Bears training camp: Williams slims down, Odunze targets elite receiving role, Gordon absent

Caleb Williams arrived at Chicago Bears training camp reporting a 10-15 pound weight loss, accomplished through consistent eating habits, an 7 p.m. eating cutoff, and prioritized sleep, according to ESPN's reporting. The second-year QB stated he expects to move faster and operate more smoothly on the field, while OC Ben Johnson has added responsibility to Williams' pre-snap duties, including coverage recognition and the authority to check, kill, or audible plays.

Williams and Johnson have aligned on a specific target: a 70% completion percentage for the 2026 season, per ESPN's reporting. The offensive focus extends to the receiving corps, where WR Rome Odunze set personal goals to reach 1,000 receiving yards, 100 catches, and double-digit touchdowns this season. Odunze spent five games on the sideline during the 2025 regular season with a stress fracture in his left foot that dipped his early-November production, but stated his foot now feels great and that he no longer thinks about the injury. He dismissed characterizations of a new normal, and declared he believes without a doubt he is capable of being a top-tier No. 1 receiver, per ESPN.

Tight end Colston Loveland, who led the Bears in receiving during his 2025 rookie campaign, and WR Luther Burden III both figure into the receiving hierarchy. Loveland connected with Williams on a diving catch during 7-on-7 drills, where the QB was reported perfect by ESPN. Kalif Raymond, a veteran reserve, made a catch of the day during 11-on-11 work: a 50-plus yard touchdown pass.

Odunze faces significant target competition in a receiving room that produced mixed results last season. While Loveland's rookie-year production suggests a reliable outlet, and Burden III is making his case as a top target, Odunze's 1,000-yard and 100-catch goals will depend on his health durability and target share in Johnson's system.

Defensively, the Bears continue navigating roster questions. Defensive end Montez Sweat was activated from the non-football illness list on Wednesday and participated in his first practice; the illness was expected to sideline him for only a few days. CB Kyler Gordon remains on the physically unable to perform list with no recovery timeline after experiencing a delay in his recovery from a calf injury, per ESPN. The Bears plan contingency work at nickel corner with reserve DBs Cam Lewis, Jaylon Jones, Josh Blackwell, and rookie Malik Muhammad expected to rotate into the slot.

LB T.J. Edwards started camp on the non-football injury list after sustaining a calf injury during offseason training away from Halas Hall, though the Bears do not expect him to miss significant time. DT Grady Jarrett, entering his 12th season, stated the team's mentality is we are always the hunters and emphasized internal process focus. New safety Coby Bryant has quickly become the standard for the type of player defensive coordinator Dennis Allen wants; Allen praised his speed, violence, intelligence, and instincts.

On the offensive line, GM Ryan Poles stated he wants to keep RT Darnell Wright in the fold long-term and that there is a window to complete a contract extension before camp enters its heaviest phase. Wright earned second-team All-Pro honors in 2025 despite playing with an injured elbow for more than half the season; he was the 10th pick in the 2023 draft. Context arrived Tuesday when Vikings RT Brian O'Neill signed a four-year, $96 million extension, becoming the second-highest paid right tackle in the NFL at $24 million per year, behind Philadelphia's Lane Johnson at $25 million per year, per ESPN.

At center, the Bears expect competition between Garrett Bradbury and Logan Jones. Poles noted Jones is in a really good place physically but acknowledged the game at center is a lot different at the professional level for a young player. The Bears typically pursue contract extensions before camp thickens, as they did with TE Cole Kmet in 2023 and WR DJ Moore in 2024.