Bellamy continues to impress through camp

BOUBONNAIS - Last year because of injuries Josh Bellamy got 40.2 of the offensive snaps at wide receiver, and he caught the first 19 passes of his four-year NFL career for 224 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Previously the 6-foot, 211-pound Bellamy was almost exclusively a special teams player, but he appeared in all 16 games with three starts.

He has continued to impress through the first five training camp practices.

"We talk about hard work and enthusiasm," coach John Fox said, "he brings that enthusiasm part. He loves coming to work. He loves to practice. Not everybody is like that.

"Last year when we got here, we saw him as a special teams player. We had injuries at wideout, we plugged him in, and he really got more reps as a receiver than anywhere in his career. If a guy competes and he executes his job right, then he can play for us."

Bellamy was undrafted out of Louisville in 2012 but signed with the Kansas City Chiefs and spent the following year with Washington before joining the Bears in 2014.

"He's explosive, he's quick out of breaks, he's become way more consistent catching the ball," Fox said. "I think that was probably one of the negatives before, but he's worked very hard at it and he's improved."

Mixing it up:

As the oppressive humidity continued, tempers appeared to fray a bit at Monday morning's practice at Olivet Nazarene University.

The main event featured offensive lineman Adrian Bellard and linebacker Christian Jones and was prolonged when outside linebacker Willie Young and guard Ted Larsen, a frequent combatant, entered the mix.

"It's part of football," coach John Fox said. "It's a waste of energy sometimes. (But) it's a long practice, it's grueling by design, (and) they are aggressive people."

Some people, like the feisty Larsen, seem to have more aggression than others.

"I'd say that's fair," Fox said.

Wide receiver Deonte Thompson and safety Deon Bush also mixed it up on a running play downfield, when it appeared Bush took exception to how long Thompson held his block, and a possible holding infraction.

On the very next play, after a contested ball on a sideline route, tight end Gannon Sinclair and safety Harold Jones-Quartey, who has been running with the first team, exchanged shoves.

Players are off Tuesday and return to the ONU practice fields at 11:15 a.m. Wednesday.

Missing in action:

Through five days of training camp, first-round draft pick Leonard Floyd has yet to complete a full practice.

The ninth overall selection suffered an illness just before camp started last week, which limited him in the early going. More recently he's been limited by a shoulder injury.

"It was kind of an untimely illness coming into camp," coach John Fox said. "It happens; guys get sick. But he's been into it pretty good. He did a lot of good stuff in the off-season, and he'll continue to improve as we go."

Fox said he isn't worried about the linebacker's absence.

"Anytime people miss practice it's concerning," Fox said. "But I don't think I've ever been to a camp that guys didn't miss time."

Injury report:

Tight end Zach Miller missed Monday's practice after suffering concussion-like symptoms Sunday night that didn't improve, and he is in the concussion protocol.

Wide receiver Eddie Royal is as well after leaving early on Monday.

Guard Kyle Long (calf) and rookie linebackers Roy Robertson-Harris (heat illness) and Nick Kwiatkoski (shoulder) all remained out.

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