A little more than a week into Chicago Bears training camp, a few early trends are starting to harden. Some players are climbing, others are slipping, and injuries are already reshaping parts of the depth chart.
D’Andre Swift has been one of the clearest early winners. Talk of a true timeshare, or of Kyle Monangai cutting into his work, has faded quickly. Swift has looked sudden and explosive, while Monangai has not been able to stay healthy.
Monangai, of course, lands on the other side of the ledger. His injury is not serious enough to raise major alarm, but it has already made it difficult for him to close the gap on Swift.
At receiver, Kaliff Raymond has made his case as a steady presence. Even with the team showing interest in rookie Zavion Thomas, Raymond appears set to keep a real role. Thomas is viewed more as a gadget player, while Raymond is the one handling the actual third wideout duties.
Braxton Jones is another player whose spot is not fully settled yet. He entered camp as the expected starter at left tackle, and he is still the leader there, but he has not locked the job down. The Bears have worked three other options in with the starters, which keeps the competition open.
Garrett Bradbury has been getting strong reviews throughout camp. The veteran has drawn praise for his communication and leadership, and that matters in a spot where the Bears want stability. The real test will come once the pads go on.
That makes life tougher for Logan Jones. The second-round rookie still has a path, but Bradbury’s strong start has made it harder for him to push into the starting lineup. Jones may be able to make up ground when the physical work begins, but matching Bradbury’s command is a different challenge.
Ruben Hyppolite has taken advantage of the injuries and absences around him. Keyshaun Elliott and Noah Sewell are both out right now, TJ Edwards has just returned, and three players expected to be ahead of Hyppolite on the depth chart have not been on the field. That has opened the door for the second-year linebacker to get noticed.
The injury situation, though, is the bigger story on the downside. Elliott and Sewell both fit that group, and their absences have changed the shape of the linebacker competition. Elliott’s rookie season now looks like a wash, while Sewell is also facing an uphill climb to make an impact.
Elijah Hicks has not been able to make a push for his roster spot, Kyler Gordon may be losing his slot role, and the injury to Coby Bryant is simply bad luck that leaves the Bears in a tough spot.
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