Bears Training Camp Preview: Caleb Williams’ Consistency Headlines Chicago’s Biggest Questions

The Chicago Bears open training camp at Halas Hall in Lake Forest on July 25 for rookies, with veterans following on July 28. Coming off an 11-6 season that ended with an NFC North title and a playoff win over Green Bay, Chicago heads into Ben Johnson’s second year as head coach with real expectations attached — starting with the quarterback.

Can Caleb Williams find consistency?

Caleb Williams flashed superstar upside in Year 1 under Johnson. He set a franchise single-season passing record with 3,942 yards and helped Chicago rally from fourth-quarter deficits in seven games, according to ChicagoBears.com — the most such comebacks by an NFL team since at least 1970. Two of those wins came against the rival Packers.

The flashes were real. So were the lulls. Williams’ 2026 challenge isn’t finding a new gear — it’s cutting out the drive-killing misfires that showed up between the highlight throws. Quarterbacks coach J.T. Barrett has been pushing what the staff calls “easy money” throws this offseason — take the open short pass instead of hunting a deep shot every time, according to 247Sports. It’s a small mechanical shift, but one the Bears believe raises the floor without capping the ceiling.

Williams sounds locked in. “There’s so much to unlock,” he said this offseason. “There’s so much to get better at. There’s so much left of ball for me and us and accolades that we’ll have as a team,” he told ChicagoBears.com.

He’s now the Madden NFL 27 cover athlete and heads into a third season where a strong showing could put a long-term extension on the table for general manager Ryan Poles — even though talks technically can’t begin until after this season, per Yahoo Sports’ Bears Wire.

Defensive uncertainty, from front to back

Chicago’s defense enters camp with more questions than answers. The Bears made only modest additions to the interior defensive line and are banking on bounce-back years from Grady Jarrett and Gervon Dexter Sr. Opposite Montez Sweat, the pass rush still lacks a proven second option, with Austin Booker the likeliest candidate to take that next step after a strong finish last season.

Shemar Turner’s return from a torn ACL suffered last October adds another layer of uncertainty up front.

The secondary carries its own questions. Chicago is replacing both starting safeties, leaning on Coby Bryant and Cam Lewis to match the turnover production of last year’s group. First-round rookie Dillon Thieneman is the name to watch — whether he’s ready to start producing in defensive coordinator Dennis Allen’s scheme by Week 1 is one of camp’s bigger open questions.

The offensive line’s two open battles

Ozzy Trapilo’s patellar tendon injury in last season’s Wild Card Round rules him out for at least the start of 2026. That pushes veteran Braxton Jones into the left tackle mix, where he’ll have to hold off Jedrick Wills Jr. and Theo Benedet for the Week 1 job. If that side of the line struggles, it threatens to undercut a group that otherwise projects as one of the league’s better units.

At center, the Bears are moving on from Drew Dalman, who announced his retirement this offseason. Garrett Bradbury is the presumptive starter, but second-round rookie Logan Jones could push for the job in camp.

A receiver room in flux

After trading DJ Moore to the Buffalo Bills this offseason, Chicago’s receiver depth chart is more open than it’s been in years. Luther Burden III and Rome Odunze are considered the favorites to lead the room, but according to Yahoo Sports, the battle for the rest of the depth chart — and for chemistry with Williams — could be one of the most closely watched storylines of camp. Tight end Colston Loveland adds another dimension to a Johnson offense that likes to deploy multiple tight end looks.

Camp snapshot

Ten days out from the first practice, Chicago’s biggest question is the one that’s followed Williams since draft night: can the flashes become the floor? Everything else — the defensive front, the receiver pecking order, the left tackle battle — bends around the answer.