The first full week of Chicago Bears training camp has concluded, with eight practices and three full contract padded practices. The team has seen some players emerge as training camp stars and have squarely added their names to the starter mix. Others have had disappointing practices or have suffered injuries. Here are the winners and losers from the first full week of Bears training camp.
Now in his second season with head coach Ben Johnson’s system, Caleb Williams has led a dominant offense so far in training camp. One of the biggest gripes last season was his accuracy, something he has improved upon this camp, going 9/10 on passes with five touchdowns during 7-on-7 drills on August 5. The improvement was more evident the next day, when he was a perfect 6-for-6 for 60 yards and a touchdown in a two-minute drill to win the simulated game.
The prized free agent signing of the 2026 offseason by Chicago, safety Coby Bryant, suffered an injury during the first padded practice on August 3. While initial reports speculated he would be out for eight to ten weeks, coach Johnson disputed them and had no recovery timeline to share. The timing of the injury is especially disruptive for Bryant as he is mentoring rookie safety Dillon Thieneman.
One of the darlings of Bears camp so far, defensive tackle Jordan van den Berg has forced his way into the national conversation. The sixth-round draft pick has been so dominant in one-on-one drills that coaches have given him first-team reps during inside run and 11-on-11 drills. All of this comes after he body-slammed offensive lineman Caden Barnett, showing his raw strength.
Perpetually on the losing side during Chicago training camps, cornerback Kyler Gordon has yet to practice with the team this offseason. Currently sidelined with a soft tissue injury, Bears coaches have yet to say when the nickel back will return to the team on the practice field. Going into the first season of his three-year contract extension, this will be a make-or-break year for him, as he could be a cut candidate early in the 2027 offseason if he misses significant time.
Signed in the 2026 offseason to compete for a roster spot, Kaden Davis has emerged from the crowded receiver room as a clear winner of training camp so far. The wide receiver has caught multiple touchdowns throughout the practices, including a one-handed catch from Williams in the back corner of the end zone. Training camp attendees have noted that Davis has made a significant play practically every day, making his case for a roster spot.
Drafted in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft, Logan Jones was brought in as the future Chicago center. While newly acquired Garrett Bradbury was thought to be cemented as the starter for 2026, many fans and analysts believed Jones could make a run at the starting job in training camp. Now, a full week into camp, struggles with snaps and being overpowered in one-on-one drills have cemented his spot with the second team.
During the first full week of training camp, the left tackle competition appeared to be winding down with Braxton Jones firmly in control of the starting job. The former starter had been stacking consecutive days practicing with the first team, outdoing fellow competitors Jedrick Wills Jr. and Kiran Amegadjie. Unfortunately for Jones, he had an injury scare during Thursday’s practice and had to leave the field. While he is considered day-to-day, any missed time will give the other left tackles a chance to catch up.
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While not every player can be a winner or loser, Chicago Bears training camp has brought several players into close focus for their performances. In recent years, fans have been used to the defense dominating training camp, so hearing reports of a dominant offense led by Williams has ignited the fanbase. If the Bears can get the injuries under control, the team could be looking at another successful season in 2026.
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