Players with the most to gain during training camp part 2
We're just a couple of days away from the start of the Chicago Bears training camp, and there are plenty of storylines to watch. Coming off a disappointing season that saw the introduction of a new regime, the roster is much different than last year and many new faces have a chance to earn important spots. Let's take a look at 3 Bears players with the most to gain during training camp.
Velus Jones Jr.
Darnell Mooney is the only proven commodity among the Bears' wide receivers which has led to a lot of criticism around the passing game. This is however good news for someone like third-round rookie Velus Jones Jr., who figures to factor into Chicago's plans on offense this season. Mooney is the team's top wideout with newcomer Byron Pringle assuming the role of WR2. That still leaves plenty of opportunities for Jones, especially as Mooney should be the subject of double teams.
Jones has impressed this offseason with his speed and playmaking ability, and the Bears envision him being an impact player on offense. While Jones might start slow as a rookie, he could wind up being a big part of this offense.
Thomas Graham Jr.
Graham showed promise in a very limited role as a rookie in 2021. His good play makes the slot cornerback position a competition between him and veteran Tavon Young. Graham has shown plenty of promise but in a very small sample size which makes people question if he can keep that level play with a bigger role. Young appears to be the favorite to start in the slot as he is much more proven than the second-year cornerback. A strong performance in camp and preseason could land Graham some decent playing time when the regular season rolls around.
Justin Fields
Unlike last summer, there's no question that Justin Fields is the team's starting quarterback for the 2022 season. Fields is coming off a rocky rookie season, but he showed his potential with an impressive skill set. Now, Fields gets a fresh start under new offensive coordinator Luke Getsy, who's built an offense that caters to his young QB's strengths. Fields should take a step forward in his development this year, and that starts in training camp.
This summer will be important for Fields when it comes to grasping the new playbook and building chemistry with a group of new pass catchers to the roster, where Darnell Mooney is his only proven option. Fields admitted earlier this offseason that the offense wasn't ready to play a game. But training camp is when everything should start coming together, and it's where Fields should benefit from getting most of the reps.
