Chicago Bears starting center Lucas Patrick suffered a hand injury in training camp this week that will require surgery and six-to-eight weeks to heal. There's optimism that he'll be back in the starting lineup by the time Week 1 rolls around. For now, his absence opens the door for some of Chicago's younger offensive linemen to get quality reps.
The most obvious beneficiary of Patrick's injury is rookie center Doug Kramer.
Kramer, the former University of Illinois standout, was selected by the Bears in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He, along with last year's starter, Sam Mustipher, will receive the lion's share of first-team reps while Patrick recovers.
“Obviously, it’s a great opportunity,” Kramer said this week. “It’s still super early in camp, so right now, I’m just trying to stay locked in, learn as much as I can, and try to go after that spot, for sure.”
Kramer doesn't really have an opportunity to unseat Patrick for the starting job. When healthy, Patrick will be in the lineup. But if Kramer is indeed the next man up at center, he has to be ready to play if his number is called during the regular season.
“I’ve worked to try to get to that point, and I’ve put in a lot of time studying the playbook and trying to understand things in great detail and depth so I can be a tool for the other guys on the offensive line,” Kramer said. “And that’s a very similar mindset to what I had in Illinois, and I’m just trying to get back to that understanding of the level of detail that’s needed to be a center in this league.”
Kramer already has a fan in Bears coach Matt Eberflus.
“Super smart. Able to make all the calls,” Eberflus said of Kramer. “Sometimes you think, ‘Well, mentally it might be too big for somebody to make the mike points and change protections with the quarterback and make the line calls and be the point guy on that.’ It’s not. He’s able to do that. Now, the physical side of it, he has to learn leverage and how to play and jump to the second level under control and be able to stick and stay on linebackers, you know, understanding all those things. That’s to be expected.”
The physical side is part of the reason why Doug Kramer fell to the sixth round. He's an undersized player at 6-2, 300 pounds. Any physical advantage he can find will be critical to him enjoying sustained success in the NFL.
“It’s a dream come true," Kramer said. 'It’s hard to even think that I’m at this point, but it’s great to be here and just taking it step by step.”
Chicago Bears starting center Lucas Patrick suffered a hand injury in \x3Ca href=\"https://bearstalk.com/category/training-camp/\">training camp\x3C/a> this week that will require surgery and six-to-eight weeks to heal. There's optimism that he'll be back in the starting lineup by the time Week 1 rolls around. For now, his absence opens the door for some of Chicago's younger offensive linemen to get quality reps.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The most obvious beneficiary of Patrick's injury is rookie center Doug Kramer. \x3C/p>\x3Cp>Kramer, the former University of Illinois standout, was selected by the Bears in the sixth round of the \x3Ca href=\"https://www.chicagobears.com/photos/bears-2022-draft-picks\">2022 NFL Draft\x3C/a>. He, along with last year's starter, Sam Mustipher, will receive the lion's share of first-team reps while Patrick recovers.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>“Obviously, it’s a great opportunity,” Kramer said this week. “It’s still super early in camp, so right now, I’m just trying to stay locked in, learn as much as I can, and try to go after that spot, for sure.”\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Kramer doesn't \x3Cem>really \x3C/em>have an opportunity to unseat Patrick for the starting job. When healthy, Patrick will be in the lineup. But if Kramer is indeed the next man up at center, he has to be ready to play if his number is called during the regular season.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>“I’ve worked to try to get to that point, and I’ve put in a lot of time studying the playbook and trying to understand things in great detail and depth so I can be a tool for the other guys on the offensive line,” Kramer said. “And that’s a very similar mindset to what I had in Illinois, and I’m just trying to get back to that understanding of the level of detail that’s needed to be a center in this league.”\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Kramer already has a fan in Bears coach Matt Eberflus.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>“Super smart. Able to make all the calls,” Eberflus said of Kramer. “Sometimes you think, ‘Well, mentally it might be too big for somebody to make the mike points and change protections with the quarterback and make the line calls and be the point guy on that.’ It’s not. He’s able to do that. Now, the physical side of it, he has to learn leverage and how to play and jump to the second level under control and be able to stick and stay on linebackers, you know, understanding all those things. That’s to be expected.”\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The physical side is part of the reason why Doug Kramer fell to the sixth round. He's an undersized player at 6-2, 300 pounds. Any physical advantage he can find will be critical to him enjoying sustained success in the NFL.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>“It’s a dream come true,\" Kramer said. 'It’s hard to even think that I’m at this point, but it’s great to be here and just taking it step by step.”\x3C/p>\x3Cp>\x3Ca href='https://bearstalk.com/membership-account/membership-levels/\">\x3Cstrong>\x3Cem>Click here to subscribe to Bears Talk and join\x3C/em> \x3Cem>the conversation on our growing social network. Please consider one of our premium levels too. Every subscription helps grow the site.\x3C/em>\x3C/strong>\x3C/a>\x3C/p>",excerpt:"Chicago Bears rookie Doug Kramer will get first-team reps following the injury to starting center Lucas Patrick during Bears training camp ...",featured_image_url:"/api/public/media/2025/07/Untitled-design-3-1-original.jpg",photo_credit:null,status:"published",created_at:"2026-06-23T13:24:34.381588+00:00",author_display_name:"Bryan Perez",author_gravatar_hash:"ce9d5105163cfec1a527c0b2f50332df",author_avatar_url:"/api/public/media/authors/bryanjperez-2026.jpg",category_names:$R[14]=["2022 Season"],tags:$R[15]=["2022-nfl-season","2022-season","chicago-bears","doug-kramer","news","training-camp"],meta_title:null,meta_description:null,og_image_url:null,canonical_url:null,focus_keyword:null,reading_time_minutes:null,is_draft:!1,scheduled_publish_at:null,visibility:"public",linkedContent:"\x3Cp>Chicago Bears starting center Lucas Patrick suffered a hand injury in \x3Ca href=\"https://bearstalk.com/category/training-camp/\">training camp\x3C/a> this week that will require surgery and six-to-eight weeks to heal. There's optimism that he'll be back in the starting lineup by the time Week 1 rolls around. For now, his absence opens the door for some of Chicago's younger offensive linemen to get quality reps.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The most obvious beneficiary of Patrick's injury is rookie center Doug Kramer. \x3C/p>\x3Cp>Kramer, the former University of Illinois standout, was selected by the Bears in the sixth round of the \x3Ca href=\"https://www.chicagobears.com/photos/bears-2022-draft-picks\">2022 NFL Draft\x3C/a>. He, along with last year's starter, Sam Mustipher, will receive the lion's share of first-team reps while Patrick recovers.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>“Obviously, it’s a great opportunity,” Kramer said this week. “It’s still super early in camp, so right now, I’m just trying to stay locked in, learn as much as I can, and try to go after that spot, for sure.”\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Kramer doesn't \x3Cem>really \x3C/em>have an opportunity to unseat Patrick for the starting job. When healthy, Patrick will be in the lineup. But if Kramer is indeed the next man up at center, he has to be ready to play if his number is called during the regular season.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>“I’ve worked to try to get to that point, and I’ve put in a lot of time studying the playbook and trying to understand things in great detail and depth so I can be a tool for the other guys on the offensive line,” Kramer said. “And that’s a very similar mindset to what I had in Illinois, and I’m just trying to get back to that understanding of the level of detail that’s needed to be a center in this league.”\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Kramer already has a fan in Bears coach Matt Eberflus.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>“Super smart. Able to make all the calls,” Eberflus said of Kramer. “Sometimes you think, ‘Well, mentally it might be too big for somebody to make the mike points and change protections with the quarterback and make the line calls and be the point guy on that.’ It’s not. He’s able to do that. Now, the physical side of it, he has to learn leverage and how to play and jump to the second level under control and be able to stick and stay on linebackers, you know, understanding all those things. That’s to be expected.”\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The physical side is part of the reason why Doug Kramer fell to the sixth round. He's an undersized player at 6-2, 300 pounds. Any physical advantage he can find will be critical to him enjoying sustained success in the NFL.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>“It’s a dream come true,\" Kramer said. 