Chicago Bears training camp preview: Caleb Williams, WRs among top storylines (2024)

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- The Chicago Bears opened training camp Saturday at Halas Hall, 12 days ahead of kicking off the NFL's preseason football slate in the annual Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio, against the Houston Texans.

Here's a closer look at a few storylines.

Biggest question: How ready are the Bears to contend in 2024?

After 10 wins over two seasons, including a 7-10 mark last year, Chicago finally feels ready to move out of the rebuilding stage. Expectations changed when the Bears shipped Justin Fields to Pittsburgh and drafted Caleb Williams with the No. 1 pick, which gives this team a quarterback it believes will be the catalyst behind winning games.

Chicago's commitment to building a sustainable roster backed by a defense ready to become a top-10 unit and an offense that boasts more talent at receiver, running back and tight end puts Williams in the best position to lead this team to its first winning record since 2018.

But while the Bears appear ready to contend for a postseason spot, they might have to wait a year until they're in the race for a division title. The NFC North is one of two divisions with three teams that have a 40% chance to make the playoffs, which includes the Bears, according to ESPN Analytics. Detroit (52%) and Green Bay (31%) are the current division favorites.

Most impactful offseason (non-QB) addition: Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze.

Williams is the biggest addition, but Chicago's wide receiver room went from having no depth behind DJ Moore (1,364 yards, 8 TDs last season -- both career highs) to boasting three 1,000-yard receivers. They sent a fourth-round pick to the Los Angeles Chargers for 12-year vet Keenan Allen (1,243 yards) and used the No. 9 pick on Rome Odunze, who led college football in receiving (1,640 yards at Washington).

Moore's explosiveness combined with Allen's smooth route running and Odunze's ability as a deep threat (24 deep receptions on 60 targets of 20-plus yards) gives Williams a plethora of options in the passing game.

Are the Bears a pass rusher away?

Chicago's defense expects to be one of the best units in the league, and for good reason. Jaylon Johnson established himself as the NFL's best cover corner (33.3 passer rating allowed into his coverage), Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards are a rock-solid duo at linebacker, and Montez Sweat changed the trajectory of this defense when he was acquired at the trade deadline last season.

But even with the addition of Sweat, the Bears still finished with the lowest sack percentage (4.64%) and second-fewest sacks (30). Chicago has roughly $12 million in salary cap space, which gives the front office flexibility to add another defensive lineman to shore up the pass rush. Yannick Ngakoue, who is expected to be ready to practice soon after recovering from season-ending ankle surgery, is available and knows the defense. The Bears also have the sort of draft capital, including two 2025 second-round picks, that could yield an upgrade via a trade.

The player with the most to prove: Velus Jones Jr.

After an up-and-down start to his NFL career, the third-year wide receiver may have caught a huge break and method to solidify his spot on the 53-man roster via the new kickoff rules. Jones won't have to worry about carving out a significant role for himself on offense behind Chicago's top three wide receivers after catching 11 passes his first two years, and he may finally be able to show off his best asset -- his explosive speed -- consistently as a returner.

"A guy like that with the type of skill set, with the speed and power that he has, and he's coming full speed ahead at you ... it's like a damn freight train running at you," special teams coordinator Richard Hightower said. "And he's going to get an opportunity to touch the ball three or four more times a game.

"But this new rule, because of the landing zone, because of the league incentivizing returns, it's only going to have a really good effect for our whole return team, and for a guy like that to really change the game."

The most compelling position battle: Center

There aren't many spots up for grabs on this roster, but the battle to fortify the interior of the offensive line begins at center. Chicago had long kept tabs on Ryan Bates before sending a fifth-round pick to Buffalo this offseason to acquire him while also signing Coleman Shelton in free agency. Shelton played 1,113 snaps at center in 2023 and was a starter with the Los Angeles Rams the last two seasons. Bates is expected to start for the Bears, who rotated multiple players at center throughout OTAs and minicamp.