Lucas Patrick's injury creates opportunity for Bears' rookies

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",is_featured:!1,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:"2805e012-cdad-4c8d-9f05-1346f80ebb11",wp_post_id:100000000050,title:"Bears post Luther Burden training camp clip that should terrify NFL cornerbacks",slug:"bears-post-luther-burden-training-camp-clip-that-should-terrify-nfl-cornerbacks",wp_link:null,url_date_path:"2026/08/07",published_at:"2026-08-07T17:41:44.841+00:00",updated_at:"2026-08-07T17:41:44.841+00:00",author_login:"bryanjperez",content:"\x3Cp>At some point, we're going to run out of ways to say that Luther Burden III looks ready to explode in 2026.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The Chicago Bears provided another piece of evidence Friday when their official X account posted a training-camp clip of Burden working through a route, and everything about it looked effortless.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>It's one practice rep in August, but it also looks exactly like what Bears fans have been hearing about Burden throughout training camp.\x3C/p>\x3Cblockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-tweet-url=\"https://x.com/ChicagoBears/status/2085767370060988728?s=20\" data-dnd=\"embed\">\x3Ca href=\"https://x.com/ChicagoBears/status/2085767370060988728?s=20\">https://x.com/ChicagoBears/status/2085767370060988728?s=20\x3C/a>\x3C/blockquote>\x3Cp>Here's another look at the rep, which, as you can see, resulted in Burden beating first-round pick Dillon Thieneman for a score.\x3C/p>\x3Cblockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-tweet-url=\"https://x.com/TheBearsTalk/status/2085409824943034836?s=20\" data-dnd=\"embed\">\x3Ca href=\"https://x.com/TheBearsTalk/status/2085409824943034836?s=20\">https://x.com/TheBearsTalk/status/2085409824943034836?s=20\x3C/a>\x3C/blockquote>\x3Cp>Burden has been one of the biggest standouts of Chicago's summer, repeatedly flashing the explosiveness that made his relatively modest rookie production feel like only the beginning of what he could become.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>He finished 2025 with 47 catches for 652 yards and two touchdowns, but those numbers don't tell the whole story. Burden's efficiency suggested a receiver capable of producing much more once given a larger role in Ben Johnson's offense.\x3C/p>\x3Cimg class=\"my-4 rounded\" src=\"https://jxsasjkteolpvwybngyp.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/sign/cms-media/posts/1785776581539-emq0aa.avif?token=eyJraWQiOiJzdG9yYWdlLXVybC1zaWduaW5nLWtleV80ZmVjZWU3MC03MmJkLTQzZmUtYmJkZi04MGJiZDE2MmEwNTkiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJ1cmwiOiJjbXMtbWVkaWEvcG9zdHMvMTc4NTc3NjU4MTUzOS1lbXEwYWEuYXZpZiIsInNjb3BlIjoiZG93bmxvYWQiLCJpYXQiOjE3ODU3NzY1ODMsImV4cCI6MjEwMTEzNjU4M30.DeIslpPIyopNWwitTEzPiBoV8xDnVHJaUp467-19CjI\" alt=\"Luther Burden Bears\">\x3Ch2>Luther Burden to benefit most from DJ moore trade\x3C/h2>\x3Cp>The D.J. Moore trade opened a significant number of opportunities in Chicago's passing game, and Burden appears positioned to absorb a large portion of them alongside Rome Odunze and Colston Loveland.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>More importantly, the chemistry between Burden and Caleb Williams has been difficult to miss at training camp.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Training-camp clips always come with the appropriate August disclaimer. Nobody earns an All-Pro selection during drills at Halas Hall.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>But there comes a point when a collection of impressive moments starts looking like a trend. Burden is getting close to that point.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>And if what we've seen during the first couple of weeks of Bears training camp carries into September, his second NFL season could look dramatically different from his first.