'It’s hard to even think that I’m at this point, but it’s great to be here and just taking it step by step.”\x3C/p>\x3Cp>\x3Ca href='https://bearstalk.com/membership-account/membership-levels/\">\x3Cstrong>\x3Cem>Click here to subscribe to Bears Talk and join\x3C/em> \x3Cem>the conversation on our growing social network. Please consider one of our premium levels too. Every subscription helps grow the site.\x3C/em>\x3C/strong>\x3C/a>\x3C/p>",related:$R[16]=[$R[17]={id:"d923e0c7-7948-45b2-95fb-92b902586610",wp_post_id:100000000041,title:"Ben Johnson's Amon-Ra St. Brown comparison reveals enormous expectations for Luther Burden",slug:"ben-johnsons-amon-ra-st-brown-comparison-enormous-expectations-luther-burden",wp_link:null,url_date_path:"2026/08/03",published_at:"2026-08-03T17:08:53.586+00:00",updated_at:"2026-08-03T17:08:53.586+00:00",author_login:"bryanjperez",content:"\x3Cp>The Luther Burden hype isn't slowing down. If anything, it's heating up.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>On Monday, Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson offered the strongest endorsement yet of Burden's future, comparing the second-year receiver to one of the NFL's premier playmakers: former Detroit Lions star pupil Amon-Ra St. Brown.\x3C/p>\x3Cblockquote>\x3Cp>\"St. Brown in Detroit, who I have a strong affinity for, he plays the game the same way,\" Johnson said. \"I feel that from Luther. I know he wasn't a full-time starter for us a year ago, but the snaps that he did have, he's got that competitive edge and desire to be great. It's carried over into the spring and summer as well. He's been a regular in the building, working with our strength staff. He wants to be the most conditioned player on the team. Wants to be one of the strongest receivers on the team and just continues to soak in all the knowledge.\"\x3C/p>\x3C/blockquote>\x3Cp>That's not the kind of comparison Johnson throws around lightly.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>He spent three seasons as St. Brown's offensive coordinator in Detroit and watched firsthand as the former fourth-round pick developed into one of the NFL's elite wide receivers. If Johnson sees similar traits in Burden, Bears fans should be ecstatic.\x3C/p>\x3Ch3>Ben Johnson has seen this breakout before\x3C/h3>\x3Cp>Johnson became Detroit's offensive coordinator in 2022, St. Brown's second NFL season.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>After posting 90 receptions for 912 yards and five touchdowns as a rookie in 2021, St. Brown exploded under Johnson's guidance. He surpassed 1,100 receiving yards in 2022 before establishing himself as one of football's true superstars with 119 catches, 1,515 yards, and 10 touchdowns in 2023. He followed that with a career-high 12 touchdown receptions during Johnson's final season as the Lions' offensive coordinator.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Burden's rookie numbers—47 catches for 652 yards and two touchdowns—don't compare favorably on the surface, but context matters.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Unlike St. Brown, Burden wasn't asked to carry an offense as a rookie. He played behind established veterans D.J. Moore and Rome Odunze, running routes on just 41% of Chicago's dropbacks. Even with limited opportunities, he consistently made the most of them.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Burden finished third in the NFL in yards per route run (2.62), trailing only Puka Nacua and Jaxon Smith-Njigba among qualifying receivers. It's one of the best marks by a rookie receiver over the last decade and suggests his production could skyrocket with a larger workload.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Now, that opportunity is here. Moore is gone, and Burden is expected to play a much bigger role in Ben Johnson's offense.\x3C/p>\x3Ch3>Luther burden's ceiling is becoming obvious\x3C/h3>\x3Cp>Johnson's comparison wasn't based solely on talent.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Like St. Brown, Burden has attacked the offseason with an obsession to improve. Johnson praised his competitiveness, his commitment to conditioning, and his desire to become one of the strongest players on the roster.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>That relentless work ethic is what helped transform St. Brown from an overlooked Day 3 pick into an All-Pro, and Johnson believes Burden possesses that same internal drive.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>\"They kind of flip a switch when they go on the field, and they feel like they're invincible and they're the best players out there,\" Johnson said.