Chicago Bears training camp report: Caleb Williams and offense off to smooth start a year after growing pains

Caleb Williams launched the football high into the air from well past midfield.

Veteran receiver Kalif Raymond found himself wide open in the end zone, and Williams’ 54-yard deep ball hit him perfectly in stride. It was the most explosive play of training camp so far, and it was a shame fans weren’t in attendance Thursday at Halas Hall because they would’ve erupted.

Thursday marked day two of practice for the Bears. Players cannot wear full pads until Monday, so the physicality remains limited. Friday will be the first practice open to fans.

Here’s what else was notable Thursday.

Caleb Williams watch

On the deep ball, Raymond ran up the left side of the field and found daylight between cornerback Tyrique Stevenson and safety Coby Bryant. It punctuated what has been a smooth start so far for the offense.

There have been few presnap penalties through two practices. With Williams and nearly the entire offense returning from last season, perhaps that’s not a huge surprise.

“Especially in Ben’s offense, it’s all in the details,” receiver Rome Odunze said. “I think just continually getting reps at it, like most things, just helps us improve.”

A year ago, the offense had such a rough first practice that Johnson briefly threw his starters off the field. Right now, everything looks smooth.

For the coaches and players, it feels smooth too.

“We were able to do a little bit more in the offseason, just in the way we operated, the tempo we operated with,” offensive coordinator Press Taylor said. “If we had 15 plays in a 10-minute walkthrough (last year), we were probably getting nine plays by the time we had to repeat everything. Now I think yesterday we got to 13. We didn’t quite get to 15 yet, but we got to 13 and we’re able to move a little bit quicker.”

It’s early, but these are all promising signs.

News of the day

Odunze, the third-year receiver, said his foot is fine. In fact, it feels “great.”

Odunze caused a minor scare among Bears fans when he said in June that he was adjusting to his “new normal” after recovering from a left foot injury that kept him out for five games last season.

On Thursday, Odunze said he didn’t articulate his thoughts well during those previous comments and he reiterated that he is 100% healthy.

With DJ Moore gone, Odunze and Luther Burden III are expected to be the top two options at receiver this season. There’s a lot of curiosity about Burden, who is expected to take on an expanded role after finishing his rookie season strong.

But Odunze could just as likely be poised for a major breakout, especially if he stays healthy. Before missing time with the foot injury, Odunze looked like the clear top option in the passing attack.

“I expect him to have a great year,” receivers coach Antwaan Randle El said in the spring. “We had little things we had to tweak as we talked about, player to coach, ‘What do you want to work on,’ and things that I saw. The biggest thing about him is that he receives (criticism) and is like, ‘OK, let’s go work on it.’ And that’s been showing up on the film. The progression is there.”

If the Bears could get Odunze and Burden both rolling, they could have a dangerous one-two punch.

Player in the spotlight

Raymond was on the receiving end of the 54-yard touchdown pass from Williams on Thursday, but that wasn’t the only catch he made. Raymond seemed to be all over the field with the first-team offense during practice.

Raymond, a 10th-year veteran who turns 32 on Aug. 8, enters camp as the favorite to earn the No. 3 receiver spot behind Odunze and Burden. His status as a savvy vet and his previous experience in Johnson’s offense could give him a leg up over second-year receiver Jahdae Walker or rookie Zavion Thomas.

Speaking on Wednesday about the young core of playmakers the Bears have built, Williams felt compelled to mention Raymond — even if he’s not considered young by NFL standards.

“I know ‘old man’ isn’t really part of the young core,” Williams said jokingly.

But he’s definitely looking like a part of the Bears offense. The younger receivers have gravitated toward the veteran quickly.

Odunze pointed to the nuances in Raymond’s routes as something the younger guys can learn from.

“I think he’s very crafty,” Odunze said. “He has the speed to run by folks, but he also has the craftiness to get in and out of breaks and veteran moves when it comes to the top of routes and different things that. Also, insight on different coverages as well. And taking care of your body, especially.”

Seen and heard

Defensive backs Cam Lewis and Jaylon Jones continued to share reps at nickel cornerback with Kyler Gordon sidelined by a calf injury.

Rookie safety Dillon Thieneman has consistently worked with the starters after spending time with the second-team defense during the spring. It’s no surprise that the No. 25 pick is earning a role.

Rookie tight end Sam Roush, a third-round pick, took a lot of reps with the starters Thursday. The Bears are working him in with Cole Kmet and Colston Loveland.

Jedrick Wills took a few reps with the starters at left tackle. Wills signed with the Bears in free agency after missing all of last season with an injury. He also split reps with Kiran Amegadjie at left tackle with the second-team offense.

Long snappers Beau Gardner and Luke Elkin appeared to be splitting snaps evenly with the field-goal unit. Gardner, an undrafted rookie out of Georgia, won the Patrick Mannelly Award as college football’s best long snapper last season. Kicker Cairo Santos went 8-for-8 on field goals during practice.

With the third-team offense, second-year receiver J.P. Richardson caught several passes. Case Keenum continues to work as the third-string quarterback, while undrafted rookie Miller Moss has seen limited action.

Quote of note

Taylor, the new offensive coordinator, was on Johnson’s staff last year as the passing game coordinator. That has helped him step into his new role seamlessly.

He replaces former coordinator Declan Doyle, who left for the same role — and a chance to call plays — with the Baltimore Ravens.

Taylor was on the headset last year with Johnson. He’s well aware of just how serious his coach is on game days.

“I don’t talk to Ben on game day,” Taylor said.

He said it with a laugh, but he wasn’t necessarily joking.

“I just kind of steer clear,” Taylor said. “You see a certain intensity.”

As the new OC, Taylor will be in Johnson’s ear on game days. Johnson will call plays for the offense, as he did last year. But that seriousness from the coach, the laser focus, is a big reason why everybody around the Bears believes they will keep winning games.

“We have Ben,” Taylor said. “Like, that’s a big part of it.”

Injuries and participation

The Bears activated defensive end Montez Sweat off the non-football illness list Wednesday, and he was back at practice Thursday. Second-year running back Kyle Monangai was not present for practice.

Seven players remain on the non-football injury list or the physically unable to perform list: Gordon (calf), safety Elijah Hicks (shin), linebackers T.J. Edwards (calf), Keyshaun Elliott (back) and Noah Sewell (Achilles tendon) and offensive tackle Ozzy Trapilo (knee).