This time a year ago, weaknesses in the new-look Chicago Bears began to show. Under a new regime, with new coaches and several new players, the offense often appeared stymied in training camp. On top of that, off-field drama in the form of arrests, injuries, and hold-outs kept the Bears in an ugly light.
As we wrapped up the first week of the 2023 training camp, things could not be more different. The Bears are reasonably healthy, no one has been arrested, and of the three key players eligible for contract extensions -- Cole Kmet, Jaylon Johnson, Darnell Mooney, and Chase Claypool -- one (Kmet) received a big payday while the others sound like they understand they have more to prove.
Most important of all, the offense is rolling.
To summarize the reports from the first week of camp, Justin Fields has been slinging the rock with incredible confidence, anticipation, and accuracy. DJ Moore has been terrorizing the secondary. Kmet has made some circus catches, and Mooney and Claypool are ramping up from their injuries nicely.