The Chicago Bears are finally back at Halas Hall for the start of training camp, which is gearing up to be another exciting summer following a promising 2025 season.
With the Bears reporting for training camp on Tuesday, general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson took time to meet with the media and field questions before practice begins Wednesday morning.
There were plenty of notable updates from Poles and Johnson, including regarding injuries to key players like cornerback Kyler Gordon and linebacker T.J. Edwards, as well as an update about a Darnell Wright extension and discussion about quarterback Caleb Williams heading into Year 3.
As the Bears prepare for their first practice on Wednesday, here what we learned from report day:
The frustrating Kyler Gordon issue
The one word that sums up this entire Kyler Gordon injury situation is "frustration," and it starts with Gordon and trickles down to Poles, Johnson and the coaching staff.
After missing most of last season with soft tissue injuries, Gordon is starting the 2026 season off on a sour note. Gordon suffered yet another soft tissue injury -- a calf injury, as confirmed by Poles -- that held him out of the offseason program and has him on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list to start training camp.
"Obviously, he's frustrated. We're frustrated," Poles said. "Everybody here is putting time and effort to getting him back. All hands on deck."
Poles made it clear that Gordon is going to have to earn back the trust of this coaching staff and prove he can be dependable. But that can only happen when he gets back on the field, and there's currently no timetable for his return.
"A little bit of a repetitive situation that we've got to get fixed," Poles said. "And then when he gets back, he's going to have to earn that trust back and that dependability. Because we've got to put all the guys in a good position to be successful, and the up-and-down moving guys around is really tough. So, he'll have to earn that back when he gets back."
Head coach Ben Johnson hasn't been shy when it comes to voicing his frustration with Gordon, making it clear that his lack of availability has been a problem. On report day, Johnson had a message to Gordon as he starts the summer injured.
"Get healthy," Johnson said.
It certainly feels like a warning shot and an indication that Gordon's starting job isn't guaranteed heading into 2026.
Encouraging news on T.J. Edwards
While it was doom and gloom with Kyler Gordon's injury status, there was more positive news on the T.J. Edwards front. Edwards, who was placed on the non-football injury (NFI) list to start training camp, is expected to return to action shortly. Poles said that Edwards suffered a right calf injury while working away from the facility.
"We don't see that as anything major, shouldn't be too long with that," Poles said.
Edwards missed half of the 2025 season due to injuries, but he started all 10 games he played in and logged 67 tackles, an interception and 0.5 sack. Edwards suffered a fractured fibula in Chicago's wild-card win over the Green Bay Packers, but that's not expected to impact his status heading into the 2026 season.
Latest on potential Darnell Wright contract extension
One of the biggest questions this summer is when the Bears will be able to get a contract extension done with right tackle Darnell Wright, who's entering the final year of his rookie deal. The former top-10 pick has been a pillar along Chicago's offensive line and developed into one of the NFL's best right tackles, and it's a foregone conclusion that the Bears will find a way to get a deal done.
"Darnell is a guy we want here long term," Poles said. "It takes two sides to get things done. But at the end of the day, I don’t want any distractions or anything like that. So, when it’s time to go play football, we’ll go play football and keep it moving. But, yeah, he’s a guy we would like here for a while."
As for when a deal might happen, Poles said that "there's a window to get a deal done and at some point we've got to go play football." The hope was Chicago would be able to get an extension done before training camp, but now the goal appears to be before the regular season.
Caleb Williams expectations in Year 3
There are high expectations for Caleb Williams heading into his third season, and second with head coach Ben Johnson. Williams is coming off a breakout sophomore campaign where he set a franchise single-season passing record and led an NFL-record seven fourth-quarter comebacks.
But there's still plenty of work to be done. Johnson sounded off on his young quarterback, breaking down what makes him special and the next steps for Williams as he continues to develop. It's a high compliment from Johnson, who has a reputation for being upfront.
"I mean, he's got it all," Johnson said. "There's really nothing I don't think that he can't do. It's just, the elite arm talent, playmaking ability, escapability, he has his legs that he can hurt a defense with. I mean, there's just so many layers to who he is as a player. I think that word consistency comes up over the course of a 60-minute game or more if we need it to where we're playing high-level quarterback play throughout that game. You see flashes of it. And yet, we're trying to tap into that where we're just consistently delivering the ball where it needs to go, giving it to our guys around us. And then we all know that he has that ability to put on that Superman cape when the time calls for it."
Johnson noted that "things are starting to slow down" for Williams and that he's looking for more anticipation from his young quarterback. As for that completion percentage target, Johnson was asked if 70 percent is still the goal for Williams in 2026.
“It always will be," he said.
Battle for left tackle expected to heat up
One of the biggest takeaways from Tuesday's press conferences was that there's going to be plenty of competition across all positions on the roster, which should make for a fun training camp. But there's one battle in particular that will be key for the Bears offense as they look for a new starting left tackle with Ozzy Trapilo expected to miss most of the season.
Braxton Jones, who signed a one-year deal to return to Chicago this offseason, is the favorite to win the job. After all, he's a three-year starter who's been serviceable in the role since he was drafted in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Last season, injuries derailed his year, but he gets a fresh start now that the job is open with Trapilo sidelined.
Jones will have to hold off veteran newcomer Jedrick Wills Jr. and Theo Benedet, who re-signed with the team this offseason.
"It's going to be a great competition," Poles said, noting that Jones is the healthiest he's been since his rookie season and how he's been impressed with how Jedrick Wills Jr. and Theo Benedet have transformed their bodies this offseason.
Luther Burden III generating excitement
Outside of quarterback Caleb Williams, the player that's been drawing the biggest hype for the Bears is second-year wide receiver Luther Burden III, who's coming off an impressive rookie season where he showcased his promising potential in Ben Johnson's offense.
Burden earned high praise from Poles, who shared some behind-the-scenes info about how the second-round pick has been spending his offseason in preparation for training camp.
"If there’s a guy that I’m really excited about, it’s Luther Burden, just because of how much he’s grown from the day he walked in this building," Poles said. "I mean, I heard he was just texting and calling these quarterbacks just looking for an arm to throw to him every day of the week. The guy loves football, he’s passionate about it. He wants to helps this team win, and he wants to be the absolute best receiver he can possibly be. You can feel the fire inside of him and I’m excited to see that show up."
Setting the stage for Year 2 of Ben Johnson
The Bears took the NFL by storm last season in Ben Johnson's first season as head coach. Now, he's setting the tone for Year 2, and he sounded very excited about getting things started.
"This is where it gets fun," Johnson said. "Call it half the roster is here, half the roster is new. There is a lot of getting to know each other, and yet it's a chance for us to create a new chapter of Chicago Bears football, the 2026 version. … We have to come together as a group. There will be some trials and tribulations. Coaching staff, we're going to apply pressure and stress on these guys. I think that's where the best version of yourself comes forward."
Chicago did find immediate success in 2025, but Johnson has made it clear from the start to his players that the 2026 season is a clean slate where they'll have to prove themselves once again.
"You talk about sustaining success -- well shoot, we are starting all over again," Johnson said. "That's been the consistent message."
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: 7 takeaways from report day at Chicago Bears training camp
