Three takeaways from Bears Minicamp

Kamil Krzaczynski - USA Today Sports

Dustin Riese · Senior Writer · 1 day ago

It's hard to believe that in less than a month, most, if not all, NFL Training Camps will be underway, as that is the final step in the offseason schedule leading up to the preseason. Most recently, the Bears, along with every other team, completed the annual mandatory mini-camp as teams continue to plow through their offseason workouts.

Granted, the mini-camp portion of the offseason is only three days long, but it's a very crucial part of the offseason program, which is why it has become mandatory for the longest time. You will still have some players skip mini-camp due to contract disputes or other circumstances, but the better the attendance, the better the chemistry will be when the season starts.

When it comes to the Bears, this was a very important mini-camp as it is the first one conducted by Ben Johnson and his staff. All offseason long, we have heard about the intensity that Johnson brings to the table and his ability to hold players accountable and get the most out of them. That is something that has been missing in Chicago, and you wonder if it alone will help this team reach the next level.

While none of these offseason workouts involve pads, you can still get a good sense of how things are progressing based on everything that takes place over the summer. Here are some things that stood out during mini-camp.

Offense continues to be a work in progress

As expected, anytime you go from one offensive coordinator to a new one in the span of four months, there are going to be some growing pains learning a new system. When it comes to the Bears, not only do they have a new offensive scheme to learn this season, but they also had three different offensive coordinators in 2024, which alone makes it challenging for players to get comfortable.

That is why this offseason will be crucial to Caleb Williams' development as a player. Not only is he learning his second system in as many seasons, but this is the first time that the offensive system is geared around his strengths. You have seen many of those strengths emerge this summer, but the offense has also faced some struggles, which is to be expected.

All that matters is that you continue to improve day by day, which is what the Bears offense has shown throughout the offseason, especially during minicamp. Hopefully, by the time the season rolls around, most of the kinks will be ironed out, as this offense has the potential to be something special.

Surprise players continue to stand out

Even if no one is going to dive as deeply as they would during the season, it's always nice to pay attention to some of the players who are leaving a lasting impression on the coaching staff this summer. When it comes to the Bears, not only have they seen several players put forth standout performances this offseason, but several of them may come as a surprise considering who is on this roster.

According to Johnson himself, Dominique Robinson, tight end Joel Wilson, running back Kyle Monangai, and linebacker Ruben Hyppolite are the four players that have stood out the most, and considering two of them are rookies, it bodes well for the future.

Hyppolite is the name that everyone is talking about as training camp nears, as Johnson has stated that he might be the most improved player of the offseason thus far.

Considering the Bears are in desperate need of pass-rushing help, having a player like Hyppolite not only improve but also reach a point where he can make an impact could be a tremendous asset for this team. That proves that you can find starting-caliber talent in any round, as long as you scout right.

Let the position battles begin

As expected, one of the biggest position battles of the season was going to be who wins the left tackle position. Rookie Ozzie Trapilo has been one of those guys doing his part to prove he is worth the starting spot, and from all accounts, he will continue to get looks throughout the rest of the offseason.

However, the left tackle position isn't the only position battle on this team as the back up quarterback role between Tyson Bagent and free agent pickup Case Keenum is also starting to heat up. As of now, Keenum has been taking most of the backup snaps, which could mean it's his job to lose. However, Bagent has been getting more snaps in recent days, and this will be something to watch in training camp.

The other big position battle is on the defensive side of the ball, as the Bears need to find a replacement for Jack Sanborn. As mentioned, Hyppolite is one of the most improved players this summer, and he is starting to put himself in the conversation to be the third linebacker. However, with Noah Sewall and several other options just as hungry, this is a position battle that could go undecided until the week 1 roster is released.