\x3C/p>",excerpt:"Luther Burden III continues to generate breakout buzz at Bears training camp, and his latest route-running clip shows exactly why expectations are soaring.",featured_image_url:"https://jxsasjkteolpvwybngyp.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/sign/cms-media/posts/1786124045788-kieorw.avif?token=eyJraWQiOiJzdG9yYWdlLXVybC1zaWduaW5nLWtleV80ZmVjZWU3MC03MmJkLTQzZmUtYmJkZi04MGJiZDE2MmEwNTkiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJ1cmwiOiJjbXMtbWVkaWEvcG9zdHMvMTc4NjEyNDA0NTc4OC1raWVvcncuYXZpZiIsInNjb3BlIjoiZG93bmxvYWQiLCJpYXQiOjE3ODYxMjQwNDcsImV4cCI6MjEwMTQ4NDA0N30.Ubo9QZRjfCxxRekt59oGm8Fb3lNsu4CQp81Qx5XuAFs",photo_credit:"(Nam Y. Huh/AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)",status:"published",created_at:"2026-08-07T17:29:10.622122+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","training camp"],meta_title:"Bears post Luther Burden clip that should terrify NFL CBs",meta_description:"Luther Burden III keeps producing eye-opening moments at Bears training camp, and Chicago's latest video might be one of the best examples yet.",og_image_url:null,canonical_url:null,focus_keyword:"Luther Burden",reading_time_minutes:1,is_draft:!1,scheduled_publish_at:null,visibility:"public",is_featured:!0},$R[20]={id:"3a099772-b1c7-435b-87c8-f2615890a474",wp_post_id:100000000049,title:"Bears rookie Malik Muhammad could push for starting CB job",slug:"bears-rookie-malik-muhammad-could-push-for-starting-cb-job",wp_link:null,url_date_path:"2026/08/07",published_at:"2026-08-07T16:14:31.113+00:00",updated_at:"2026-08-07T16:14:31.113+00:00",author_login:"bryanjperez",content:"\x3Cp>The Chicago Bears didn't necessarily need Malik Muhammad to become an immediate starter when they selected him in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>But that was way back in April.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>After the first week of padded practices at Bears training camp, Kyler Gordon remains sidelined with a soft-tissue injury. Coach Ben Johnson hasn't provided a timetable for his return, creating an opportunity for someone else in Chicago's secondary to step forward.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Muhammad, the No. 124 overall pick out of Texas, could be that player.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>In fact, \x3Ca target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25460183-7-nfl-rookies-who-could-earn-starting-jobs-during-preseason\">Bleacher Report\x3C/a> recently identified Muhammad as one of seven rookies around the NFL who could crack the starting lineup this season. Interestingly, their reasoning extended beyond Gordon's injury and focused instead on Tyrique Stevenson's uncertain future in Chicago.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>\"Typically, fourth-rounders aren't in tight battles for starting jobs, but it's worth noting that the Bears' current coaching regime inherited Stevenson, and it picked Muhammad, who started for two full collegiate seasons at Texas,\" Bleacher Report's Moe Moton wrote. \"Moreover, general manager Ryan Poles may look to trade Stevenson rather than sign him to a new deal. If that's the case, the third-year cornerback could be on the way out of Chicago, and Muhammad may be his replacement.\"\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The idea of trading Stevenson is speculation, but the larger point about Muhammad shouldn't be dismissed.\x3C/p>\x3Cimg class=\"my-4 rounded\" src=\"https://jxsasjkteolpvwybngyp.