Chicago Bears receiver Marquess Wilson refractures foot

Depth at wide receiver took a hit after Marquess Wilson suffered a refracture of the left foot that knocked him out of the final five games last season.

Wilson was injured toward the end of Tuesday's minicamp practice at Halas Hall, and it's doubtful he'll be ready to return by the start of the regular season.

The fourth-year veteran will have surgery Monday and is likely to start training camp and the regular season on the PUP (physically unable to perform) list.

"It is something fairly serious," coach John Fox said. "What exactly the extent as far as timetable coming back, we'll keep you posted on that."

Before he was injured last season, the 6-foot-4, 194-pound seventh-round draft pick posted career bests of 28 catches, 464 yards and a 16.6-yard average per reception.

Middle men:

Veteran inside linebackers Danny Trevathan and Jerrell Freeman have provided a major upgrade at the heart of the defense, physically and mentally.

"They're both athletic and have good instincts in run and pass," coach John Fox said. "They play fast, and this game is about that. They're similar players. No two players are exactly alike, but they love to play the game and get excited about coming to practice, and that's contagious."

Their enthusiasm and veteran leadership has already rubbed off on first-round outside linebacker Leonard Floyd.

"They tell me, 'Awright now young pup, young rookie,' they'll say something to me to get me going," Floyd said. "It's a great thing for the team. I believe it helps us grow as a team and become a better defense."

Making it interesting:

Minicamp practices have been enlivened by the chippy but (usually) good-natured trash talk between offense and defense, which extends to the coaches.

"This game's a lot of hard work, and you like to do it enthusiastically," coach John Fox said. "A lot of times your players are a mirror of their coach, so it keeps it competitive, interesting, fun."

Working together:

Quarterback Jay Cutler developed a strong relationship last year with offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains when Loggains was his position coach, and that has continued.

"There is definitely some honesty there," Cutler said. "He's not afraid to tell me when I am completely wrong, and rightfully so. (And) I tell him whenever I think we're not doing things right or we need to change things."

Cutler says the ability of both parties to be honest and direct makes the operation run more efficiently.

"At the core of that, we kind of cut through some stuff and we get things done a little quicker," he said. "We cut right to the chase. 'Hey, this needs to change, this needs to change. Let's move on.' No one is really sensitive."

Leader in the clubhouse:

Coach John Fox rarely provides any depth chart information or updates on position battles, but it appears Zach Miller is entrenched at tight end.

The trade of Martellus Bennett has given Miller a stranglehold on the job after a career year in 2015, when he caught 34 passes for 439 yards (12.9-yard average) and a team-best 5 TD receptions.

"I think he improved a lot last year," Fox said. "We finished the season with him being the No. 1 tight end, and I don't think that's changed a whole lot, starting this season."

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