Chicago

Bears

Loveland recently told reporters that “the plan” is for him to be ready for the start of training camp, citing “strength and mobility” as the two key factors that will determine his readiness to participate fully as he recovers from offseason shoulder surgery. Regarding the “mental side of things,” Loveland “has received rave reviews.” He also told reporters that he plans to host his own walkthroughs in order to further learn the playbook installations, in addition to (seemingly) participating in the live walkthroughs with the team. Bair thinks No. 2 TE “Cole Kmet will be heavily involved in this offense,” but clearly states that Loveland is the top receiving threat in this position group, and that he should contribute meaningfully to the Bears’ passing game productivity.

Dealing with a shoulder issue, Loveland was seen in a red non-contact jersey during Bears minicamp. The rookie has reportedly run routes and lifted weights, but hasn’t been given the green light to participate fully in Bears practices. “I think he’s going to fit in really well once we start getting him to go full speed,” Johnson said when asked about Loveland’s availability, adding that the rookie has taken mental reps in offseason practice sessions. Johnson is expected to use Loveland — the tenth overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft — along with Cole Kmet as key red zone targets for Caleb Williams. It remains to be seen if Loveland will have a full-time route-running role in 2025.

Bears rookies will return for one last organized team activities (OTAs) stretch next week, before the team’s month-plus break begins. Ideally, Burden returns and is able to re-establish himself as a must-start weapon in head coach Ben Johnson’s eyes. With Johnson’s reported intent to feature TEs Colston Loveland and Cole Kmet in 12 personnel groupings, Burden has given the once-dog-housed DJ Moore and second-year WR Rome Odunze a chance to box out the rookie. While Burden is likely at least lock up No. 3/slot receiver duties, gaining access to two-receiver sets is critical for immediate, impactful fantasy football successes. Burden has also not yet signed his rookie contract, and one wonders what else he could be prioritizing while sidelined. Stay tuned for Burden’s hopeful participation on Monday. Final rookie OTAs run from June 9-11.

Jones has been sidelined since undergoing surgery for the fractured ankle he suffered in Week 16 last year. Second-round rookie OT Ozzy Trapilo and 2024 third-round OT Kiran Amegadjie have been competing at left tackle during the team’s mandatory minicamp, though the Bears will allow all three to compete for the role in training camp. Head coach Ben Johnson stated the obvious by saying, “the No. 1 job of an offensive tackle, doesn’t matter right or left, is to pass protect... and everything we can get out of them in the run game will be gravy on top of it.” Though he notably adds that the same is true “for all five guys up front.” His former Lions’ line fielded two top-tier pass protectors in LT Taylor Decker and RT Penei Sewell, though they maintained a league-high neutral game run-play rate (51.6 percent) last year. He will likely employ a similar approach this season.

In an article by Adam Jahns at The Athletic, Jahns reports that Loveland was “spotted in uniform, accompanying staff members to other practice fields” on the third and final day of minicamp. It’s far from a return to practice, but according to Jahns, head coach Ben Johnson said, “at some point here in camp, we should get the green light” for Loveland to return to action. The Bears used the No. 10 overall pick in this year’s draft on Loveland, who underwent shoulder surgery earlier in the offseason. The former Michigan man should have a chance to unseat veteran Cole Kmet for the starting job this offseason and could have some sneaky fantasy upside after Johnson comped him to Lions tight end Sam LaPorta, who played under Johnson in Detroit.

The Bears drafted Monangai in the seventh round after a productive college career at Rutgers. Monangai is unproven as a pass-catcher but did establish himself as a proficient tackle-breaking rusher at the college level. If he continues to perform well, he could challenge Roschon Johnson for the No. 2 rushing role. Johnson also listed TE Joel Wilson, EDGE Dominique Robinson & LB Ruben Hyppolite as players who have impressed him thus far.

Asked about what role he’ll have in Ben Johnson’s offense, Moore said he wouldn’t know that until much later in the offseason. ‘‘Right now I don’t have goals because I’m still learning everything and I don’t even know if I’m going to touch the ball as much as I did some years or if I’m going to be used the same way,’’ said Moore, coming off his worst season as a pro during which he often displayed on-field frustration with Caleb Williams and a dysfunctional Chicago offense. Johnson has said the new Bears coaching staff has yet to determine roles for their various wideouts, including Moore. ‘‘We’re not necessarily putting guys and plugging them into certain spots and saying, ‘Stick and stay,’ ’’ Johnson said when asked about Moore’s slot usage. ‘‘We’re moving guys around. We’re getting a great feel this springtime of what guys can and can’t do.” Moore should be a viable top-24 fantasy wideout in 2025 if he remains the team’s top pass-catching option.

‘‘Just don’t do it,’’ Moore said Johnson told him. ‘‘Just keep it inside. Talk about it later. Just don’t put it on film. Don’t put it on TV.’’ Moore was spotted a handful of times in 2024 showing frustration and disappointment on the field as Caleb Williams struggled through his difficult rookie campaign. The body language issues came to a head in a Week 9 loss to the Cardinals, when Moore walked off the field and sat on the Chicago bench in the middle of a Williams scramble drill. Moore later said he had tweaked his ankle during the play. Moore said Bears coaches had reprimanded him about his body language during offseason practices, adding that he was determined to avoid further body language issues. Coming off a 2024 season that marked career lows in yards per reception and receiving success rate, Moore will look to bounce back in 2025 as the nominal WR1 in Johnson’s offense.

After the Bears chose not to trade up in the 2025 draft in pursuit of Ashton Jeanty, Swift appears to be the team’s No. 1 back headed into 2025. Swift is coming off a disappointing 2024 campaign in which he notched a career-low 3.8 yards per carry and posted a lowly 44 percent rushing success rate. Swift, per Bair, said he “reviewed the tape and wasn’t happy” with his 2024 performance. Bears head coach Ben Johnson, who worked with Swift in Detroit before Swift left for the Bears, complimented Swift as a “fierce competitor.” “If you tell him that you’re going to need one yard, four yards, whatever that is, he’s going to find a way to put his shoulder down and move the pile and get that done for you,” Johnson said of Swift. Though Roschon Johnson could take valuable goal line touches in the Chicago offense, Swift should be the nominal lead back in the new-look Bears offense.

Williams was on damage control duty when talking to the media today. He didn’t deny any of Seth Wickersham’s reporting on him potentially forcing a pre-draft trade. He did, however, greatly downplay the story, saying he had a good visit with the Vikings before the draft but was sold on Chicago after meeting with the team. Williams even acknowledged the Bears’ recent history of horrific quarterback play, which Wickersham also mentioned in the excerpt from his upcoming book. While it sounds like Williams never took any steps toward engineering a trade to Minnesota or any other team, the thought undoubtedly crossed his mind.