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/sign/cms-media/posts/1786119224114-gsq7kl.webp?token=eyJraWQiOiJzdG9yYWdlLXVybC1zaWduaW5nLWtleV80ZmVjZWU3MC03MmJkLTQzZmUtYmJkZi04MGJiZDE2MmEwNTkiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJ1cmwiOiJjbXMtbWVkaWEvcG9zdHMvMTc4NjExOTIyNDExNC1nc3E3a2wud2VicCIsInNjb3BlIjoiZG93bmxvYWQiLCJpYXQiOjE3ODYxMTkyMjYsImV4cCI6MjEwMTQ3OTIyNn0.ebkMYxRFt0WEwG0QUugyGaFv1YZaNZljsJk8plFBt5k\" alt=\"Malik Muhammad Texas\">\x3Cp>Jerome Miron-Imagn Images\x3C/p>\x3Ch2>Malik Muhammad has a starter's resume\x3C/h2>\x3Cp>Muhammad wasn't some developmental lottery ticket coming out of Texas. He started 30 games during his college career and appeared in 41, finishing with 97 tackles, 16 passes defended, and three interceptions. He arrived in Chicago with significant experience against high-level competition and the kind of background that could accelerate his transition to the NFL.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Gordon's continued absence is the most obvious path to early playing time, but there's more at stake in Chicago's secondary than one injury. Stevenson has experienced his share of inconsistency since the Bears selected him in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft, and he now enters the final year of his rookie contract with his long-term future in Chicago unsettled.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Muhammad, meanwhile, is beginning the first year of an inexpensive four-year rookie deal and was selected with Dennis Allen's defense in mind. From both a roster-building and dollars-and-cents perspective, his development matters.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>None of this means the Bears are preparing to move on from Stevenson. It does mean Muhammad gives them options they didn't have before the draft.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The ideal outcome for Chicago is obvious: Stevenson puts together his best season in a contract year, Gordon gets healthy, and Muhammad develops quickly enough to force the coaching staff to find snaps for him.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>But if Gordon's absence lingers and Muhammad proves he's ready sooner than expected, the rookie might not have to wait very long for his opportunity.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>And if he takes advantage of it, things could get interesting in the Bears' secondary\x3C/p>",excerpt:"Bears rookie Malik Muhammad could challenge for a starting cornerback job as questions in Chicago's secondary loom.",featured_image_url:"https://jxsasjkteolpvwybngyp.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/sign/cms-media/posts/1786118799746-6egkj0.webp?token=eyJraWQiOiJzdG9yYWdlLXVybC1zaWduaW5nLWtleV80ZmVjZWU3MC03MmJkLTQzZmUtYmJkZi04MGJiZDE2MmEwNTkiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJ1cmwiOiJjbXMtbWVkaWEvcG9zdHMvMTc4NjExODc5OTc0Ni02ZWdrajAud2VicCIsInNjb3BlIjoiZG93bmxvYWQiLCJpYXQiOjE3ODYxMTg4MDEsImV4cCI6MjEwMTQ3ODgwMX0._WG2z-8QxEfxNhmww5ylHf92apcIAsRRVm2iMCQ-iOY",photo_credit:"Chicago Tribune",status:"published",created_at:"2026-08-07T15:52:10.021475+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:$R[22]=["chicago bears","malik muhammad","training camp"],meta_title:"Malik Muhammad could push for Bears starting CB job",meta_description:"Bears rookie Malik Muhammad could challenge for a starting cornerback job as questions in Chicago's secondary continue to loom after the first week of camp.",og_image_url:null,canonical_url:null,focus_keyword:"malik muhammad",reading_time_minutes:2,is_draft:!1,scheduled_publish_at:null,visibility:"public",is_featured:!1},$R[23]={id:"06669c2c-fb1e-4128-af41-742dc875e3ed",wp_post_id:100000000048,title:"Ben Johnson shuts down idea of moving Darnell Wright to left tackle",slug:"ben-johnson-shuts-down-idea-of-moving-darnell-wright-left-tackle",wp_link:null,url_date_path:"2026/08/07",published_at:"2026-08-07T15:12:38.51+00:00",updated_at:"2026-08-07T15:12:38.51+00:00",author_login:"bryanjperez",content:"\x3Cp>The Chicago Bears made Darnell Wright the highest-paid right tackle in the NFL this week, and despite the uncertainty on the opposite side of the offensive line, they have no intention of asking their newly extended star to solve the problem.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Head coach Ben Johnson made it clear that Wright is staying at right tackle.