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Burden still has to earn his targets. Rome Odunze and Colston Loveland will command significant opportunities in Chicago's passing game, and Caleb Williams has no shortage of weapons.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>But if Burden's role expands the way many expect—and if his elite efficiency carries over with increased volume—the comparison to St. Brown may wind up looking far less ambitious than it does today.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Everything Johnson has said throughout the offseason points in one direction for Luther Burden: superstardom.\x3C/p>",excerpt:"Ben Johnson compared Luther Burden to Amon-Ra St. Brown, signaling the Bears have enormous expectations for the second-year receiver in 2026.",featured_image_url:"https://jxsasjkteolpvwybngyp.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/sign/cms-media/posts/1785776581539-emq0aa.avif?token=eyJraWQiOiJzdG9yYWdlLXVybC1zaWduaW5nLWtleV80ZmVjZWU3MC03MmJkLTQzZmUtYmJkZi04MGJiZDE2MmEwNTkiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJ1cmwiOiJjbXMtbWVkaWEvcG9zdHMvMTc4NTc3NjU4MTUzOS1lbXEwYWEuYXZpZiIsInNjb3BlIjoiZG93bmxvYWQiLCJpYXQiOjE3ODU3NzY1ODMsImV4cCI6MjEwMTEzNjU4M30.DeIslpPIyopNWwitTEzPiBoV8xDnVHJaUp467-19CjI",photo_credit:null,status:"published",created_at:"2026-08-03T16:49:06.897231+00:00",author_display_name:"Bryan Perez",author_gravatar_hash:"ce9d5105163cfec1a527c0b2f50332df",author_avatar_url:"/api/public/media/authors/bryanjperez-2026.jpg",category_names:$R[18]=["News"],tags:$R[19]=["chicago bears","luther burden"],meta_title:"Ben Johnson reveals enormous expectations for Luther Burden",meta_description:"Ben Johnson compared Luther Burden to Amon-Ra St. Brown, signaling the Bears have enormous expectations for the second-year receiver in 2026.",og_image_url:null,canonical_url:null,focus_keyword:"Luther Burden",reading_time_minutes:3,is_draft:!1,scheduled_publish_at:null,visibility:"subscribers"},$R[20]={id:"d69d9cc6-4215-447f-b1a5-39595b1b7fe4",wp_post_id:100000000039,title:"Caleb Williams has Bears offense surging early at 2026 training camp",slug:"caleb-williams-has-bears-offense-surging-early-at-2026-training-camp",wp_link:null,url_date_path:"2026/07/31",published_at:"2026-07-31T15:35:31.026+00:00",updated_at:"2026-07-31T15:35:31.026+00:00",author_login:"bryanjperez",content:"\x3Cp>For the first time in what feels like forever, the Chicago Bears' offense is setting the tone at training camp.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Led by Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams, the offense has consistently gotten the better of the defense through the first few practices. For a fan base that has endured years of uneven quarterback play and sluggish offensive camps under Mitch Trubisky, Justin Fields, and even Williams' rookie season, it's a welcome change.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Honestly? It's about time.\x3C/p>\x3Cblockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-tweet-url=\"https://x.com/bearszn/status/2082952080701190245?s=20\" data-dnd=\"embed\">\x3Ca href=\"https://x.com/bearszn/status/2082952080701190245?s=20\">https://x.com/bearszn/status/2082952080701190245?s=20\x3C/a>\x3C/blockquote>\x3Cp>No one is rooting against Dennis Allen's defense. But after years of watching the offense sputter every July and August, seeing it operate with confidence and efficiency is a refreshing sight.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Williams has looked sharp from the opening practice. He's developed early chemistry with Rome Odunze and Luther Burden, Colston Loveland appears bigger and more explosive than he did as a rookie, and veteran addition Kalif Raymond is already carving out what looks like a meaningful role.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Thursday's practice was another encouraging step forward, and Friday's early returns brought more of the same, even if Jaylon Johnson snagged Williams' first interception of team drills.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Williams strung together an impressive \x3Ca target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https://x.com/ilannfl18/status/2083196289378918549?s=20\">series of plays\x3C/a>:\x3C/p>\x3Cul>\x3Cli>\x3Cp>Stepped confidently into the pocket and fired a 25-yard strike to Rome Odunze with outstanding anticipation.\x3C/p>\x3C/li>\x3Cli>\x3Cp>Checked into a naked bootleg and found Cole Kmet uncovered for an easy seven-yard gain.\x3C/p>\x3C/li>\x3Cli>\x3Cp>Dropped a perfectly placed sail-route throw to Colston Loveland for another 25-yard completion.\x3C/p>\x3C/li>\x3C/ul>\x3Cp>That's the kind of rhythm Bears fans have been waiting to see.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Of course, perspective still matters.