What we learned from Bears’ rookie minicamp

The Bears held their first practices under new head coach Ben Johnson last weekend during the team’s rookie minicamp.

The team’s eight draft picks, 10 undrafted free agents and dozens of rookie tryout attendees took part in the three-day minicamp. Now the Bears will shift their focus to the start of offseason team activities, which begin May 20.

Here are some of the most-interesting things we learned from rookie minicamp.

On getting Colston Loveland ready

The first-round pick didn’t participate much in this weekend’s practices, and likely won’t until training camp starts in July. The tight end had shoulder surgery in January and said he expects a six-month recovery.

That didn’t stop him from learning this weekend. Loveland mimicked drills even though he couldn’t fully participate.

“It’s the mental reps, they’re huge,” Loveland said. “They’re just as important. Just knowing the play, literally acting like I’m in there. It’s different doing it obviously, but I’m just doing everything I can.”

The Bears have prioritized what Loveland can do so he’s ready to go as soon as cleared. Bringing Loveland up to speed once he’s healthy will be important as the Bears try to add another playmaker into Johnson’s offense.

“We’re rehabbing him, and then that’s a priority for us is getting him back healthy,” Johnson said. “The sooner he gets healthy then we get the full speed reps, and that’s where it really all comes together. It’s more mental, and we’re going to take full opportunity of the time we have with him over the next, call it six weeks, in terms of getting him up to speed. Not only what the veterans know mentally, but how much can we walk through with him on the side to speed up the learning process.”

On the plan for Ozzy Trapilo

One of the major storylines heading into rookie minicamp was whether Trapilo, a second-round pick, could compete for the starting left tackle spot.

The Bears seemed set with their other four spots after adding guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson and center Drew Dalman this offseason, and right tackle Darnell Wright returning. But with Braxton Jones recovering from a late-season ankle surgery, Trapilo had an opportunity to compete with Kiran Amegadjie for the starting spot.

Winning the left tackle spot wasn’t on the top of Trapilo’s mind this weekend.

“My main goal is to just go out there and be who I am as a player,” Trapilo said. “Just put it out there, let the coaches make decisions of where, when, how I fit with whatever it is. That’s their job. My job is to demonstrate who I am as a player, put all my skills out there.”

The Bears weren’t hitting or in shoulder pads, so Trapilo didn’t get to fully show what he can do on the field. The weekend was mostly spent on movement and showing he can get the first few steps correct.

But the Bears’ coaching staff was impressed with what they saw, even if it was limited.

“He’s able to apply those concepts right to the field immediately,” Johnson said. “He’s very advanced in that regard. Technique, fundamentals, he takes those seriously. Something we talked about (Friday) morning as a team, just transferring the little things that (offensive line coach Dan Roushar and assistant offensive line coach Kyle DeVan) are talking about in that meeting room and being able to apply them immediately. It’s really impressive for a young guy.”

On Shemar Turner’s early role

One of the top areas of need on the Bears’ roster this offseason was finding an edge rusher to pair opposite Montez Sweat on the defensive line. The Bears signed Dayo Odeyingbo during free agency, but then didn’t draft an edge rusher in April.

The Bears did draft Turner, a defensive tackle from Texas A&M, in the second round, however. Turner played on every point of the defensive line, including off the edge in 2023 when he had one of his better seasons with six sacks. He slid to the inside last year since the Aggies had edges Shemar Stewart and Nic Scourton, who both were taken in the first two rounds of April’s draft.

Despite Turner’s versatility, Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen said they’re going to keep him at defensive tackle this offseason.

“We got to play him at defensive tackle,” Allen said. “Let him learn there, let him develop there, both as a three technique and as a nose. Then we will worry about trying to see that flexibility from a skillset standpoint. Yeah, he’s got some flexibility. We’ll just have to see what he can learn and how quickly he can learn and adapt to what we’re doing.”

Turner has a chance to make an instant impact from the middle of the line with his speed, length and explosive style of play. He’ll slide into a rotation with Grady Jarrett, whom the Bears signed this offseason, as well as Andrew Billings, Gervon Dexter and Zacch Pickens.

“Wherever they want me at,” Turner said of his position preference. “I’m going to play it, and I’m going to be successful.”

On responding to Johnson’s message

Johnson has had a clear message since the start of offseason workouts about a month ago: The team doesn’t have a depth chart and everyone needs to put in the work if they want to play.

He’s echoed the sentiment since the Bears hired him in January. The players, primarily the rookies this weekend, understood the message.

“He’s definitely stressing it,” second-round pick wide receiver Luther Burden III said. “It is highly important for our offense and our team. It’s definitely important that we do the small things when we don’t have the ball to help our teammates.”

Johnson and his coaching staff will try to keep up that intensity on every rep as they move along through the offseason. The team will hold organized team activities over the next month and a mandatory minicamp the first week of June.

“I love the coaches up here,” Turner said. “I love their energy. I love the way they go about things. The vibe is always good here. I love everything they’ve got going.”