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>\"No, I don't think that's necessary,\" \x3Ca target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7TKnI0SUnE\">Johnson said when asked about potentially moving Wright to the left side\x3C/a>. \"I think pass rushers are equally good on both sides these days. I don't subscribe to that viewpoint necessarily [where you need your best tackle to play left tackle]. I think he does a really good job on the right side. He's very comfortable over there, and we'll continue to find that left tackle that helps complement our offense and does great things.\"\x3C/p>\x3Cp>It's difficult to argue with Johnson's logic, given how dominant Wright has become on the right side.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The Bears signed the former first-round pick to a four-year, $116 million extension with $93 million guaranteed, securing one of the NFL's ascending offensive tackles through the prime of his career. Wright also became the first first-round selection of the Ryan Poles era to sign a second contract with Chicago.\x3C/p>\x3Cimg class=\"my-4 rounded\" src=\"https://jxsasjkteolpvwybngyp.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/sign/cms-media/posts/1786115441613-7adge4.webp?token=eyJraWQiOiJzdG9yYWdlLXVybC1zaWduaW5nLWtleV80ZmVjZWU3MC03MmJkLTQzZmUtYmJkZi04MGJiZDE2MmEwNTkiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJ1cmwiOiJjbXMtbWVkaWEvcG9zdHMvMTc4NjExNTQ0MTYxMy03YWRnZTQud2VicCIsInNjb3BlIjoiZG93bmxvYWQiLCJpYXQiOjE3ODYxMTU0NDIsImV4cCI6MjEwMTQ3NTQ0Mn0.5V_hL12jgX9Na5lkrHjYJF6WulpoyM73uMTtEFNa394\" alt=\"Darnell Wright Chicago Bears\">\x3Cp>USA TODAY Sports\x3C/p>\x3Ch2>The extension comes after Wright's best season as a pro.\x3C/h2>\x3Cp>According to \x3Ca target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https://www.pff.com/\">Pro Football Focus\x3C/a>, Wright finished 2025 with a career-high 80.3 overall grade and was particularly dominant as a run blocker, earning an 82.7 grade in that category. His presence on the right side was a major reason Chicago consistently found success running behind that side of its offensive line.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>\"As we continue to build our team and develop our culture, we are excited that Darnell will remain a cornerstone of our franchise as we work toward creating sustained success,\" Poles said after the extension was announced. \"Darnell has consistently elevated his play and the performance of his teammates since joining our team, and we look forward to his continued growth and leadership for years to come.\"\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Meanwhile, the Bears still have to determine who will line up opposite Wright.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Braxton Jones has received the majority of the recent first-team work at left tackle, while Chicago continues evaluating its other options during training camp. But regardless of how unsettled that competition becomes, Johnson doesn't appear interested in weakening one side of the offensive line in an attempt to strengthen the other.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The Bears just invested $116 million in Wright because he's developed into one of the NFL's premier right tackles. That's exactly where they plan to keep him.\x3C/p>",excerpt:"Ben Johnson explained why the Bears won't move Darnell Wright to left tackle after signing the star right tackle to a four-year, $116 million extension.",featured_image_url:"https://jxsasjkteolpvwybngyp.