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>I've often cautioned Bears fans not to overreact to negative training camp reports from beat writers like Dan Wiederer. His observations are usually rooted in reality, even when they pour cold water on preseason optimism. The same principle applies when the reports are overwhelmingly positive. Two or three strong practices don't guarantee regular-season success.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>But they're a lot more fun than the alternative.\x3C/p>\x3Cblockquote>\x3Cp>\x3Ca target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https://x.com/kfishbain/status/2083213693899202728?s=20\">https://x.com/kfishbain/status/2083213693899202728?s=20\x3C/a>\x3C/p>\x3C/blockquote>\x3Cp>The biggest difference this year starts with the man running the offense.\x3Cbr>\x3Cbr>Ben Johnson isn't Matt Eberflus. He isn't Matt Nagy. There are no gimmicks or manufactured headlines. He's widely regarded as one of the NFL's premier offensive architects, and he's building on a foundation that already exists rather than starting from scratch.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>For the first time in his NFL career, Caleb Williams is entering a season in the same offensive system he played in the year before. That's a massive advantage for any young quarterback, and it's showing.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Last season, despite adjusting to a brand-new offense, Williams set the Bears' single-season passing record and nearly broke the franchise's touchdown-pass record. He accomplished all of that after openly admitting that training camp often felt overwhelming.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Last year, Williams looked like he was trying to stay afloat. This year, he's swimming like Michael Phelps.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>There will be rough practices. Every quarterback has them. Every offense hits bumps during training camp. That's part of the process.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>But through the opening stretch at Halas Hall, the arrow is pointing decisively upward for the Bears' offense. And for the first time in a long time, that optimism feels earned.\x3C/p>",excerpt:"For the first time in years, the Chicago Bears' offense is winning the early days of training camp. Caleb Williams looks comfortable in Year 2 under Ben Johnson, and the results are already showing.",featured_image_url:"https://jxsasjkteolpvwybngyp.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/sign/cms-media/posts/1785511719947-chct17.webp?token=eyJraWQiOiJzdG9yYWdlLXVybC1zaWduaW5nLWtleV80ZmVjZWU3MC03MmJkLTQzZmUtYmJkZi04MGJiZDE2MmEwNTkiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJ1cmwiOiJjbXMtbWVkaWEvcG9zdHMvMTc4NTUxMTcxOTk0Ny1jaGN0MTcud2VicCIsInNjb3BlIjoiZG93bmxvYWQiLCJpYXQiOjE3ODU1MTE3MjAsImV4cCI6MjEwMDg3MTcyMH0.R65C9wily2U7YNRkoAUMExOSWScGzHJ8Yqvti7I_214",photo_credit:"Kamil Krzaczynski, IMAGN IMAGES",status:"published",created_at:"2026-07-31T14:55:08.432119+00:00",author_display_name:"Bryan Perez",author_gravatar_hash:"ce9d5105163cfec1a527c0b2f50332df",author_avatar_url:"/api/public/media/authors/bryanjperez-2026.jpg",category_names:$R[21]=["News"],tags:$R[22]=["caleb williams","chicago bears","training camp"],meta_title:"Bears Training Camp: Caleb Williams Fuels Hot Start",meta_description:"The Chicago Bears' offense has outperformed the defense through the first practices of 2026 training camp, and Caleb Williams is fueling the hot start.",og_image_url:null,canonical_url:null,focus_keyword:"caleb williams",reading_time_minutes:2,is_draft:!1,scheduled_publish_at:null,visibility:"subscribers"},$R[23]={id:"47c3937b-f75a-42bb-ba84-2bf45a99f0d6",wp_post_id:100000000038,title:"Early Rome Odunze Training Camp Highlights Should Excite Chicago Bears Fans",slug:"rome-odunze-training-camp-foot-injury-healthy-2026",wp_link:null,url_date_path:"2026/07/29",published_at:"2026-07-29T18:52:58.421+00:00",updated_at:"2026-07-29T18:52:58.421+00:00",author_login:"bryanjperez",content:"\x3Cp>Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze enters the 2026 season facing what feels like a pivotal year in his young career.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The former ninth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft has flashed the talent that made him a top-10 selection, but he hasn't yet developed into the dominant No. 1 receiver many expected. He looked well on his way during the early part of the 2025 season before a lingering foot injury derailed his momentum and raised legitimate questions about whether he'd ever regain the physical dominance that defined his college career.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Odunze addressed the injury in June, \x3Ca target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/rome-odunze-says-he-has-a-new-normal-with-his-foot-after-injury-last-season\">offering an honest update about where things stand\x3C/a>.