Chicago Bears training camp is about to open, and the roster is packed with questions that go well beyond the usual preseason noise. From quarterback to long snapper, there’s a real competition - and in a few spots, a real sense that jobs could change hands before camp is over.
At the top of the list is Caleb Williams, because that’s where the whole thing starts. Williams was recently ranked the 51st-best player in the NFL by his peers, and that only turns up the heat on what the Bears expect from him in 2026.
He flashed the arm strength, athletic ability and late-game poise that made him such a big deal, but the accuracy issues are still hanging over him. The Bears need him to make the leap and show he’s an elite talent.
The backfield has its own smaller battle, and it centers on Roschon Johnson. D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai are set as the top two, which leaves Johnson fighting to hold onto the RB3 role.
He barely touched the ball in 2025, and with a crowded room, a strong camp matters. If he doesn’t show enough, his spot could disappear.
Wide receiver is another spot worth watching closely, especially after DJ Moore was traded away. That leaves Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III as the names the Bears want to see rise.
Odunze is coming off a foot injury from last year, while Burden is only in his second season. There’s still room for questions behind them, but the bigger issue is whether Burden can match the offseason buzz and whether Odunze can finally take the step forward the team has been waiting for in 2026.
Tight end could get interesting fast, too. Cole Kmet has been the subject of trade rumors after the Bears used a third-round pick on Sam Roush in the 2026 NFL Draft. Chicago could keep Kmet around to lean into more three-tight end looks, but if Roush flashes enough, the veteran could become a trade candidate.
Up front, the left tackle job is one of the biggest things to watch. Braxton Jones started 2025 in that role, lost it, and now gets what looks like a second and final chance to lock it down, especially with Ozzy Trapilo out. The center battle matters, but left tackle carries more weight, and all eyes will be on Jones to see whether he can claim the job for good.
On the defensive line, Grady Jarrett is under the microscope. Gervon Dexter was the standout at defensive tackle in 2025, but that was about it for the group.
Jarrett was given nearly $50 million on his contract last offseason, and he didn’t meet expectations. The Bears need the version of Jarrett who was so effective with the Atlanta Falcons.
The edge spot has its own tug-of-war. Montez Sweat can’t carry the load alone, so Dayo Odeyingbo or Austin Booker has to step up.
Both dealt with significant injuries last year, but Booker clearly outplayed Odeyingbo. The Bears like Booker’s future, but Odeyingbo’s $48 million contract from last offseason means the pressure is on him to deliver.
At linebacker, the main concern is simple: health. The Bears moved on from Tremaine Edmunds and are rolling with T.J.
Edwards, Devin Bush and D'Marco Jackson at the top. Edwards and Bush look set for productive seasons, and Jackson was one of 2025’s biggest surprises, but Edwards is already dealing with a minor injury and missing the start of camp.
That makes durability a real storyline.
Cornerback brings another prove-it situation, this time for Tyrique Stevenson. With Nahshon Wright gone, Stevenson is trying to secure the CB2 job, but rookie fourth-round pick Malik Muhammad is in the mix.
Stevenson is still trying to move past the 2024 Hail Mary against the Washington Commanders, and recent play hasn’t helped his case. For him, this camp carries major weight.
Safety is a fresh start, with Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker gone and Coby Bryant plus rookie Dillon Thieneman taking over. Bryant arrives after winning a Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks, so the Bears don’t have the same level of concern there. Thieneman is the wild card, and if he brings the same production he showed in college, the secondary could become a dangerous unit.
Even special teams has a battle worth tracking. Luke Elkin and Beau Gardner are competing for the long snapper job, and while it may sound like a small detail, it can swing games when the kicking and punting units are on the line.
In Other News...
Bears May Get A Fast Answer On Their Pass Rush Problem
Training camp has a way of sorting out a teams biggest questions, and for the Bears, the pass rush is one of the first ones on the list. Chicago is still weighing whether it needs to add help on the edge, with veteran production around the league always part of the conversation when a front office is trying to judge how much pressure its current group can create on its own.
One possible answer could come into focus quickly if Arizona makes its intentions clearer, since the Cardinals willingness to entertain offers is still part of the equation. The Bears also have reason to keep a close eye on Austin Booker, because if he starts flashing the kind of upside that changes the outlook, Chicago may not feel the need to chase outside help as aggressively. [Read more 🡒]
Bears Already Have A Training Camp Problem Fans Were Dreading
The early days of training camp are already bringing the kind of defensive backfield concern the Bears were hoping to avoid. Chicago is set to open camp with six players dealing with injuries, a reminder that the first real practice stretch can expose depth issues before the pads even come on, and the secondary is a spot worth watching closely as the season approaches.
There is also a familiar parallel across the division, where the Lions are managing their own list of absences with Brian Branch, Tyler Conklin and Kerby Joseph on the Physically Unable to Perform list. With Branch and Joseph both key pieces in the secondary, it only adds to the sense that both teams are trying to answer the same uncomfortable question: how quickly can their defensive backfields get healthy enough to stabilize camp? [Read more 🡒]
Joe Thuney Just Gave Bears Fans More Proof They Nailed It
Joe Thuneys first season in Chicago already looks like one of those moves that can reshape how a front office is judged. Acquired from the Chiefs last offseason for a fourth-round pick, the veteran lineman immediately gave the Bears the kind of stability they were hoping for, earning Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors while also taking home the Protector of the Year Award.
Now hes getting another sign that his peers noticed the impact, too, with Thuney landing among the leagues top players in a recent ranking by fellow NFL players. What makes it even more valuable for Chicago is how he handled the chaos up front, sliding between spots on the offensive line and even stepping in at left tackle during the postseason, a reminder that the Bears didnt just add a good player, they added a fix-it piece. [Read more 🡒]