One day into mandatory mini-camp and head coach John Fox is already feeling the good vibes.
Yes, it’s only June. But hope springs eternal, and the positive feelings are a breath of fresh air compared to the feeling last year left behind.
The bromance between a pair of Bears rookies is underway, with quarterback Mitch Trubisky and tight end Adam Shaheen starting the season as roommates. Over at CBS Chicago, Chris Emma writes Shaheen’s adjustments to life as a NFL tight end are going well so far. Shaheen, more than any of the Bears’ draft picks, has the biggest adjustments to make as he makes the leap from Division II to the pros. Head coach John Fox raved about the scouting department’s evaluation of Shaheen and the skills he brings to the table, while Trubisky praised Shaheen’s route-running and hands. Hopefully, this is just the start of a budding relationship.
Mike Glennon, the starting quarterback in Bears camp, has a lot on his plate in his first season in Chicago. So much, in fact, that Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune writes Glennon can’t get consumed with what’s happening behind him on the depth chart. Glennon has made it clear that 2017 is “his year,” but the only way to make that a reality is to play well and win games. As Biggs notes, it would be hard to pine for change if Glennon performs at a high level. To that end, Glennon should keep on doing what he’s doing as he develops on the practice field and the huddle, while also building relationships with his teammates. If all goes well, things will take care of themselves on the field.
In that vein, ESPN Chicago’s Jeff Dickerson writes that Glennon is showing patience in the face as things develop behind and around him. Outside of health and development, patience might be the key buzzword in the weeks and months leading up to the regular season. Glennon is one of eight new players on offense who were brought in by GM Ryan Pace this offseason either via free agency or the draft. That’s a lot of new players trying to learn a new system – and that could be quite the hurdle to climb during training camp and the preaseason.
Kendall Wright is one of the most motivated Bears in camp. The free agent addition who was dumped by the Tennessee Titans in the offseason will enter a training camp battle for playing time at wide receiver, where he projects to potentially share time with Victor Cruz in the slot. Judging by what he shared with Pro Football Weekly’s Kevin Fishbain, Wright is taking the demotion from being the Titans’ top target to a free agent flier to heart. For what it’s worth, the Titans, who made Wright a first-round pick in 2012, have overhauled their receiver corps this offseason, spending the No. 5 pick on Corey Davis and No. 72 pick on Taywan Taylor.
This seems good:
https://twitter.com/PFF/status/875008942312759296
Here’s a feel-good story. The Bears invited Katie Foster, an 18-year-old cancer survivor, to Tuesday’s mini-camp practice. And as ESPN Chicago’s Jeff Dickerson writes, you might remember her as the young woman who introduced the Bears’ pick of Adam Shaheen in the second round. Foster got a chance to meet Shaheen on Tuesday, which was a nice touch.
While Pernell McPhee, Leonard Floyd, Willie Young, and the rest of the Bears’ pass rushers enter 2017 as a confident bunch, the group did not make the cut of Pro Football Weekly’s most dominant edge rushers. Here’s to the group living up to the lofty expectations they have set for themselves and making this list next year.
Taking a glance around the NFL, Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton wasn’t throwing at practice on Tuesday. The Bears will face Newton and the Panthers in Week 7 at Soldier Field, so we’ll be keeping an eye on his recovery and progression. Newton is one of the six quarterbacks the Bears will face in the first eight weeks who has led his team to a Super Bowl appearance. Yeah. that schedule looks kinda tough.
One-time potential trade target Jimmy Garoppolo wasn’t a full participant in practice for the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots on Tuesday, as he nursed a minor leg injury.
The Bears aren’t the only NFC North team trying to test its versatility. Joe Dahl is getting a look at left tackle during the Detroit Lions’ mini-camp. Starter Tyler Decker hurt his shoulder recently, which has led to Dahl finding himself in a new role for the time being. The second-year lineman has either played or practiced at every position on the line.
Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy believes these practices are the most important of the year:
https://twitter.com/packers/status/874707226484756480