LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- The Chicago Bears open 2023 training camp on July 26 at Halas Hall. Here’s a closer look at a few storylines:
Biggest question: Can Justin Fields evolve as a passer and become Chicago’s franchise quarterback?
General manager Ryan Poles had every chance to move on from Fields -- whom he did not draft -- and select a quarterback when the Bears briefly held onto the No. 1 pick. Poles instead traded that pick and brought in a handful of pieces (WR DJ Moore, OT Darnell Wright, G Nate Davis, TE Robert Tonyan, RBs Roschon Johnson and D'Onta Foreman) to surround Fields with more talent.
Chicago had the NFL’s worst passing offense (130.5 yards per game) last season, but there was a stretch from Week 7-16 where Fields threw 13 touchdown passes to six interceptions while rushing for 861 yards. He’s established himself as a game-breaking threat with his legs, having finished the 2022 season 64 yards shy of Lamar Jackson’s single season QB rushing record. Now, Fields must improve as a passer (in areas like cutting down on his time to throw and making more tight window throws) for this offense to take the next step.
The player with the most to prove: Chase Claypool, WR
The Bears sent a second-round pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers for Claypool last November with the hope that adding a receiver who could stretch the field vertically would support Fields’ growth. The change of scenery has yet to produce much for a player entering a contract year. In eight games with the Bears, Claypool mustered 32 catches for 311 yards and one touchdown.
The benefit of a full offseason with his quarterback should put Claypool in position to prove he’s worth what the Bears spent to get him, despite missing most of OTAs and all of minicamp while dealing with soft tissue injuries. Fields has noticed a difference in Claypool’s approach this offseason.
“Chase has improved tremendously from the end of last year to now,” Fields said this spring. “That’s one thing I’m truly proud to say, seeing his work ethic, his attitude change. You can just see he’s taking another step, so definitely excited for that.”
The most compelling position battle: Who is RB1?
The Bears spent a fourth-round pick on Johnson and signed Foreman in free agency. While Khalil Herbert will get the first crack at replacing David Montgomery as the team’s lead back, Chicago’s by-committee approach will give all three plenty of opportunities to contribute in the backfield. Johnson and Foreman will challenge Herbert, who led all NFL rushers with 5.7 yards per carry in his second season, for that lead role.
Even if it doesn’t manifest itself by Week 1, it would not be surprising to see the rookie supplant Herbert at some point this season. The Bears were drawn to Johnson for how he handled a multitude of roles at Texas, including catching passes out of the backfield and being a four-phase special teams player. His biggest impact is in pass protection, an upgrade he could provide over Herbert and Foreman.
Most impactful offseason addition: DJ Moore, WR
Poles followed the model teams like Buffalo, Philadelphia and Miami have utilized by bringing in a No. 1 wide receiver for his third-year quarterback. The jump Josh Allen saw in Year 3 when being paired with Stefon Diggs or the results from Jalen Hurts having AJ Brown is the blueprint for what the Bears hope will happen between DJ Moore and Fields. The on-field chemistry between the two was noticeable early in OTAs, as Moore displayed deceptive speed and an ability to create separation that hasn’t looked like anything the Bears have had in previous years.
Moore put together three seasons of 1,100 receiving yards from 2019-21 while catching passes from eight quarterbacks over his six seasons in Carolina. The stability provided for both Fields and Moore is the key to the Bears unlocking the potential of the passing game.
Will the Bears add a pass-rusher?
Poles admitted there will be holes on the 2023 roster, but the void at pass-rusher doesn’t feel like one Chicago is comfortable leaving as is. The Bears got 7.5 sacks from their defensive linemen in 2022 (second-fewest in the NFL), and the pass rush pressured opposing quarterbacks on just 22% of pass plays. The team prioritized the interior of the D-line this offseason with the additions of Gervon Dexter Sr., Zacch Pickens, Andrew Billings and DeMarcus Walker (who has inside-outside versatility), but that still leaves a noticeable hole at edge rusher.
There are several bigger name free agents remaining, like Yannick Ngakoue or Justin Houston, who could bolster the league’s worst pass rush. The Bears could do what they did on the eve of camp in 2022 when they signed offensive linemen Riley Reiff and Michael Schofield III, two players who earned modest contracts and played significant roles despite being signed late.