Value in Joint Practices, Bears Fans Travel, No Regrets for Smith, and Other Bullets

Aug 15, 2018

Today marks Day 1 (of two) Bears and Broncos joint practices in Denver. The Bears participated in similar practices in 2015 and 2016, but did not do so in 2017. I love the idea of the Bears getting their hands on another team in preparation for the regular season, and I’m sure Bears players are tired of hitting each other in practice.

Just don’t get too handsy:

Training Camp Fight between the #Redskins and #Jets.

They have a joint practice.pic.twitter.com/sWaeOGb0rK

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) August 12, 2018

I was really impressed with how Bears fans traveled when I saw them in Canton for Brian Urlacher’s Hall of Fame enshrinement. But to travel to Colorado to watch practice? Well, that’s a horse of a different color:

https://twitter.com/Shaungo719/status/1029730605238505472

I haven’t taken a deep dive into the Broncos’ roster just yet, but it’s worth keeping in mind that there could be some hidden value in practicing in Colorado. Back when the Bears practiced against the Patriots a few years ago, it allowed the team to get a glimpse at backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and other players who could later become available on the market. And while the Bears didn’t ultimately land Garoppolo, they did snag Cre’von LeBlanc after he was let go by the Patriots. LeBlanc was an undrafted free agent who played well and was a standout contributor at practice. But because New England was pretty loaded at the position, he was the odd-man out who wasn’t out of a job for long. Maybe this group of Broncos has a LeBlanc waiting in the wings in search of an opportunity that isn’t there in Denver but could arise in Chicago.

Roquan Smith expressed a “happy to be here” vibe when meeting with reporters on Tuesday, choosing to focus on getting himself into gear instead of dwelling on what led to the holdout in the first place. As Colleen Kane of the Chicago Tribune notes, Smith chalks the holdout to being “just the business side of things.” No regrets here for Smith … and why would there be? The Bears got their first-round pick in the fold in time to get him ready for the regular season. The player received the guarantees he was hoping to get from the team that started the ball rolling on the holdout in the first place. Everyone’s a winner, save for those of us who wanted to see Smith in Bourbonnais with our own eyes, I suppose.

Moving forward, the goal is to get Smith ready to roll when the Bears take their talents north of the border, into Green Bay. ESPN’s Adam Schefter believes the Bears’ signing of Smith came just in time to make that a reality:

Over at 247Sports, Zack Pearson tries to piece together expectations for when we can see Smith make his Bears debut. Pearson believes the most realistic target is still a debut against the Kansas City Chiefs on August 25 at Soldier Field, leaving an outside chance that Smith plays (and possibly starts) against the Packers in Week 1 of the regular season.

The Bears drafted Smith with the hope that he would be a plug-and-play impact player from the get-go, as many SEC defensive standouts tend to be. Smith was an All-American who earned SEC Defensive Player of the Year award and brought home the Dick Butkus Award that’s given out to college football’s best linebacker. Those types of talents should adapt quickly and contribute immediately. So no wonder John Mullin of NBC Sports Chicago sees Smith’s arrival as the team gaining a building block for the future, as well as the present.

It’s good to see this developing special teams ace make an impact as a safety:

The highest graded safeties from Week 1 of the preseason. pic.twitter.com/0MUyWxgKOi

— Pro Football Focus (@PFF) August 14, 2018

Seeing DeAndre Houston-Carson earn high grades from PFF for his work as a safety is encouraging because he’s most known for his special teams work. Houston-Carson was a late-round pick in 2016 and has been part of a crowded secondary since being drafted. And while he hasn’t been able to get his shine on behind Adrian Amos and Eddie Jackson, Houston-Carson has excelled as a special teams contributor. The Bears didn’t have too many bright spots there in 2017, but Houston-Carson has shown versatility and a willingness to put in work and get things done whenever called upon. Showing that ability on defense can only further help his cause to earn a spot on the season-opening 53-man roster.