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/sign/cms-media/posts/1786115375102-gcmiin.webp?token=eyJraWQiOiJzdG9yYWdlLXVybC1zaWduaW5nLWtleV80ZmVjZWU3MC03MmJkLTQzZmUtYmJkZi04MGJiZDE2MmEwNTkiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJ1cmwiOiJjbXMtbWVkaWEvcG9zdHMvMTc4NjExNTM3NTEwMi1nY21paW4ud2VicCIsInNjb3BlIjoiZG93bmxvYWQiLCJpYXQiOjE3ODYxMTUzNzYsImV4cCI6MjEwMTQ3NTM3Nn0.QNM2oVlMgHHKwLMHpnZMMt_b-L67NojN07PsZNM-aMU",photo_credit:"Kamil Krzaczynski/AP",status:"published",created_at:"2026-08-07T14:55:50.348765+00:00",author_display_name:"Bryan Perez",author_gravatar_hash:"ce9d5105163cfec1a527c0b2f50332df",author_avatar_url:"/api/public/media/authors/bryanjperez-2026.jpg",category_names:$R[24]=["News"],tags:$R[25]=["ben johnson","Chicago Bears","Darnell Wright","training camp"],meta_title:"Bears won't move Darnell Wright to left tackle",meta_description:"Ben Johnson explained why the Bears won't move Darnell Wright to left tackle after signing the star right tackle to a four-year, $116 million extension.",og_image_url:null,canonical_url:null,focus_keyword:"Darnell Wright",reading_time_minutes:2,is_draft:!1,scheduled_publish_at:null,visibility:"public",is_featured:!1},$R[26]={id:"7a4d81bd-450b-4ecc-93c3-a4e2e98c03da",wp_post_id:100000000047,title:"Bears may have found a Day 3 steal in Jordan van den Berg",slug:"bears-may-have-found-a-day-3-steal-in-jordan-van-den-berg",wp_link:null,url_date_path:"2026/08/06",published_at:"2026-08-06T22:10:09.138+00:00",updated_at:"2026-08-06T22:10:09.138+00:00",author_login:"bryanjperez",content:"\x3Cp>The best NFL draft classes aren't always defined by what happens in the first round. Sometimes, they're made when a team finds a legitimate contributor, or even a future starter, on Day 3.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The Chicago Bears might have found one of those players in Jordan van den Berg.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>It's far too early to declare the sixth-round rookie a future starter. At this point in training camp, it's probably too early to guarantee van den Berg a spot on the 53-man roster. But through the first stretch of padded practices, few Bears rookies have generated more buzz.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>That continued Thursday when van den Berg rotated with the first-team defense during inside-run drills, a noteworthy development for the No. 213 overall pick in April's draft. The Bears actually traded up to select the former Georgia Tech defensive tackle, sending two seventh-round picks to Buffalo to acquire the selection.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>And apparently, Chicago's interest in van den Berg went well beyond taking a late-round flier.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>\"Bears have big plans for van den Berg, more so than most sixth-round fliers,\" \x3Ca target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https://x.com/JFowlerESPN/status/2085443248307175915?s=20\">ESPN's Jeremy Fowler shared on X\x3C/a>. \"He tested off the charts in Bears' pre-draft scouting system.\"\x3C/p>\x3Cp>That makes his early training-camp emergence even more intriguing.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Van den Berg's athletic traits were one of the defining characteristics of his pre-draft evaluation. \x3Ca target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"http://NFL.com\">NFL.com\x3C/a>'s Lance Zierlein highlighted his explosive first step and powerful hands while noting that his physical traits could translate particularly well into a one-gap defensive front.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>So far, those traits appear to be showing up at Halas Hall.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Getting opportunities is one thing. Doing something with them is another, and van den Berg has repeatedly flashed the disruptive ability that could make him much more valuable than the typical sixth-round selection.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune \x3Ca target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https://x.com/bearszn/status/2085378572877963688?s=20\">noted Thursday\x3C/a> that van den Berg had multiple impressive reps during one-on-one pass-rush drills, including wins against Logan Jones and Luke Newman. That's particularly notable considering Jones is competing for a significant role along Chicago's offensive line.