Bears DC Alan Williams highlights benefits of players attending voluntary OTA sessions

The Chicago Bears are in their second phase of OTA sessions this week (May 30 – June 1), and, of course, one of the major storylines coming from the voluntary sessions is the absence of starting cornerback Jaylon Johnson, who remains away from the team.

Defensive coordinator Alan Williams met with the media Wednesday and offered little insight into Johnson’s continued no-show.

“Can I say no comment? Ya know what, I’m going to say no comment,” Williams said.

Johnson didn’t appear for the team’s first three OTAs earlier this month, and his choice to sit out this week only adds to the speculation that a contract dispute is coming.

Williams chose not to get into the business side of attending OTAs but did offer a few thoughts about why players benefit from the extra on-field work.

“We would love all our guys to be out there. But the way football is right now, it is optional, and I want the guys to be out there because I do feel that we bring value. I think we have the best coaching staff in the world, the best training staff, the best strength and conditioning staff. We have the best dietician. I think we have the best of everything here.

‘So I want guys to be here. But it is voluntary. So with that in mind, any of the players, it’s they have to make a choice of whether they’re here or not. And I love the guys that we … I love all my guys. The guys who are here? We’re going to coach them up and teach them. And be the best that we can be.”