6 biggest questions entering Chicago Bears training camp

Chicago Bears training camp kicks off this week, with rookies reporting Saturday and veterans checking in on July 26. With the offseason in the rear-view mirror and real football about to take center stage, it’s time to look at six of the Bears’ biggest questions entering training camp.

Justin Fields’ development

The offseason chatter around second-year quarterback Justin Fields and the lack of help the Bears’ front office provided him in free agency and the 2022 NFL Draft was relentless. The fear, for some analysts, is Fields won’t progress at the same rate of his 2021 NFL draft classmates because of an inferior supporting class.

Perhaps, that’ll prove true. But more important than a big-money free agent wide receiver or early-round offensive lineman is Fields’ own development on the practice field. He’s learning a new offense under coordinator Luke Getsy. It’s one that should allow the receivers he does have — Darnell Mooney, Byron Pringle, Velus Jones Jr., N’Keal Harry, Equanimeous St. Brown — to make the most of their opportunities. But it’s an offense that will rely on Fields making quick decisions.

It’s one thing to critique a few bad throws or interceptions in offseason minicamp sessions (it’s ridiculous). It’s a different beast during training camp, where incremental improvements are a reasonable expectation. Remember: Don’t buy into overly positive or negative hype when it comes to a day or two of practice for Fields. Instead, focus on how he’s developing over time.

Nothing in training camp is more important than Fields taking a big step forward in his second season, as most successful quarterbacks tend to do. In a perfect world, Fields will stack a series of quality practices, week over week, in time for the Chicago Bears’ opener against the San Francisco 49ers on Sept. 11.

Will a No. 1 wide receiver please step up?

This heading should really say, “Can Darnell Mooney please shut everyone up?”. But that wouldn’t be polite. Mooney and the rest of the Chicago Bears receivers have been an easy target for bored football writers this offseason, but now that training camp has finally arrived, the roster of pass-catchers will get its turn at controlling the headlines.

Mooney, who’s bulked up to more than 180 pounds this offseason, has breakout star written all over him. From his work ethic to his natural skill set as a wide receiver, Mooney’s budding chemistry with Fields should be the cherry on top of what’s already an exciting combination of traits.

It would be unrealistic to say the Bears have a clear pecking order after Mooney, however. Pringle is expected to be the No. 2, and Jones Jr., despite being a rookie, appears destined to be the No. 3. The trade for Harry gives Chicago more size and physicality in the receiver room, and along with St. Brown, should provide some interesting options in the red zone for Fields.

An honest assessment of the receiver room reveals more questions than answers. A lot more. But if Mooney emerges as a true No. 1 this season, many of the concerns about the Bears’ offense will go away. There are plenty of teams around the league who rely on one primary go-to guy and a complement of characters around him. That could be what plays out in Chicago in 2022, and with Cole Kmet at tight end and a stable of quality pass-catching running backs too, the Bears’ offense has a chance to be OK.

Assuming, of course, Mooney steps up.

Who’s blocking for Justin Fields?

The Chicago Bears’ offensive line feels like a complete mess right now. The only thing we know for sure is that Lucas Patrick is starting at center and Cody Whitehair is the starting left guard. The left and right tackle jobs are up for grabs, and good luck trying to figure out who the right guard will be.

Offseason workouts closed with rookie Braxton Jones taking first-team reps at left tackle. Larry Borom, the expected favorite to be the starting left tackle, moved to the right side. Teven Jenkins, who everyone penciled as the starting right tackle, was bumped to second string. Coach Matt Eberflus emphasized all offseason not to read much into first and second teams. He said his coaching staff was tinkering with combinations along the offensive line in an effort to find the right starting five. But the fact that Jenkins, last year’s second-round pick, isn’t a lock to start in 2022 is a problem.

Winning football always will always depend on offensive and defensive line play. The Bears’ offensive line has a chance to be one of the worst — on paper — when the season starts. It doesn’t mean they’ll play like the worst, but even the diehard Bears fan can’t ignore how troubling the situation is right now.

