Chicago Bears: 5 Burning questions for 2019 entering training camp

4. How strong is the tight ends unit?

Last season, there were high expectations for the tight ends. The Bears signed Trey Burton fresh off of his “Philly Special” notoriety and Super Bowl win over the New England Patriots. They also had second-year player Adam Shaheen who was ready for a breakout season.

While there was some success with the tight ends it was a mixed bag. Burton made 54 catches for 569 yards and six touchdowns. Shaheen, however, suffered another injury and played in only six games, recording just five catches for 48 yards and a touchdown.

Though Burton had a good season, he missed the playoff game which cost Trubisky a big red zone target. The injury was later announced to be a sports hernia. The injury still bothered Burton during the offseason so the Bears shut him down and he had surgery.

There was some worry that Burton might not be healthy enough for the start of training camp. The Bears announced he won’t be on the PUP (Physically Unable to Perform) list, so that is a big positive. Without him in the playoff game, the Bears offense struggled a bit. Now it’s a matter of how he looks after surgery.

Shaheen is also ready to go, but he missed 13 games in his two seasons. He looked good at training camp last season before suffering a foot injury that severely cut his season. He needs to stay healthy. He’s shown how valuable he can be when he is healthy. He just needs to stay on the field.

The Bears need some depth behind the starters. The coaches converted Bradley Sowell, a former offensive lineman, to a tight end. While he may eventually be in the mix, he is still just a project.

Chicago also signed undrafted rookie free agent Dax Raymond. They’ve been impressed with his performance during minicamps so he has a good chance of making the team.

The Bears might also be looking at the waiver wire to try to find added depth to the unit. If Burton and Shaheen stay healthy, though, this could be a strong point for the offense. Having good backups who can allow the starters proper rest would help them stay healthy.