We hope 2018 isn’t a year where we’ll have our eyes on the 2019 NFL Draft at the outset of the season. But we can’t help ourselves whenever we see a mock draft. Jon Ledyard of The Draft Network shares all-too-early mock draft has the Bears using the third pick on Ohio State pass-rusher Nick Bosa. The younger brother of Chargers standout Joey Bosa, Nick fits a projected need as an edge defender and is arguably the best prospect at his position. While I don’t find myself concerned with the draft just yet, I still don’t love that oddsmakers see the Bears having the third worst record in football (which leads The Draft Network to giving the Bears the No. 3 overall pick).

written by

Luis C. Medina

Luis C. Medina, who you can find on Twitter at lcm1986, has been covering the Chicago Bears at Bleacher Nation since 2017. Since then, he has written about 3 head coaches, 5 play-callers, and 11 starting quarterbacks. Previously, Luis wrote about the Cubs and MLB at BN (2015-16) and worked in the Chicago Tribune sports department (2011-16). He also co-hosted a Cubs postgame show, Outside the Ivy, in 2019.

more bears news

Dak Prescott NFL sports betting promos 12.17

Chicago Bears

Around the NFL: Dak’s Not About the Dollar, Rookie Sleepers, Leaner Lamar, More

NFL Notes — Despite not having a contract extension in place (or even in sight), Dak Prescott doesn't plan on skipping any Cowboys offseason activities. Dak Prescott on Extension Talks: "I don't play for money" Despite entering the final year...

Patrick K. Flowers

May 23, 2024

Chicago Bears

Bears OTAs: Tough Day for Caleb Williams and the Offense

Are you ready for the premature panic on social media because Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears offense had a tough day in shorts and tee shirts on May 23? Prepare yourself because it happened. The word out of Lake...

Patrick K. Flowers

May 23, 2024

Chicago Bears

WATCH: An Inside Look at the Minnesota Vikings 2024 Draft War Room

While the Chicago Bears don't tend to participate much in these video drops, other teams — including the Minnesota Vikings do not shy away. In fact, this inside look at the team's first-round trade-ups is unlike anything I've seen before. Check...

Luis C. Medina

May 23, 2024

Chicago Bears

Caleb Williams and Co. Head to the Southside, Claypool on His Time with Chicago, and Other Bears Bullets

Not many things would make me want to attend a White Sox game again this season, but this Caleb Williams-inspired promo could be one of them. The White Sox are offering $18 outfield tickets for their game against the Baltimore...

Patrick K. Flowers

May 23, 2024

Chicago Bears

I Love This Rome Odunze Quote About Learning

The folks over at Bears Wire got an opportunity to go one-on-one with rookie wide receiver Rome Odunze. In a wide-ranging conversation that touched on everything from his draft-night experience, early impressions on Caleb Williams, and the "Call of Duty:...

Luis C. Medina

May 22, 2024

Chicago Bears

Here Are Some New Caleb Williams Highlights From Bears OTAs to Peruse

If you've been wondering "where's my Caleb Williams content from OTAs?" while watching teams around the league showcase sizzle reels, take a chill pill. The Chicago Bears have you covered with some snippets from this week's offseason training activities at...

Luis C. Medina

May 22, 2024

Chicago Bears

What About Calais Campbell as a Late Spring Bears Free Agent Fit?

In his latest Q&A installment, the Chicago Tribune's Brad Biggs fields a question about Calais Campbell as a possible player who could interest the Chicago Bears as a free agent. And while I hadn't considered Campbell to be a Bears...

Luis C. Medina

May 22, 2024

PIttsburgh Steelers 2024 NFL Draft Grade

Chicago Bears

Pittsburgh Will Host the 2026 NFL Draft

The NFL announced this afternoon that the 2026 NFL Draft will be held in Pittsburgh. The announcement was part of the day's activities at the annual NFL Spring League Meeting in Nashville. https://twitter.com/steelers/status/1793302266381840827 The event will take place in Pittsburgh...