\x3C/p>\x3Cblockquote>\x3Cp>“It’s not from a standpoint that I’m like always in pain, but the way my foot broke, there’s calluses in there that creates a different type of foot structure with those bones — different things that kind of shifts things around. So my new normal was kind of what I am going into. And I don’t think that’s anything that’s going to prohibit me or keep me from making plays.”\x3C/p>\x3C/blockquote>\x3Cp>While the comments were reassuring in one sense, they also gave Bears fans pause.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>A \"new normal\" involving structural changes to a foot isn't exactly the kind of update anyone wants to hear from a 6-foot-3, 214-pound receiver whose game depends on explosiveness, balance, and sharp route running.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Through two NFL seasons, Odunze's production has been solid but not spectacular.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>He finished his rookie year with 54 receptions for 734 yards and three touchdowns before following it with 44 catches, 661 yards, and six scores in just 12 games during the 2025 season.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The touchdown production improved, and for several weeks, he looked ready to emerge as Chicago's go-to receiver.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Then came the foot injury.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Now, with training camp underway, Bears fans finally have a reason for optimism.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Videos from Wednesday's first practice painted a much different picture than the concerns surrounding his offseason comments.\x3C/p>\x3Cblockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-tweet-url=\"https://x.com/TheBearsTalk/status/2082499736989262307?s=20\" data-dnd=\"embed\">\x3Ca href=\"https://x.com/TheBearsTalk/status/2082499736989262307?s=20\">https://x.com/TheBearsTalk/status/2082499736989262307?s=20\x3C/a>\x3C/blockquote>\x3Cp>On multiple reps, Odunze looked explosive off the line of scrimmage, accelerating through his stem before sinking his hips effortlessly at the top of his routes. There was no visible hesitation, no noticeable loss of burst, and no signs of a player favoring an injured foot.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Simply put, he looked healthy.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Receivers with Odunze's size typically don't move the way he does when fully healthy. His ability to explode into and out of breaks has always been one of his defining traits, and those flashes were on full display during the opening practice of camp.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>It's only one day, and nobody should overreact to training camp highlights. But it's equally fair to acknowledge what the highlights showed. Odunze looked like himself.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The Bears are counting on him to take the next step in 2026, and if Wednesday's practice is any indication, the foot injury that slowed his breakout may finally be in the rearview mirror.\x3C/p>",excerpt:"Rome Odunze entered Bears training camp with lingering questions about the foot injury that interrupted his 2025 season. After one practice, those concerns appear to be fading as the former first-round pick looked explosive, fluid, and ready to take the next step.",featured_image_url:"https://jxsasjkteolpvwybngyp.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/sign/cms-media/posts/1785350925187-2fs1ya.webp?token=eyJraWQiOiJzdG9yYWdlLXVybC1zaWduaW5nLWtleV80ZmVjZWU3MC03MmJkLTQzZmUtYmJkZi04MGJiZDE2MmEwNTkiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJ1cmwiOiJjbXMtbWVkaWEvcG9zdHMvMTc4NTM1MDkyNTE4Ny0yZnMxeWEud2VicCIsInNjb3BlIjoiZG93bmxvYWQiLCJpYXQiOjE3ODUzNTA5MjYsImV4cCI6MjEwMDcxMDkyNn0.mHmhXbaYY1BAqkYeN0rLWIWFLA5AB10Jx4AfkK1xt5A",photo_credit:"Geoff Stellfox/GettyImages",status:"published",created_at:"2026-07-29T18:04:53.235408+00:00",author_display_name:"Bryan Perez",author_gravatar_hash:"ce9d5105163cfec1a527c0b2f50332df",author_avatar_url:"/api/public/media/authors/bryanjperez-2026.jpg",category_names:$R[24]=["News"],tags:$R[25]=[],meta_title:"Rome Odunze Looks Healthy as Bears Training Camp Begins",meta_description:"Rome Odunze looked explosive during the Bears' first training camp practice, easing concerns about the foot injury that slowed his breakout in 2025.",og_image_url:null,canonical_url:null,focus_keyword:"Rome Odunze",reading_time_minutes:2,is_draft:!1,scheduled_publish_at:null,visibility:"subscribers"},$R[26]={id:"97bd8443-cd65-4159-8761-269f5bcecf38",wp_post_id:100000000037,title:"ESPN analyst believes Caleb Williams could enter MVP conversation",slug:"espn-analyst-believes-caleb-williams-could-enter-mvp-conversation",wp_link:null,url_date_path:"2026/07/28",published_at:"2026-07-28T16:53:28.727+00:00",updated_at:"2026-07-28T16:53:28.727+00:00",author_login:"bryanjperez",content:"\x3Cp>Chicago Bears fans aren't accustomed to having a quarterback capable of carrying an offense every Sunday.