Hopefully, Jones will prove to be a 2022 NFL Draft steal. Perhaps he emerges as the next All-Pro to come out of Day 3. It’s happened before, and the offensive line tends to be a position group that teams find success with later in the draft. It’s risky business to bet a season on a Day-3 pick, though.

If I was a gambling man, I’d predict the Chicago Bears will begin the 2022 season with this starting offensive line: Borom (LT), Whitehair (LG), Patrick (C), Zachary Thomas (RG), Jenkins (RT).

Chicago Bears training camp will provide all the answers we’re seeking.

Where’s the pass rush coming from?

Veteran Robert Quinn should be at training camp. We’ll have updates here on Bears Talk if he’s a no-show. Assuming he reports, he’ll be the primary pass-rusher for the Chicago Bears in 2022. But his career profile suggests he’s due for a significant regression in sacks this year after setting the club record with 18.5 last season. It’s fair to expect roughly half that number this year.

Assuming Quinn’s numbers drop, and without Khalil Mack opposite him in the starting lineup, the Bears need Trevis Gipson to live up to the offseason hype. I’m confident he will after breaking out with seven sacks in 2021, most of which came toward the end of the season.

Gipson has a pass-rusher’s mindset and a quality blend of burst and power off the edge. He’s relentless in his pursuit of the quarterback. He should be unlocked by Eberflus’ defense, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he leads the Bears in sacks this year. He almost has to, because the options behind him are light.

Chicago signed Al-Quadin Muhammad in free agency and drafted Dominique Robinson in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Muhammad has experience in Eberflus defense after beginning his career with the Indianapolis Colts, and Robinson has the athletic profile to be a mismatch against opposing offensive tackles. But until we see them in action this summer, it’s hard to say what kind of impact they’ll have in 2022.

Quinn and Gipson have to lead the way. Muhammad, in a perfect world, will emerge as a quality third guy in a rotation while Robinson gets meaningful reps in a developmental year.

Will the rookie defensive backs live up to the hype?

The Chicago Bears spent two second-round picks on defensive backs — cornerback Kyler Gordon and safety Jaquan Brisker. Both are expected to start at some point in the 2022 season, if not right away in Week 1.

We should learn early in training camp whether the rookie defenders are as good as advertised. It doesn’t take long for rookies to emerge in practice settings. Safety Eddie Jackson proved quickly as a rookie that he was an obvious starter despite being a fourth-round pick.

Veteran Jaylon Johnson is a lock to be one of the Bears’ starting cornerbacks. Gordon is the favorite to be the other, but he’ll have some competition from players like Thomas Graham Jr. (who as of now is the favorite to be the nickel back) and Tavon Young, who also profiles more as slot guy. It’s Gordon’s job to lose.

Brisker, meanwhile, will square off against veterans DeAndre Houston-Carson and Dane Cruikshank for reps, but neither appears to be a strong threat to his starting chances. Brisker is the best fit to play strong safety opposite Jackson in what has the makings of being an exciting secondary in 2022.

Excitement on paper has to translate to playmaking on the field, and all eyes will be on the rookies to prove they belong as first-teamers.

How quickly will Bears players take to new coaching staff?

Eberflus, Getsy, and defensive coordinator Alan Williams are charged with rebuilding a culture that crumbled under former coach Matt Nagy and his cast of misfit assistants. As is the case with any regime change — and a complete overhaul of offensive and defensive systems — growing pains are coming. But we’ll learn a lot about Eberflus and his staff by how quickly players buy into what he preaches. The faster the buy-in, the sooner the wins will come.

Eberflus is saying all the right things, and he’s carried himself like a seasoned head coach in just his first offseason on the job. He’s been a breath of fresh air for the players and media alike. And the locker room appears like it’s already all-in with Coach “Flus.