Patrick K. Flowers

May 22, 2024

Chicago Bears

New OL Shuffle, Fields Update, Rodgers Speaks, Taylor Swift and NFL Schedules, and Other Bears Bullets

Allergies are really kicking my butt this week. Anyone else having that issue? It can't be just me... Sure, Russell Wilson has the inside track on being the Pittsburgh Steelers' starting at quarterback. But former Chicago Bears signal caller Justin...

Luis C. Medina

May 22, 2024

Chicago Bears

Around the NFL: Must-Watch Games, Early OTA Impressions, Dolphins Training Camp Plans, More

Must-watch games, early OTA impressions, and the Dolphin's plans for training camp. That and more in today's NFL Notes. Must Watch NFL Games in 2024 The Athletic's staff put together a list of every team's most watchable matchup this season....

Patrick K. Flowers

May 22, 2024

Chicago Bears

Around the NFL: Dak’s Not About the Dollar, Rookie Sleepers, Leaner Lamar, More

Patrick K. Flowers

May 23, 2024

Chicago Bears

Bears OTAs: Tough Day for Caleb Williams and the Offense

Patrick K. Flowers

May 23, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Robo Umps, World Baseball Classic Sites, and More MLB Owners Meetings Nuggets

It's clear that Major League Baseball needs to move to an automated balls-and-strikes system, and it's also clear that it will happen at some point. Unfortunately, it sounds like that system will not arrive in 2025. A report by the...

Patrick K. Flowers

May 23, 2024

Betting

NFL Futures: Latest 2024 NFC Division Winner Odds and More

As the NFL season approaches, fans and bettors alike are eagerly analyzing the latest Division Winner Odds. With each division presenting its own set of challenges and potential surprises, the race for the top spot is more thrilling than ever....

Andy Molitor

May 23, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Enhanced Box Score: Braves 3, Cubs 0 – May 23, 2024

The vibes are not good. For the 1,000th game in a row, the Chicago Cubs offense failed to do much of anything, wasting yet another (mostly) solid pitching performance from the entire staff. And it's especially a shame, because today...

Michael Cerami

May 23, 2024

News

Indy 500 Lineup: Starting Order, Pole Based on Qualifying Results

The Greatest Spectacle in Racing returns this weekend as Indy Car hits the hallowed grounds of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The Indy 500 lineup welcomes one of NASCAR’s top talents to the mix and is primed for another epic chapter...

Brian Twining

May 23, 2024

Chicago Bulls

A Door Could Reportedly Open for 76ers to Show Interest in Zach LaVine

The moment Zach LaVine opted for season-ending foot surgery was the moment the trade market fell silent. What little action there was surrounding the two-time All-Star would be put on silent until at least the offseason. And, well, here we...

Elias Schuster

May 23, 2024

Picks

Top Player Prop Bets for Celtics vs. Pacers Eastern Conference Finals Game 2 on May 23, 2024

Jayson Tatum and Pascal Siakam are among the players with prop bets on the table when the Boston Celtics and the Indiana Pacers meet at TD Garden on Thursday (tipping at 8:00 PM ET).How to Watch Celtics vs. PacersDate: Thursday,...

Data Skrive

May 23, 2024

Chicago Cubs

MLBits: Yanks to Slash Payroll, Coming Up on the “Worst” Draft Class, Bogaerts, Skenes, More

Yankees' Hal Steinbrenner is crying broke, the Padres' depth will be tested without Xander Bogaerts for the foreseeable future, and Keith Law has some strong words for the 2024 MLB Draft class in today's MLB Notes. Hal Steinbrenner Says Current...

Patrick K. Flowers

May 23, 2024

Chicago Bulls

Guess Who Zach LaVine Was Spotted With at Bronny James’ Pro Day

The Zach LaVine to the Lakers hoopla will never die, will it? The Chicago Bulls' max player has long been linked to the marquee franchise. Part of the reason for that has been his West Coast roots. Not only did...

Elias Schuster

May 23, 2024

Value in Joint Practices, Bears Fans Travel, No Regrets for Smith, and Other Bullets

Read More

more bears news

Latest News

more bears news

Most Popular

Most Popular

Latest News

Most Popular

Most Popular