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Caleb Williams may not have fully reached superstar status yet, but after his electrifying 2025 campaign, it's becoming increasingly difficult to argue he isn't on that trajectory.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Yes, there's still room for growth.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Williams' week-to-week consistency and overall accuracy remain areas he can improve. But when the stakes were highest, few quarterbacks in the NFL made bigger plays.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>His game-winning touchdown pass against the Green Bay Packers in the Wild Card round instantly became one of the greatest postseason throws in franchise history.\x3C/p>\x3Cblockquote>\x3Cp>\x3Ca target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https://x.com/StephenLetizia/status/2006518423543755066?s=20\">https://x.com/StephenLetizia/status/2006518423543755066?s=20\x3C/a>\x3C/p>\x3C/blockquote>\x3Cp>One week later, he nearly topped it.\x3C/p>\x3Cblockquote>\x3Cp>\x3Ca target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https://x.com/ChicagoBears/status/2013078241406251493?s=20\">https://x.com/ChicagoBears/status/2013078241406251493?s=20\x3C/a>\x3C/p>\x3C/blockquote>\x3Cp>Williams delivered another jaw-dropping play against the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Divisional Round, nearly willing Chicago to an improbable comeback and a trip to the NFC Championship Game.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Those are the kinds of moments that separate good quarterbacks from franchise-changing stars.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>And they're why some national analysts believe Williams could take another leap in 2026.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Speaking on ESPN's \x3Cem>First Take\x3C/em>, NFL insider Peter Schrager said he expects the Bears quarterback to enter the league's MVP conversation this season.\x3C/p>\x3Cblockquote>\x3Cp>\"I expect Caleb to be in the MVP conversation,\" Shrager said. \"I love his game. And if he does the little things, which he did a lot of last year, and that was the criticism. Going in. Why not? The sky is the limit for Chicago guys. I really am high on them right now. And I know it's late July, but that's okay because last year, again, no one had Seattle going this far, and they were hoisting the Lombardi at the end of the year.\"\x3C/p>\x3C/blockquote>\x3Cp>Bears veterans report to Halas Hall today, with the first full training camp practice scheduled for Wednesday, July 29. Every snap from here forward will be another step in determining whether Williams can turn immense potential into legitimate MVP consideration.\x3C/p>",excerpt:"Peter Schrager believes Caleb Williams could be an NFL MVP candidate in 2026. Here's why the Bears quarterback is generating massive expectations entering 2026.",featured_image_url:"https://jxsasjkteolpvwybngyp.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/sign/cms-media/posts/1785256297377-txeyui.webp?token=eyJraWQiOiJzdG9yYWdlLXVybC1zaWduaW5nLWtleV80ZmVjZWU3MC03MmJkLTQzZmUtYmJkZi04MGJiZDE2MmEwNTkiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJ1cmwiOiJjbXMtbWVkaWEvcG9zdHMvMTc4NTI1NjI5NzM3Ny10eGV5dWkud2VicCIsInNjb3BlIjoiZG93bmxvYWQiLCJpYXQiOjE3ODUyNTYyOTgsImV4cCI6MjEwMDYxNjI5OH0.8y-TAWGYncL26Kc_UCFRrP-c47RMvZ5RhDeDo43JAwU",photo_credit:"IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect",status:"published",created_at:"2026-07-28T16:23:45.821784+00:00",author_display_name:"Bryan Perez",author_gravatar_hash:"ce9d5105163cfec1a527c0b2f50332df",author_avatar_url:"/api/public/media/authors/bryanjperez-2026.jpg",category_names:$R[27]=["News"],tags:$R[28]=[],meta_title:"Peter Schrager Predicts Caleb Williams Will Enter MVP Race",meta_description:"Peter Schrager believes Caleb Williams could be an NFL MVP candidate in 2026. Here's why the Bears quarterback is generating massive expectations.",og_image_url:null,canonical_url:null,focus_keyword:"Caleb Williams",reading_time_minutes:1,is_draft:!1,scheduled_publish_at:null,visibility:"public"},$R[29]={id:"32565a8f-1d8d-4260-bc49-291b3020221d",wp_post_id:100000000036,title:"Caleb Williams is all-in on Bears WR Luther Burden",slug:"caleb-williams-is-all-in-on-bears-wr-luther-burden",wp_link:null,url_date_path:"2026/07/27",published_at:"2026-07-27T18:55:26.937+00:00",updated_at:"2026-07-27T18:55:26.937+00:00",author_login:"bryanjperez",content:"\x3Cp>The hype surrounding Luther Burden keeps growing, and now Caleb Williams is adding even more fuel to the fire.