9 Bears players who need a great training camp
As the Chicago Bears head into training camp later this month, there’s going to be a ton of competition for both roster spots and starting jobs, which should bring out the best in these players.
With that said, there are some players who find themselves on the roster bubble ahead of camp, which means they’re going to need to make an impression during training camp. With several starting jobs and roster spots up for grabs, that leaves just training camp for players to prove their worth to general manager Ryan Pace and head coach Matt Nagy.
Let’s take a look at nine Bears players who need a great training camp.
QB Andy Dalton
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While Andy Dalton has been guaranteed the starting job for Week 1, the pressure in on the veteran to outperform rookie Justin Fields in training camp. It doesn't matter that Matt Nagy has said Fields can't win the starting job in camp, Dalton's every snap, every throw and every decision will be compared to Fields, who could very well outperform him and put the pressure on Nagy to reconsider his decision.
WR Javon Wims
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While Javon Wims has been on the active roster since he was drafted in the seventh round in 2018, there's a chance that he could be without a roster spot if he doesn't impress in camp. The Bears added several new faces at wide receiver this offseason, including veterans Marquise Goodwin and Damiere Byrd and rookie Dazz Newsome, who are all contenders to earn roster spots. It doesn't help that the last impression Wims left was a dropped touchdown pass during the wild-card game. There's a ton of experience and promising talent threatening his roster spot.
CB Kindle Vildor
AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh
For all intents and purposes, Kindle Vildor appears to be the frontrunner to land the starting cornerback spot opposite Jaylon Johnson. That's what appeared to be the case during minicamp, where Vildor was working with the first-team defense and impressed throughout the offseason. But he's certainly going to face strong competition from veterans Desmond Trufant and Artie Burns, both of whom could also be competing for a roster spot outside of a starting job.
AP Photo/Gary McCullough
Following the release of Bobby Massie, the Bears have a right tackle starting job up for grabs. Last season, Germain Ifedi filled in for an injured Massie at right tackle, where he was decent. Where things stand, it appears that the job is Ifedi's to lose. But Juan Castillo said that rookie Larry Borom will challenge Ifedi for the job, which means Ifedi is going to need a strong camp to fend Borom off.
WR Riley Ridley
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Like Wims, the pressure is on former fourth-round pick Ridley Ridley to have a flashy camp. While playing time has already been a concern for Ridley, his biggest challenge will be making the 53-man roster with the influx of talent at wide receiver. Given Ridley hasn't made enough of an impression on coaches before this offseason, it's hard to believe he can suddenly wow coaches to earn a roster spot over proven veterans like Goodwin and Byrd or a promising rookie in Newsome.
CB Artie Burns
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What a difference a year makes. At this time last year, Artie Burns entered training camp as the favorite to win the starting job opposite former Bears cornerback Kyle Fuller. Burns was getting snaps with the first-team defense in camp before suffering a torn ACL. Now, Jaylon Johnson has assumed Fuller's CB1 role and Burns isn't just competing for the starting job, he's fighting for a roster spot with the likes of Vildor and Trufant. Burns is going to need a strong camp to earn a spot on the 53-man roster.
ILB Josh Woods
AP Photo/Michael Conroy
The Bears addressed depth at inside linebacker this offseason with the addition of Christian Jones, who figures to win the main reserve role behind starters Roquan Smith and Danny Trevathan. That leaves likely one inside linebacker spot on the roster up for grabs between Josh Woods and Joel Iyiegbuniwe. The good news for Woods is that he seemed to be the guy over Iyiegbuniwe last year following injury to Smith. But Woods is going to need to impress to earn that valuable roster spot.
CB Ryan Nall
AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast
The Bears added some depth at running back this offseason with the additions of veteran Damien Williams and rookie Khalil Herbert, who should earn roster spots. Depending on how many running backs the Bears decide to carry, Ryan Nall could be without a roster spot given Williams' experience and Herbert's special teams contribution as a kick returner. Nall will also face competition from Artavis Pierce, who saw action in five games last season.
ILB Joel Iyiegbuniwe
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With competition at reserve inside linebacker, it's going to take a strong training camp for Iyiegbuniwe to earn his roster spot in 2021. With likely four roster spots up for grabs at inside linebacker, that leaves Iyiegbuniwe and Woods to battle it out for the fourth spot behind Smith, Trevathan and Jones. Unfortunately for Iyiegbuniwe, Woods appears to currently have the upper hand. But that could certainly change with an impressive camp from Iyiegbuniwe.
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