Comeback Seasons, OTA Battles, Roschon Signs, Rookies Ready to Fight, and Other Bears Bullets

May 23, 2023

This is the time of year when I struggle to come up with something punchy as a lead-in ahead of Bullets. Bummer. I’ll try again tomorrow.

As is the case with earlier minicamps, the thing I’m rooting for most right now is player health. Get through this stretch of OTAs healthy and I’ll be a happy camper. Last year, depth offensive lineman Dakota Dozier went down with a minicamp injury that put an end to his season before it could even get going. None of that this year, please.

The other thing I’m looking forward to seeing has to do with the health of returning players. Keeping the healthy players off the injury report is important, duh. But I’d like to hear some good things about the state of someone like Eddie Jackson, whose 2022 season ended with an IR stint. And just when things were turning around for him, too. What a bummer that was for the Ed Block Award winner.

Not only have we gotten two encouraging health updates regarding Darnell Mooney, but it also sounds like one of Justin Fields’ favorite targets is ready to take his game to another level. If Mooney is looking for inspiration, he should look no further than Jackson (whose revenge season in 2022 after a down stretch prior to that was remarkable to see in real-time).

Side note: Looking good, Darnell:

Comeback loading 🌖 pic.twitter.com/m7980BA883
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) May 23, 2023

On the one hand, I’m doing my best to not read too much into practice photos. But on the other hand, I know Bears Twitter (myself included) can’t help ourselves. So … shoot out to Bill for offering this up for our consumption:

In the things that mean nothing department, Larry Borom is pictured at RT and it looks like Dieter Eiselen was at center during first OTA practice. #Bears pic.twitter.com/LmQQ3pWQjW— Bill Zimmerman (@BillTZimmerman) May 22, 2023

The trench-watchers are going to have a field day this summer. Particularly when trying to get a feel for what the interior line will look like this upcoming season. I hadn’t thought about Dieter Eiselen as a center option, but I’m willing to add him to the mix behind Cody Whitehair and Lucas Patrick. Eiselen could conceivably join Ja’Tyre Carter and Doug Kramer as depth options the Bears will take a long look at this spring and summer. Trying to sort that stuff out now could make it easy for defined roles later this summer.

Keep in mind that we saw Larry Borom and Teven Jenkins move all around in the lead-up to training camp. Both players spent time at both tackle spots before eventually settling into the positions they spent most of their time at in 2022. Borom settled in at right tackle to start the year, while Jenkins ultimately landed a spot where he’d thrive at left guard. In other words, now is the time to try stuff out. And if it sticks, then keep it rolling. If it doesn’t, there are still minicamps and other offseason activities to work through things.

As Chris Emma (670 The Score) points out, it was during OTAs last year when Braxton Jones got his first taste at left tackle — a place he’d play all 1,034 offensive snaps last year. Again, don’t expect roles to be hashed out on May 23. But these are the first steps toward players carving out their niche in 2023.

Josh Schrock (NBCS Chicago) offers up five important position battles to keep tabs on at OTAs. It is worth highlighting that 4 of the 5 positions Schrock mentions have at least one rookie vying for a gig. We’d be keeping an eye on these spots even if it wasn’t served to us on a silver platter. But there’s no such thing as having too many reasons to be on the lookout for rookie draft picks Tyrique Stevenson, Noah Sewell, Gervon Dexter Sr., Zacch Pickens, and Roschon Johnson.

DJ Moore has been tabbed as the Bears’ most dangerous new addition by Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox. And with good reason, I might add. The Bears were needing to add someone with Moore’s talents and accomplishments. Not only should he make Justin Fields better, Mooney, Cole Kmet, and Chase Claypool should also benefit. Same can probably be said for Chicago’s multi-headed backfield featuring D’Onta Foreman, Khalil Herbert, and Roschon Johnson.

Oh, hey! Roschon signed his rookie deal:

.@roschon puttin' pen to paper ✍️ pic.twitter.com/Da2Z9WJwSW
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) May 22, 2023

I’ve been chewing on this for a minute and want to share expanded thoughts later: Why is D’Onta Foreman RB1 on ESPN’s Bears depth chart? Is that a prediction? Projection? Something else? I don’t feel strongly one way or another about it. But I am curious.

Even though things are off to a solid start for Kevin Warren in his new role as Bears president, an ESPN report from Pete Thamel has Warren facing scrutiny for fumbling the bag when it comes to the Big Ten’s TV rights deal.

This is FUN:

NFL Rookies Weigh-In: Jersey Swaps, Rule Changes, No Cold Weather Games, More

Glenn Schembechler, the son of legendary Michigan football coach Bo Schembechler, gave an apology for what was deemed “flippant behavior on Twitter” that occurred before his resignation. In addition to his UM experience, Schembechler had scouted recently with the Raiders and had stops in Washington, Kansas City, and Chicago. ESPN’s Heather Dinich notes that Schembechler spent 10+ years working with the Washington Football Team, which has long had issues throughout its organization. Go figure.

You never know what you’re going to see at a baseball game:

Ever See a Guy Go First to Third on a Walk? Because Ronald Acuña Jr. Just Did Ithttps://t.co/awlGciWwqJ pic.twitter.com/LxJKnLOQxj— Baseball is Fun (@flippingbats) May 23, 2023

Boo! Hiss! We want our Connor Bedard sneak peek:

No Connor Bedard Sneak Peak? Blackhawks Change Development Camp Plan

May has been so problematic for the Cubs, who have done more damage to their postseason odds this month than any team that is actually trying to play professionally in MLB. (BN Cubs)

Aye! Congrats to the Nuggets for sending LeBron packing (because my GOAT wouldn’t get swept in a Conference Final):

Nuggets Sweep Lakers, Heading to First NBA Finals in Franchise Historyhttps://t.co/piDjsOGy1a pic.twitter.com/NHOEZXVmFN
— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) May 23, 2023

Also: This means the Nuggets have made the NBA Finals more recently than the Bulls. I wish having former Nuggets executive Artūras Karnišovas running the Bulls made me feel better about their future.

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.

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