of options and opportunities to utilize all three backs, who all have a different style of play and running ability. Follow Bears Wire on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
New York Times
14-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Defining short- and long-term expectations for the Bears' Day 3 draft picks
LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Running back Kyle Monangai, the Chicago Bears' seventh-round pick this year, knows his film includes highlights of linebacker Ruben Hyppolite II, a new teammate from Maryland. They simply played against each other a lot in the Big Ten. 'I'm sure if we looked, it's going to be a lot of just him-and-I collisions,' Monangai said, smiling. 'I hope I won most of them.' Advertisement The Bears' selection of Hyppolite in the fourth round seemingly surprised many. He didn't participate in the NFL combine or Senior Bowl. But Monangai knows what the Bears have in Hyppolite. 'Him being around me, that's what I remember,' Monangai said. 'At Maryland, I saw him every year. Me and Ruben know each other well on the field, obviously. Now we get to know each other off the field. Great player, great linebacker. We've met a lot of times in that hole.' Both players will have opportunities to play for the Bears early on this season. This is Part 2 of my annual look at the short- and long-term expectations of the Bears' 2025 NFL Draft class. (You can find Part 1 on the Bears' first four picks below.) Round 4, No. 132 pick Where he fits in 2025: Jobs can't be won in the spring in shorts. Coach Ben Johnson said that, and others have repeated his message. But there is a wide-open competition at strongside linebacker in the Bears' base defense. Hyppolite is in that mix along with Noah Sewell, Carl Jones and Amen Ogbongbemiga. 'The No. 1 thing is he can run,' defensive coordinator Dennis Allen said of Hyppolite. 'The things that we're going to have to ask our 'backers to have to do, they've got to be able to match up with tight ends, with running backs at times. They've got to be able to match up with wide receivers; sometimes that's carrying things vertical down the field. We're looking for guys that can run, and then we're looking for guys that have a physical mentality, physical demeanor. I felt like he exhibited those things on tape.' Hyppolite can fly. He ran the 40 in 4.39 seconds at Maryland's pro day. His time would have been first among linebackers at the combine if he had attended. His speed should help him secure a place on special teams but also as the top backup behind T.J. Edwards and Tremaine Edmunds. The Bears are teaching him the responsibilities of all three linebacker spots. Advertisement 'I played mike and will in college,' Hyppolite said. 'We had a great (defensive) line my entire career there, so the big boys ate a lot when I was playing. It was just about me being a leader and going out there and playing, doing my best, doing my job. When the plays came, they came. I made the plays. Now, just looking forward, I look to make a lot of plays and get a lot of opportunities to do so. That's where my head's at now.' .@rubenknows1 gettin' after it 💪 — Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) May 11, 2025 Where he fits in the long term: Speed is important. But it's not everything. What Edwards lacks in speed, he makes up for with instincts and smarts. He went undrafted out of Wisconsin but is in his seventh NFL season and on his third contract. Production matters. 'Obviously, T.J. has earned his keep,' Hyppolite said. 'Tremaine has earned his keep. I'm just here to learn. … I got great vets in the room. I'm grateful for that, and I just want to pick their brains, have them coach me up, and we go forward from there.' The floor for Hyppolite seems to be as a special-teamer. His speed is needed there. But there are reasons he wasn't invited to the combine and Senior Bowl. He's thankful for the Bears' belief in him, but he also feels slighted by others. That could benefit the Bears. 'I just love my story for anyone who's out there who thinks that they need things like the combine, things like a Senior Bowl invite, who thinks that they need those things to get drafted,' he said. 'You don't. You just got to put your best foot forward. You got to run fast. And you've just got to be your best self every day, and I feel like I'm showing that.' Hyppolite won over Allen and the Bears during his visit to Halas Hall before the draft. 'I'll tell you what I did learn is that he's very mature and he's very business-oriented,' Allen said. 'He's got his life together off the field, which is going to allow him to be able to focus on the field with the football. There's not going to be a lot of outside distractions with this guy, and I think that's a positive. I think he's going to be a guy that's going to learn how to be a pro really quickly because of that maturity level. Advertisement Round 5, No. 169 pick Where he fits in 2025: The Bears appear set at cornerback with Jaylon Johnson, Tyrique Stevenson and Terell Smith. How well Stevenson bounces back from last season and fits in with Allen calling the defense will be a storyline throughout the year. So it's difficult to see where Frazier fits in the early going beyond earning a special teams role. Allen described Frazier as a 'young, developmental corner.' But he also sees some of Al Harris in Frazier. Harris is the Bears' defensive backs coach/passing game coordinator. He played 14 years in the NFL, including seven years with the Green Bay Packers, earning Pro Bowl honors in 2007 and 2008. He began his career as a sixth-round pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1997. 'Who better to work with him than Al Harris?' Allen said. 'A guy that's got kind of a similar frame and played a long time in this league, had a lot of success. I think we're excited about getting the opportunity to work with him and seeing him grow.' Where he fits in the long term: Harris is more than a coach for Frazier. He's the one who helped put Frazier on the Bears' radar before the draft. He should get his opportunities to impress Allen, Johnson and general manager Ryan Poles because of it. At worst, it's safe to view Frazier as a long-term backup option. 