Chicago Bears Training Camp: 5 takeaways from 1st practice

It's only the first practice of Chicago Bears training camp, but let's be honest: it couldn't have started any better.

Justin Fields was on fire. DJ Moore was making plays. Cole Kmet got paid, and no one got hurt.

That adds up to a pretty good start to a critical training camp for Fields, coach Matt Eberflus, and the entire Bears organization.

Here are five takeaways from the Bears' first training camp practice.

Justin Fields' offseason work is already paying off

First impressions matter, and Fields made a strong one Wednesday.

"Saw some real nice throws out there from Justin," Eberflus said after practice. "Connected with DJ (Moore), connected with EQ (St. Brown), Clay (Chase Claypool), tight ends, Bobby (Tonyan), he connected with pretty much everyone.

"I thought the operation on offense was good for the first day."

Yes, it's only one practice. And yes, Eberflus said it was similar to an OTA session. But it's better to have a young quarterback trying to stack good days rather than trying to make up for a bad day.

Fields will try to stack good days when the Chicago Bears kick off practice Thursday.

DJ Moore is making an early impact

Bears fans across the country were smiling ear-to-ear when they saw this clip make its rounds on social media:

Justin Fields threw a dime to DJ Moore, who beat rookie cornerback Tyrique Stevenson downfield for a touchdown.

The more Fields and Moore build chemistry on plays like this in practice, the more we can expect them to connect once the season kicks off in September.

Chase Claypool is all business

So much for the Chase Claypool haters.

The fourth-year wideout met with the media Wednesday and said he's treating this season like the prove-it year it is.

“It’s the biggest year of my life,” Claypool said. “And I understand that. If anybody thinks my work ethic isn’t matching that, they’re deeply mistaken. I get motivated and motivated and motivated. It just keeps building.”

A motivated Claypool is exactly the kind of Claypool the Chicago Bears need in 2023. His freakish blend of size and speed make him a nightmare for opposing defenders when he's on top of his game. All signs point toward him being in the right headspace, which is half the battle.

Velus Jones Jr. is more special teamer than a wide receiver

The path to reps as a wide receiver will be tough for Bears not named DJ Moore, Darnell Mooney or Chase Claypool. So for a player like Velus Jones Jr., who the Bears drafted in the third round of the 2022 NFL draft, his best chance of sticking around will be on special teams.

Eberflus said Wednesday that Jones is showing early improvement as a punt returner and suggested he could offer value as a gadget player and third receiver. But if his rookie season was any indication, Jones will first have to prove himself on special teams before he'll be trusted on offense.

Wednesday was a good start for him.

Cole Kmet contract sends message to locker room

The Bears signed tight end Cole Kmet to a four-year, $50 million contract Wednesday in a move that not only locked up a critical player for his prime years but also sent a message to the locker room: If you go about your business the right way, the Bears will pay you.

It's important for a roster as young as Chicago's to see hard work pay off with a massive contract. Every player wants to win games and get to the Super Bowl, but cashing in with a life-changing second contract is, in most cases, equally as important.

I don't think Ryan Poles' timing with Kmet's contract was a coincidence. It sent a jolt of electricity through the locker room on Day 1 of training camp and has set the tone for a competitive summer of practice sessions.