NEWSLETTER
There is a part of me that loves that I’ve flipped the calendar to June.
That June-July-August stretch is one of my favorites on the calendar. One weekend I’m enjoying one of Chicago’s neighborhood festivals, concerts, and other shenanigans. The next I’m on a plane or in a car traveling for my next adventure. And another weekend I’m just out by the lake hanging out and letting summer pour over me. All while building up toward another NFL season.
Every day that passes gets us one day closer to the 2023 NFL season starting and one step away from the season that was in 2022.
With that in mind, here are some important upcoming dates on the Bears and NFL calendars.
June 5-8: The final rounds of voluntary OTAs
The last batch of voluntary offseason training activities is here and runs through Thursday. This means we have just a few more days of worrying about who is or isn’t at Halas Hall. I’ll reiterate that non-attendance at voluntary camp doesn’t bug me as much as others. Although, I completely understand why it would irk folks to see that right guard Nate Davis and cornerback Jaylon Johnson haven’t been around with their teammates. And even though the coaches are saying the right thing, you know they’d prefer full attendance.
FWIW: Jaylon Johnson says he’ll be at this upcoming session of OTAs. And Cody Whitehair believes Nate Davis won’t miss a beat even though he hasn’t been with his linemates. I hope Cody is right because I need this offensive line to be on its P’s and Q’s when Week 1 rolls around.
June 13-15: Mandatory minicamp
Veteran minicamp is mandatory for all to attend. This doesn’t mean everyone will show up. For instance, we had Robert Quinn opting out to train on his own last year. Some veterans are so in-tune with their bodies (and financially well-off) that they’re OK paying the fine and missing the mandatory veteran minicamp. Otherwise, June 13 marks the first time everyone on the Bears’ 90-player offseason roster is required to be at Halas Hall. And I’m looking forward to seeing what comes from Year 2 of Camp Eberflus.
July 17: The deadline to sign Franchise Tag players to a multi-year extension
The following players were given the Franchise Tag this offseason and have yet to sign an extension:
As you can see, the Bears didn’t hand a Franchise Tag to anyone this offseason, so this date isn’t all too important for this front office. However, it’ll be worth watching other contract situations unfold around the league. I suppose that the potential Engram extension could be something to monitor as we await a potential Cole Kmet extension.
End of July: Training camp opens
We don’t have dates (yet) for this year’s training camp. But it is worth noting that last year’s training camp opened on July 26. The Bears hosted 11 practices that were open to the public at Halas Hall, with the first being on July 28.
I’m looking forward to seeing you out at Halas Hall. Come say hi. Don’t be a stranger. I don’t bite.
August 3-6: Pro Football Hall of Fame Weekend
We should be celebrating Devin Hester’s induction and enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Unfortunately, The Greatest Return Specialist in the History of the World didn’t get enough votes to make it in on his first or second try. Maybe the third time will be the charm for Hester.
August 12: Bears preseason opener vs. Titans
Because the Bears will be playing an extra road game in 2023, two of their three preseason games will be at Soldier Field. And while I realize that exhibition games aren’t the most fun, I’ve learned in talking with fans over the years that preseason contests represent an ideal time to take the family out to a football game. The costs of regular-season games isn’t cheap. And don’t even get me started on the bartering it takes to get a playoff ticket without selling off an arm and a leg.
RELATED: Bears Family Fest at Soldier Field tends to happen a few days before the Bears’ first preseason home game. Last year’s extravaganza took place on Aug. 9 — just four days before the Bears-Chiefs exhibition opener. If history repeats itself, we’ll be looking at a similar date for Bears Family Fest. We’ll share details when they cross the wire.
Before August 19: Bears joint practices with Colts
This’ll mark the Bears’ first joint practices with an AFC team since hosting the Dolphins for some sessions during the summer of 2021. And it’ll be the first of two joint practice sessions the Colts are hosting. Indy will have the defending NFC champion Eagles in town later in the summer.
Sometimes, joint practices are fun. Like when Mitchell Trubisky got a chance to hang out with Peyton Manning in 2018. Other times, Aaron Donald rips off a Bengals player’s helmet and tries to wreck him with it. You just never know what you’re going to get.
August 29: NFL roster cut day
On the final Tuesday of August, just days after the final preseason games, the NFL’s 32 teams must reduce rosters from 90 to 53.
In previous years, the NFL had three different cut-down dates. After some experimenting with one large cut-down date, the league would eventually circle back to having two cut dates. But once again, the league is returning to the one big cut-down date. This’ll have an impact on roster construction, potential cap casualties, and possibly the trade market. I’m looking forward to seeing what shakes out here, but we’ve got a ways to go before we make it to this point.
September 7: The NFL regular season begins
September 10: Bears and Packers (Week 1)
The NFL’s longest-running rivalry turns over a new chapter. One without Aaron Rodgers. Thank goodness.
There are lots of blank pages to be filled and I hope Justin Fields and his teammates are up to the task. This is where the fun begins.
