What have we learned from Chicago Bears training camp?

Training camp is just about over for the Chicago Bears, and their first preseason game of the 2023 season kicks off this weekend against the Tennesee Titans.

While it’s a good rule of thumb not to overreact to training camp practices and the news from the media and fans in attendance, that doesn’t mean there’s nothing we can take away from the past few weeks.

With that in mind, here’s what I think Bears fans can say they’ve learned about this team and specific players so far.

The 2023 Chicago Bears defense is not the 2022 defense.

While nothing is certain yet, the unofficial depth chart was released last week and showed six new starters on defense. While the unit still has a long way to go, it’s clear that this will not be the same defense that gave up 34 points per game after the trade deadline or managed a paltry 20 total sacks in 17 games.

Despite a slow start to camp, the defense retaliated over the past week and gave the offense some fits. The secondary looks like a takeaway machine, and the run defense should pull a complete 180 after last year’s historically awful results.

While the more high-powered offenses like Cincinnati or Kansas City won’t yet fear Chicago’s defense, I think it’s reasonable to assume that side of the ball will take a massive step forward.

Chase Claypool is all business.

Claypool caught unwarranted fire this offseason while indulging in hobbies and side hustles between OTA’s and training camp. Media and fans questioned his desire to be great and whether he would work to develop chemistry with Fields.

It took all of one week to put such ridiculous rumors to bed. Besides DJ Moore, Claypool may have been the most impactful receiver in camp this year. Yes, even more so than Darnell Mooney.

He left practice on Wednesday with what appeared to be a hamstring cramp. Assuming he’s healthy for the start of the season, he seems poised for a major breakout year.

The amazing Kyler Gordon.

“Spider-man,” as teammates and coaches now call him, Kyler Gordon has made a big impression in training camp this year. He followed up an abysmal start to his career in 2022 with a decent stretch over the last eight games, but there was still a long way to go for the young cornerback.

Fast forward to today, and if there’s anyone on this roster more likely for a significant bounce-back season than Claypool, it’s Gordon.

Gordon has been all over the field, making plays at every level. He’s getting takeaways, breaking up passes, denying passing lanes, and even coming down to the line of scrimmage to stuff running backs for no gain.

Gordon looks more confident in Year 2, and if he can be coached up to his full potential, the Bears may have one of the best secondaries in the NFL.

DJ Moore may be the most talented receiver to don the Navy and Orange.

A similar lack of star wide receivers goes hand-in-hand with Chicago’s embarrassing history of futility at the quarterback position.

Enter DJ Moore.

Chicago fans expected the young receiver to boost the offense significantly, no one expected Moore to immediately have the kind of chemistry with Justin Fields usually reserved for longtime teammates. Every day in practice has produced multiple highlight reel moments.

And Moore is still just 26 years old, a guy just now entering his prime years. With three years left on his contract, he’ll be a Chicago Bears for a long time.

Johnny Morris holds the current franchise record for receiving yards in a Bears career. He racked up a “whopping” 5,059 yards between 1958-1967. Don’t be surprised if Moore shatters that record before his time in Chicago ends.