The Chicago Bears are two weeks into their training camp. The players have been practicing and hitting each other, trying to impress the coaching staff. However, they get to hit other players in just a couple of days. Their preseason begins this Saturday, August 12th, against the Tennessee Titans.
With a new roster comes a lot of battles. Battles to win a starting job, a reserve role, and just a roster spot. The players are trying to put their best foot forward.
For some of those players, things are a struggle. They just haven’t been able to get in the flow. There is some time left, however, for them to turn things around.
For others, though, they have been flying high. Some of them already have their spot secured so they are going out there and letting it fly. Others are stepping up with the competition.
Having a great camp leads to having a great preseason, no matter how much you play. That then leads to a lot of confidence going into the regular season. They can take that momentum and carry it over and have a great season.
For the Chicago Bears, there are several players who have had a great camp so far. They are playing great and look like they are in mid-season form. They are leading the way so the other players can try to match their vibe.
For these players, the start of the preseason makes it a step closer to the start of the regular season on September 10th. This is the day they can’t wait to arrive.
Here are five of the players who are the most impressive in training camp so far.
Chicago Bears: 5 most impressive players in camp so far
Darnell Wright, Offensive Line
Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles made acquiring an offensive lineman to help protect quarterback Justin Fields. The team expects a lot from Fields but he needs to be upright to succeed.
The last two seasons have been a struggle for the offensive line. The unit gave up 116 sacks in those seasons. Fields took 91 of those.
Poles signed free agent Nate Davis to fortify the interior of the line. When the draft came along, though, there was still a need on the edge, at right tackle.
Poles then drafted Darnell Wright. The Tennessee product had a successful career in college. He shut down a lot of the top players in the SEC, arguably the best conference in the nation.
Going up against the best players of the nation and shutting them down impressed the Bears, as well as the rest of the NFL. Poles selected Wright with the tenth pick after trading down one spot and acquiring another draft pick.
So far, Wright has been very impressive in camp. He is a mammoth guy at 6-foot-6, 335 pounds. Despite that size, he is incredibly quick and agile.
Wright’s quickness and agility probably got even better over the offseason. He accidentally ran the wide receivers conditioning program so he started camp in the best shape of his life. He was ready to roll.
Wright’s ability has impressed his coaches and teammates. One of the things he does so well is recovering once he gets beat. He can get back to the defender and still win the battle. Center and captain of the offensive line, Cody Whitehair noted how Wright “looks the part” with his size yet his footwork is incredible.
Guard Teven Jenkins is amazed by Wright.
"That’s phenomenal the way he does it (recover). It’s just mind-blowing. I haven’t seen it in all my years of playing, the way he’s able to get into football positions after being all out of sorts."
Of course, being a rookie Wright will have his ups and downs. There have been times he looked like a rookie. For the most part, however, he has been killing it in training camp.
Chicago Bears: 5 most impressive players in camp so far
Jaquan Brisker, Safety
Jaquan Brisker was one of the bright spots on an otherwise dismal 2022 season. He was the Chicago Bears’ second-round pick. As soon as he took the field he looked like a veteran in his prime.
A couple of injuries slowed him down. Despite that, he led the defense in sacks (which tells you how bad the team was).
While the Bears and the fans were ecstatic with Brisker, he wasn’t happy with his performance. He felt he did not recover quickly enough from his injuries. He sounded like he was downright upset with his performance.
Well, in training camp he is playing lights out. He is playing like someone who wants to make a statement.
In camp, Brisker consistently finds himself around the ball. He’s been there to make stops and separate the ball from the ball carrier.
There are more expectations for Brisker this season. Sports Illustrated’s Bill Barnwell predicts Brisker to have a breakout, Pro Bowl season as early as this year.
"In what amounted to a teaching season for coach Matt Eberflus with the Bears, Brisker was the new coach’s most promising pupil…The hope is that he ends up looking something like Chicago’s version of Jamal Adams as a player who can use his instincts, timing, and toughness to make game-changing plays. Brisker can be a cornerstone piece for Chicago as early as this season if he stays healthy."
