For many, training camp doesn’t officially start until the first padded practice. Well, the Chicago Bears officially brought out the pads for Monday’s practice, and that crowd of folks can now rejoice as yet another milestone is passed on the road to the NFL’s week 1.
While there’s been plenty of turnover in both roster and coaching staff for the Bears this offseason, attendees at practice had no trouble noticing a couple of familiar faces standing out in (or rather above) the crowd. That’s because
two Chicago Bulls made their way to Bears camp as Guard Ayo Dosunmu and Forward Matas Buzelis made an appearance in Lake Forest.
Dosunmu and Buzelis are both notably hometown players – a trend that Bears GM Ryan Poles has started and continued with many of his own roster moves, so it’s not a major surprise for either of them to be in town and available for a photo op with Quarterback Caleb Williams and company. Still, it’s always nice to see a Chicago sports crossover.
Dosunmu is entering a contract year in his fifth season for the Bulls, while Buzelis joined Williams and Receiver Rome Odunze as part of 2024’s class of Chicago rookies. While expectations for Buzelis (the number 11 overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft) are understandably not as high as Williams, Matas flashed potential throughout the season last year, giving Bulls fans at least SOMETHING to hold onto.
Claw’s up to seasons of fully-fulfilled potential.
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