The pads are back on in Lake Forest. Chicago Bears veterans reported to Halas Hall on July 28, with rookies already on the grounds since July 25, according to ESPN. The team’s official account marked the occasion online, posting “Let #BearsCamp begin” alongside a photo from the field — a fitting kickoff line for a roster with real expectations this summer.
What’s Actually at Stake This Camp
The scheduling is straightforward: the Bears open camp for veterans July 28, and their first practice open to the public lands July 31, according to NBC Chicago. Ten public practices are on the calendar this summer at Halas Hall, giving fans more access than most NFL camps offer.
Let #BearsCamp begin 🏕️ pic.twitter.com/glo33Hui1Y
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) July 29, 2026
On the field, two position battles stand out early. At center, veteran Garrett Bradbury is the presumptive Week 1 starter, but rookie second-round pick Jones — a former Iowa lineman — is pushing hard, according to ESPN. Second-round picks don’t get drafted to sit, and camp reps will decide how much runway Bradbury actually has.
Left tackle is murkier. Ozzy Trapilo’s knee injury forced Chicago to restart the competition from scratch there, and Braxton Jones has taken the bulk of first-team reps this spring, leaning on 44 career starts and a clean injury history, per ESPN.
Up front on defense, the line is working to get back to fundamentals after an inconsistent stretch, according to FOX 32 Chicago. Consistency up front was a swing factor for Chicago last season, and camp reps against the starting offensive line will be the clearest early signal of whether that group has actually taken a step forward.
Fans Get a Bigger Role This Year
The Bears are also leaning further into fan engagement in 2026. Beyond the standard open practices, the team is adding themed days — including a Kids Day, a Celebrating Women & Girls in Sports Day, and Vamos Bears Day — each with expanded fan spaces, entertainment, and merchandise offerings, according to the Chicago Bears’ official site. It’s a notable expansion from past summers, and it signals a franchise trying to build atmosphere around a team that finally has something to build around.
What Comes Next
Camp battles will start sorting themselves out over the next two weeks, and joint practices — a staple of recent Bears camps — will offer the first real look at this roster against outside competition. Nothing is settled yet. But for a team that hasn’t strung together this kind of momentum in years, every August rep carries a little more weight than usual.