Brisker is looking to be considered an elite safety in the NFL. So far in camp, he is doing just that.
Chicago Bears: 5 most impressive players in camp so far
Kyler Gordon, Cornerback
Kyler Gordon was the other second-round pick the Chicago Bears had last season. The front office made the secondary, especially the cornerback spot, a priority. The NFL is a passing league so a defense needs to defend the pass well.
Gordon had an up-and-down rookie season. While Brisker came in and looked natural from the start, Gordon looked like a rookie, especially early on. He tried to play too fast and could not slow things down. That led to him getting burned a few times.
Gordon did improve as the season progressed, however. He looked more comfortable later in the season. In fact, he had two interceptions in his final three games.
Gordon especially looked comfortable playing in the slot. He could do more there and could handle the bigger receivers and tight ends there.
So far in training camp, Gordon is picking up where he left off last season. He has been able to record interceptions, break up passes, and make plays in the backfield. Having him in the backfield will help with the defense’s success.
Additionally, Gordon has been able to switch from the slot to the outside. He gives defensive coordinator Alan Williams some flexibility. Williams can move him around and use different schemes.
Gordon has been able to slow things down this year. He is very comfortable now and is making big plays in camp.
Chicago Bears: 5 most impressive players in camp so far
DJ Moore, Wide Receiver
The biggest move the Chicago Bears made this offseason was trading the number one overall pick in the draft. Poles pulled the trigger on a deal that sent that pick to the Carolina Panthers for the ninth pick, the 61st pick, a 2024 first-round pick, and a 2025 second-round pick.
Oh, and Poles insisted on having elite wide receiver D.J. Moore involved as well. Despite the Panthers’ reluctance, they eventually agreed.
Now Fields has a bona fide WR1 to target. He has a receiver who can make all the catches and make big plays.
So far in camp, Moore has been even better than advertised. He and Fields created good chemistry right away and gave the team a lot of hope for the season.
Moore’s work ethic has also impressed many people, especially his younger teammates. They see him with a huge contract and already considered one of the best wide receivers in the league still working like he is a rookie trying to make the team.
Rookie receiver Tyler Scott sees the results of Moore’s hard work. He is amazed at how Moore runs routes and makes the plays look easy.
"D.J. Moore, obviously, being a teammate, he — man — he’s everything advertised and more. Like he plays with such a calmness to him. Just the control to him."
Scott said he wants to pattern his game to how Moore approaches it.
In camp, Moore has been exceptional. It does not matter if the ball is thrown high, low, too wide, or behind him, he will make the catch more times than not. His body control is incredible.
Moore’s play is making the hype grow even more. We cannot wait until the regular season begins and he continues to impress.
Chicago Bears: 5 most impressive players in camp so far
Justin Fields, Quarterback
Fields has a lot of pressure on his shoulders. The fate of the Chicago Bears seems to be entrenched in his play. So far, however, he is responding to the challenge.
Fields has looked more confident. He has the confidence in his receivers to make plays so he will attempt more difficult passes. Additionally, he has more confidence that he has a good handle of offensive coordinator Luke Getsy’s offensive system.
There were many times last season when Fields should have made a throw but he did not think his receiver could make the play. He saw the times that his receivers dropped key third down plays. Also, there were times when the receiver got a hand on the pass, was not able to bring it in, and allowed the defender to make the interception.
He does not have to worry much about that now. He is threading the needle, knowing that his receiver will make the play. More often than not, the receiver is indeed making the play.
Fields is improving each day. He is forming good chemistry not only with Moore but also with the other receivers, tight ends, and running backs. He is running the system well and making the correct calls. Furthermore, Fields is having great conversations with Getsy. He has to have some trust with Getsy to make things work. He is doing just that.
Fields’ teammates notice how he is taking control of the offense. Moore spoke about it.
"You just see it. He’s making checks on his own. He’s doing a lot of different things off-script that they say he didn’t do last year. I’m seeing positives from him."
Fields is still not a finished product of course. Still, he is improving and has plenty of time to get even better.
If Fields is able to carry his momentum into the end of camp and into the regular season, Chicago Bears fans will be extremely happy in 2023.