New left tackle, nickel, d-line rotation, and more Bears practice notes
Windy City Gridiron • • sports
Key Points:
- WR Luther Burden left practice early with a leg injury sustained during a 1-on-1 drill, raising concerns about his status for upcoming games.
- The Bears' offensive line saw Jedrick Wills Jr. taking all first-team reps at left tackle due to Braxton Jones' injury, while red zone drills featured a notable QB keeper play across all units.
- Defensive end depth was strained with Montez Sweat and Shemar Turner out, leading to DT James Lynch and Dayo Odeyingbo taking snaps at DE, and rookie Jordan van den Berg impressing at DT.
- Linebacker and secondary units were heavily impacted by injuries, with key players like TJ Edwards, D’Marco Jackson, Kyler Gordon, and Cam Lewis sidelined, prompting rookies Malik Muhammad and Skyler Thomas to step into starting roles.
- Special teams work was limited but notable for RB Kyle Monangai joining the first-team punt protection unit and WR Zavion Thomas fumbling a punt catch during drills.