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Appearing on \x3Cem>Up & Adams\x3C/em>, the Chicago Bears quarterback couldn't say enough about his second-year wide receiver, describing Burden as exactly the kind of player every quarterback wants.\x3C/p>\x3Cblockquote>\x3Cp>\"He makes the first guy miss every time,\" Williams said. \"That's his trait. He catches everything. He's a friendly receiver to the QB.\"\x3C/p>\x3C/blockquote>\x3Cp>Those are lofty words from the franchise quarterback, but Burden appears positioned to justify them.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>After playing a limited role as a rookie—running a route on just 41% of Chicago's dropbacks—Burden is expected to see a significant jump in playing time in 2026. The offseason trade that sent D.J. Moore to the Buffalo Bills leaves a sizable opportunity in the Bears' passing attack, and Burden looks like the favorite to capitalize.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The underlying metrics suggest he's ready.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Burden commanded just 11.9% of Chicago's targets last season, ranking 89th among receivers who ran at least 230 routes. That number should climb considerably with Moore's 82 vacated targets now available.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>And if Burden earns those opportunities, the production could explode.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Among receivers with at least 230 routes run in 2025, Burden ranked third in the NFL in yards per route run, trailing only Puka Nacua and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. That's elite company, and a strong indication that increased volume could translate into a massive statistical leap.\x3C/p>\x3Cblockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-tweet-url=\"https://x.com/TheFFBallers/status/2034691668474036366?s=20\" data-dnd=\"embed\">\x3Ca href=\"https://x.com/TheFFBallers/status/2034691668474036366?s=20\">https://x.com/TheFFBallers/status/2034691668474036366?s=20\x3C/a>\x3C/blockquote>\x3Cp>The Bears have been encouraged by Burden's development throughout the offseason, too.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>\"I'm buying Luther Burden stock right now, just how he's approached his offseason,\" head coach Ben Johnson said in May. \"It's been electric. He showed up yesterday, had numerous explosive plays. I loved how in Phase 2 he was finishing every single rep that he took, and that really translated over to yesterday as well. So, he's in a really good spot. He's still developing and growing his route tree... He's been extremely coachable, so I'm really happy with him.\"\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Between Williams' confidence, Johnson's praise, and Burden's elite efficiency as a rookie, the ingredients are in place for one of the Bears' biggest breakout stories of the 2026 season.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>If the expanded role arrives, don't be surprised if Burden becomes the most explosive playmaker in Chicago's offense.\x3C/p>",excerpt:"Caleb Williams is fueling the Luther Burden hype after calling him a \"quarterback's dream.\" Here's why the Bears receiver is primed for a breakout 2026 season.",featured_image_url:"https://jxsasjkteolpvwybngyp.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/sign/cms-media/posts/1785177404572-l1nhq3.webp?token=eyJraWQiOiJzdG9yYWdlLXVybC1zaWduaW5nLWtleV80ZmVjZWU3MC03MmJkLTQzZmUtYmJkZi04MGJiZDE2MmEwNTkiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJ1cmwiOiJjbXMtbWVkaWEvcG9zdHMvMTc4NTE3NzQwNDU3Mi1sMW5ocTMud2VicCIsInNjb3BlIjoiZG93bmxvYWQiLCJpYXQiOjE3ODUxNzc0MDUsImV4cCI6MjEwMDUzNzQwNX0.YvKswTyE5R1IP74IpAl5I4x6DbptlId44F2TllJ7BXM",photo_credit:"Getty Images",status:"published",created_at:"2026-07-27T18:35:17.568573+00:00",author_display_name:"Bryan Perez",author_gravatar_hash:"ce9d5105163cfec1a527c0b2f50332df",author_avatar_url:"/api/public/media/authors/bryanjperez-2026.jpg",category_names:$R[30]=["News"],tags:$R[31]=["ben-johnson","caleb-williams","chicago-bears","joe-thuney","training-camp","wide-receivers"],meta_title:"Caleb Williams is all-in on Bears WR Luther Burden",meta_description:"Caleb Williams is fueling the Luther Burden hype after calling him a \"quarterback's dream.\" Here's why the Bears receiver is primed for a breakout 2026 season.",og_image_url:null,canonical_url:null,focus_keyword:"Luther Burden",reading_time_minutes:2,is_draft:!1,scheduled_publish_at:null,visibility:"subscribers"}]},ssr:!0}],lastMatchId:" $year $month $day $slug 2022 07 30 doug-kramer-lucas-patrick-chicago-bears-training-camp"})($R["tsr"]);$_TSR.e();document.currentScript.remove()