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Van den Berg also brings an edge to practice. His intensity has already been on display during camp — sometimes quite literally — and that mentality fits what Ben Johnson and Ryan Poles have emphasized as they continue reshaping the roster.\x3C/p>\x3Cimg class=\"my-4 rounded\" src=\"https://jxsasjkteolpvwybngyp.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/sign/cms-media/posts/1786053961310-l0ss3s.webp?token=eyJraWQiOiJzdG9yYWdlLXVybC1zaWduaW5nLWtleV80ZmVjZWU3MC03MmJkLTQzZmUtYmJkZi04MGJiZDE2MmEwNTkiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJ1cmwiOiJjbXMtbWVkaWEvcG9zdHMvMTc4NjA1Mzk2MTMxMC1sMHNzM3Mud2VicCIsInNjb3BlIjoiZG93bmxvYWQiLCJpYXQiOjE3ODYwNTM5NjIsImV4cCI6MjEwMTQxMzk2Mn0.nTR2Lensr0MBvHFR7omN96Ze9HbDg5LdvLr1nTL6H7g\" alt=\"Jordan van den Berg Bears\">\x3Cp>(Josh Boland/Chicago Tribune)\x3C/p>\x3Ch2>The Bears could certainly use a Day 3 jackpot along their defensive line\x3C/h2>\x3Cp>Grady Jarrett is nearing the end of his career, while Gervon Dexter remains an important piece of Chicago's future in the middle. Adding a young, athletic interior defender capable of eventually becoming part of the starting rotation would significantly change the long-term outlook of the position.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Van den Berg still has a long way to go. Training-camp highlights don't guarantee regular-season production, and preseason games will provide a much better test of whether his early success translates against NFL competition.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>But sixth-round picks aren't supposed to be rotating with the starters this quickly.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>And they're usually not generating this much buzz before playing their first preseason snap.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Van den Berg is.\x3C/p>",excerpt:"Sixth-round rookie Jordan van den Berg is already earning first-team opportunities at Bears training camp, and the early returns suggest Chicago may have uncovered a Day 3 steal.",featured_image_url:"https://jxsasjkteolpvwybngyp.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/sign/cms-media/posts/1786054080650-8on7x3.webp?token=eyJraWQiOiJzdG9yYWdlLXVybC1zaWduaW5nLWtleV80ZmVjZWU3MC03MmJkLTQzZmUtYmJkZi04MGJiZDE2MmEwNTkiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJ1cmwiOiJjbXMtbWVkaWEvcG9zdHMvMTc4NjA1NDA4MDY1MC04b243eDMud2VicCIsInNjb3BlIjoiZG93bmxvYWQiLCJpYXQiOjE3ODYwNTQwODEsImV4cCI6MjEwMTQxNDA4MX0.MoSPJNTd-OGjlrh9ML8Q1qgVuTcsdyOhQ7juWIBuDeQ",photo_credit:"Brett Davis-Imagn Images",status:"published",created_at:"2026-08-06T21:49:54.594562+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]=["Chicago Bears","Jordan van den Berg","training camp"],meta_title:null,meta_description:"Sixth-round rookie Jordan van den Berg is already earning first-team opportunities at Bears training camp, and the early returns suggest Chicago may have uncovered a Day 3 steal.",og_image_url:null,canonical_url:null,focus_keyword:"Jordan van den Berg",reading_time_minutes:2,is_draft:!1,scheduled_publish_at:null,visibility:"public",is_featured:!1},$R[29]={id:"861e04fe-c026-4f24-b251-5c1b99c58553",wp_post_id:100000000046,title:"Luther Burden III is turning Bears training camp hype into superstar expectations",slug:"luther-burden-iii-is-turning-bears-training-camp-hype-into-superstar-expectation",wp_link:null,url_date_path:"2026/08/06",published_at:"2026-08-06T17:19:16.065+00:00",updated_at:"2026-08-06T17:19:16.065+00:00",author_login:"bryanjperez",content:"\x3Cp>Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III continues to be one of the biggest stars of training camp, and Thursday offered another reminder of why expectations are soaring for the second-year playmaker.