Bears training camp: 3 Players who will turn heads in Chicago

1. Riley Ridley, Wide Receiver

The Chicago Bears worked on fixing the wide receivers unit. Aside from Allen Robinson and Anthony Miller (after a slow start), and Taylor Gabriel for one game against Washington, there weren’t enough catches.

The Bears cut Gabriel and signed free agent Ted Ginn and drafted Darnell Mooney. They also have someone on the roster who is ready to break out — second-year player Riley Ridley.

Ridley was the Bears’ fourth-round draft pick (126th overall) last year. He played sparingly last season. It wasn’t until Week 13 when he finally got into a game. He finished the season with 6 catches for 69 yards. Of those, 3 catches for 54 yards came in the Bears’ season finale against the Minnesota Vikings.

Ridley has the ability to remind the fans of another pretty good receiver — Alshon Jeffery. Ridley runs very good routes and has great hands. He also has amazing body control and can contort that body to make the toughest catches. Additionally, he doesn’t have an injury history.

Ridley has already impressed the wide receivers coach, Mike Furrey. Furrey expects an impressive season from Ridley in 2020, per Bears Wire:

"The biggest growth we’re going to see with anybody in our room is going to be Riley Ridley. His preparation right now, his attitude, his desire, the passion he has to become successful in this game, he loves the process. And I believe when you love the process, it’s going to be successful."

Many expect Ginn to start the season as the outside receiver opposite of Robinson but Ridley will impress the coaches enough to earn that starting spot. Ginn is a speedster who will extend defenses but his hands aren’t as good as Ridley’s. Ginn is a one-trick pony while Ridley is a more complete receiver.

With Ginn and the other speedster Mooney opening up defenses, the other receivers will have more space to work. Ridley will have a big training camp and help Robinson and Miller during the regular season.