'Being coached by (Harris) is really a blessing,' Frazier said. Harris' confidence in Frazier should be a factor this season and throughout his rookie contract. Harris is the one who envisioned Frazier as the long and fast cornerback who can handle the man coverage that Allen wants. And Frazier knows that. 'It definitely boosted my confidence because I got a coach that did it, too,' he said. 'So he's just going to give me the game. I can just add to my toolbox and be ready to work every day.' Advertisement Round 6, No. 195 pick Where he fits in 2025: It wouldn't be surprising if Newman is cut and signed to the practice squad after training camp. But it also wouldn't be surprising if Newman beats out Ryan Bates (who struggled to stay healthy last season) or Doug Kramer and becomes one of the Bears' interior reserves up front. The Bears appear to have a late-ascending player in Newman. He was a decorated left tackle at Holy Cross before transferring to Michigan State, where he started every game last season at left guard and faced better competition — players who have since been drafted — from Michigan, Ohio State and Oregon. Newman played left guard during rookie minicamp, which included time next to rookie tackle Ozzy Trapilo. But he seemingly wants the challenge of playing center. He has acknowledged that center fits his physical makeup. 'I really look forward to learning and adapting to center a lot more,' he said. Where he fits in the long term: The interior of the Bears' offensive line is set with left guard Joe Thuney, center Drew Dalman and right guard Jonah Jackson. Dalman and Jackson are signed through 2027, and an extension for Thuney is still expected at some point. For Newman, it's a great spot to develop, even if that's as a reserve for the foreseeable future with the Bears. 'I just want to see and learn how they handle themselves as a professional,' Newman said. 'Like, I want to see what those guys do for their bodies, their recovery. I want to see what they do nutrition-wise, what's right for them. I want to see how much time, what they're studying in the film room, what exactly they're looking at and what they're keying in on. And I just really want to learn how they handle themselves, really more off the field than on.' Round 7, No. 233 pick Advertisement Where he fits in 2025: Monangai's place on the roster is different from the Bears' other Day 3 picks. There's a role to be had immediately in Johnson's offense. D'Andre Swift remains the Bears' top back, but this appears to be a make-or-break year for running back Roschon Johnson. 'Adding Kyle to that mix is going to be awesome with the group that's in there, with Roschon and those guys,' offensive coordinator Declan Doyle said. 'Adding Kyle is a very positive thing, but I think that we're going to find out more about this group as we move forward.' The Bears also have Travis Homer and Ian Wheeler, but Johnson has the most to lose with the addition of Monangai. Homer's value is on special teams, and Wheeler, an undrafted signing last year, is returning from a torn ACL. It's only May, but Monangai has made an impression on the coaching staff. 'There are a lot of areas where we're going to have to coach him up,' Doyle said. 'He's a very physical player. He's very willing. And then, the best thing about him that translates is that he's a consummate pro. The last couple of days, we've been able to meet with these guys. He's front and center. He's taking notes. He's attentive. We're asking questions of the group, and he's answering. I think he's going to carry himself that way. I think that guys who do handle themselves that way give themselves a shot.' Where he fits in the long term: For now, Monangai can enjoy being a running back drafted by Johnson and Doyle. But that could change. Monangai's position is one the Bears will thoroughly evaluate every year. Johnson will always be looking for elite weapons. Monangai could be the Bears' No. 2 back in 2025, but two years later, he could be their No. 3 if the team drafts his replacement. Of course, how well Monangai plays in Johnson's offense will affect the perceived need at his position. 'I haven't thought about any roles or nothing,' Monangai said. 'I'm just trying to prove to the coaching staff, let them know that they made the right decision to bring me here.' (Top photo of Kyle Monangai: Michael Reaves / Getty Images)
USA Today
09-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Ruben Hyppolite: Bears teammate Kyle Monangai is best running back he's faced
Ruben Hyppolite: Bears teammate Kyle Monangai is best running back he's faced The Chicago Bears were expected to add a running back in the 2025 NFL draft, but they didn't do it until the seventh round with the selection of Kyle Monangai out of Rutgers. Monangai, who was named to the All-Big Ten team in 2023 and 2024, is a powerful runner who put himself among the best running backs in the conference, and he left a lasting impression on one of his new teammates and fellow rookies. Before they selected Monangai in the seventh round, the Bears drafted Maryland linebacker Ruben Hyppolite in the fourth round. Having gone against Monangai in their college careers -- both playing in the Big Ten -- Hyppolite had high praise for his new teammate, calling him the best running back he's ever faced. "I tell everybody that he's the best running back I faced in my career in the Big Ten," Hyppolite told the CHGO Bears Podcast. "He has a great ability to run behind his pads, he's fast and slippery. He knows how to get through the holes and he knows how to finish runs, he's physical. When you look at him you don't really expect physicality with his size, when he runs the football you definitely feel it when you tackle him. I played him for about three, four years, so I had to see him every year, it was always a good battle." Both Monangai and Hyppolite will have a chance to earn playing time as rookies with competition at their respective positions. There's optimism about both rookies having a role in what should be a very competitive roster for new head coach Ben Johnson. Follow Bears Wire on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