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>The Bears wrapped up another padded practice with the offense finishing on a high note, and Burden was at the center of the day's biggest highlight.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Burden shook rookie first-round safety Dillon Thieneman with a sharp route before hauling in a perfectly placed touchdown pass from Caleb Williams. The score capped a crisp 65-yard two-minute drive by the first-team offense and added another impressive moment to what has been an outstanding first week of camp for Burden.\x3C/p>\x3Cblockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-tweet-url=\"https://x.com/TheBearsTalk/status/2085409824943034836?s=20\" data-dnd=\"embed\">\x3Ca href=\"https://x.com/TheBearsTalk/status/2085409824943034836?s=20\">https://x.com/TheBearsTalk/status/2085409824943034836?s=20\x3C/a>\x3C/blockquote>\x3Cp>Chicago Sports Network's Clay Harbor shared a montage of Burden's route running, too:\x3C/p>\x3Cblockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-tweet-url=\"https://x.com/clayharbs82/status/2085392969687797948?s=20\" data-dnd=\"embed\">\x3Ca href=\"https://x.com/clayharbs82/status/2085392969687797948?s=20\">https://x.com/clayharbs82/status/2085392969687797948?s=20\x3C/a>\x3C/blockquote>\x3Cp>Burden arrived in Chicago as a second-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and enters 2026 positioned for a significant increase in opportunities following the trade of D.J. Moore. His rookie stat line—47 receptions for 652 yards and two touchdowns—was solid, but the underlying metrics suggest he was far more impactful than the traditional numbers indicate.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Fantasy Points Data paints the picture of a player on the verge of a breakout. Burden ranked second in the NFL in yards per route run from heavy personnel (5.26), trailing only Puka Nacua and finishing ahead of Jaxson Smith-Njigba. He also averaged 2.7 yards per route run, tying for the highest mark by a rookie wide receiver in the Next Gen Stats era. The only other rookies to reach that number were A.J. Brown in 2019 and Justin Jefferson in 2020.\x3C/p>\x3Cp>Those are the kinds of comparisons that fuel expectations for a Year 2 leap. If Burden continues flashing the route-running, separation, and playmaking ability he's shown throughout training camp, his 2026 production could finally match the elite efficiency metrics that hinted at a future star all along.\x3C/p>",excerpt:"Luther Burden III continues to dominate Bears training camp, capping a 65-yard touchdown drive while advanced metrics point to a potential Year 2 breakout.",featured_image_url:"https://jxsasjkteolpvwybngyp.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/sign/cms-media/posts/1786036676977-wp85at.webp?token=eyJraWQiOiJzdG9yYWdlLXVybC1zaWduaW5nLWtleV80ZmVjZWU3MC03MmJkLTQzZmUtYmJkZi04MGJiZDE2MmEwNTkiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJ1cmwiOiJjbXMtbWVkaWEvcG9zdHMvMTc4NjAzNjY3Njk3Ny13cDg1YXQud2VicCIsInNjb3BlIjoiZG93bmxvYWQiLCJpYXQiOjE3ODYwMzY2NzgsImV4cCI6MjEwMTM5NjY3OH0.rGypJMUFx9YGrRJt1gmHiBYSB2_py6xxZrNaAJ7bjVM",photo_credit:"Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune",status:"published",created_at:"2026-08-06T17:04:55.77786+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:$R[31]=["caleb williams","chicago bears","luther burden iii","training camp"],meta_title:"Luther Burden III continues Bears camp breakout",meta_description:"Luther Burden III continues to dominate Bears training camp, capping a 65-yard touchdown drive while advanced metrics point to a potential Year 2 breakout.",og_image_url:null,canonical_url:null,focus_keyword:"Luther Burden III",reading_time_minutes:1,is_draft:!1,scheduled_publish_at:null,visibility:"public",is_featured:!1}]},ssr:!0}],lastMatchId:"$year$month$day$slug20220730doug-kramer-lucas-patrick-chicago-bears-training-camp"})($R["tsr"]);$_TSR.e();document.currentScript.remove()