Chicago Bears expect even more from Goldman, Grasu

BOURBONNAIS - Although both contributed as rookies last season, much more is expected this year from nose tackle Eddie Goldman and center Hroniss Grasu, who line up across from each other at Chicago Bears practice.

The 6-foot-4, 320-pound Goldman was the Bears' second-round pick (39th overall) in 2015, and he established early on that he will be a major player on the defense for a long time.

Just 21 as a rookie, Goldman started 12 games, led all Bears linemen with 39 tackles and was third on the team with 4½ sacks.

"I saw great progress with Eddie last year in his rookie campaign," coach John Fox said. "He got better as the season went on. He's worked hard. Sometimes it takes a year to develop a pro body and understand the pro schedule. He's improved himself physically."

Grasu, the third-round pick (6-3, 303, 71st overall), started eight games in an up-and-down rookie season.

"He had a bit of a setback when he had the (neck) injury," Fox said of the ailment that sidelined Grasu for three games in the middle of the season after his first two starts.

"I thought he was coming along pretty good. That's hard coming back from injury, especially as a rookie. But I liked his growth and development during the off-season program, and I like what I've seen from him so far this year."

Since last season, Goldman has shed about 15 pounds to increase his endurance and agility, while Grasu added several pounds to increase his strength and ability to anchor.

"At center, you're kind of the quarterback (of the O-line), and he's a very sharp kid," Fox said. "He's added some bulk and some strength (and) he's athletic already, which is why we drafted him where he was.

"Combining that with some of the speed and (improving) the strength of his game, I've seen him develop mostly physically."

Camp highlights:

Speedy wide receiver Kieren Duncan showed up for the second straight day.

The 5-foot-11, 177-pound undrafted rookie from Colorado State-Pueblo, despite tight coverage by fourth-round rookie cornerback Deiondre Hall, caught a touchdown pass underneath the goal post from David Fales during a red-zone portion of Sunday's practice.

Wide receiver Josh Bellamy, seeing more playing time with Marquess Wilson out, also caught a red-zone TD pass in the back of the end zone from No. 2 quarterback Brian Hoyer, beating good coverage by cornerback Jacoby Glenn.

Linebacker Jonathan Anderson, who made the roster last year as an undrafted rookie out of TCU, picked off a Fales pass that went off the hands of rookie running back Jordan Howard. Anderson wound up starting three games last season and playing 315 snaps (30.6 percent).

Injury report:

Guard Kyle Long (calf) and linebackers Nick Kwiatkoski (hamstring) and Roy Robertson-Harris (illness) remained out.

Tight end Khari Lee (shoulder) returned but was limited, as were nose tackle Terry Williams (shoulder) and cornerback Brandon Boykin (pectoral). Nose tackle Eddie Goldman knocked off early with heat illness.

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