Clinton-Dix back on field for Bears, motivated to prove himself
BOURBONNAIS - Bears new safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and offensive lineman T.J. Clemmings were activated from the physically unable to perform list Tuesday morning, shortly before making their Bourbonnais camp debuts. Matt Nagy held a "10-10-10" practice - 10 carded plays for the offense, 10 for the defense and 10 minutes of special teams, a process repeated three times - lasting roughly an hour prior to today's off day.
Dix, the prize of Chicago's calculated free-agent haul, signing a one-year, prove-it deal worth $500,000 in March to replace Adrian Amos following Amos' departure for Clinton-Dix's old team, the Packers, suffered a knee injury on the final rep of organized team activities when a teammate rolled up on it. He missed the first four camp practices, where Deon Bush ran with the first team opposite all pro Eddie Jackson.
"I'm so motivated," said Clinton-Dix, who was traded from the Packers to Washington last fall prior to settling for a one-year deal. "The guys around me make the game so much fun. And when you're passionate about it and the game means something to you, and not just with one person, two persons, everybody, man it's special. And it's a special unit here. Everybody wants to win and compete. You don't get that on every squad."
The guy directly next to Clinton-Dix in the Bears' defensive backfield, former Alabama teammate-turned-first team all pro Eddie Jackson, played a big hand in recruiting Clinton-Dix in the spring.
"Being back with Eddie, it's about trust. And I trust him with my daughter. I'm so glad to blend it back with him, but these guys have done everything in their power to make me comfortable here. No big egos - everybody loves the game of football - and like I said earlier, it's a special group."
Matt Nagy said that Clinton-Dix was having a strong offseason prior to his injury and didn't seem concerned regarding his delayed start to camp.
"He did some (individual drills) today and, again, just kind of glide into it with him," Nagy said. "He had a great OTAs with us mentally, running around physically. And then he just had that little deal there at the end. I like where he's at, and it's good for him to get out there."
While Clinton-Dix, the former Packer pro bowler with 20 career interceptions and 87 consecutive appearances to begin his career, is poised to replace Amos in the starting lineup, Clemmings is vying for the swing tackle opening that was vacated when Bradley Sowell converted to tight end.
The former Minnesota Vikings' fourth-rounder is coming off an ACL tear last season with the Oakland Raiders but has the most extensive starting experience among the Bears' reserve tackles. He joins an interesting battle with Rashaad Coward - who has never taken a regular-season snap on offense, never mind on Mitch Trubisky's blind side - Cornelius Lucas and Joe Lowery.
Good vibes:
The Bears hosted more than 700 fans from 30 community groups and youth football teams Tuesday, including Special Olympics of Illinois and Bounce Children's Foundation, which creates opportunities for chronically ill children and their families.
Nagy, who has shown a lot more of his human side than predecessor John Fox, even previously attending the funeral of a fallen Chicago Fire Department rescue worker, explained what it meant to him and the team to have the community groups at practice.
"Any time you deal with these people, that's what we all are is just human beings, the human element of trying to pull on your back and remind you that we've got things pretty good."
Kicker update:
Eddy Pineiro converted 6-of-8 attempts Tuesday, and the misses didn't seem to sit well with Nagy. "He missed two kicks, and that's what we said - it's about production. You've got to make them," Nagy said. "We'll look forward to him continuing to bounce back from it. We'll keep charts on how this goes. They all matter. These kickers want to make every one. I don't know the details on how he missed it or why. We're certainly looking at all that."
Pineiro is now 13-of-16 in camp, compared to 17-of-20 for Elliott Fry.
• Hub Arkush, the executive editor of Pro Football Weekly, can be reached at harkush@profootballweekly.com or on Twitter @Hub_Arkush.