Wide receiver Keenan Allen and cornerback Jaylon Johnson left practice Saturday, but both were healthy, and there’s no concern about them going forward.
Allen stepped out during 11-on-11 work and returned when the team huddled at the end of practice. He had an issue with his cleats, not an injury, a source said.
In his 12th season, Allen hasn’t missed time since joining the Bears and has been one of their most productive wideouts in practice. He’s in the last season of his contract.
A Bears staffer pulled Johnson out early in practice, but coach Matt Eberflus said there was no injury or problem.
“It was personal, but it’s a good thing,” -Eberflus said. “Nothing bad.”
The Bears are in good shape overall with their season opener against the Titans two weeks away. The only starter in question is safety Kevin Byard, who did not practice, but Eberflus said last week, “We feel really confident [with] where he is.”
Offensive lineman Ryan Bates, who was contending for the starting center job, remained out with an injury and essentially ceded that spot to Coleman Shelton.
The Bears also have been missing long snapper Patrick Scales the last few weeks. Eberflus said the team doesn’t know whether he’ll be able to play Week 1, and Cameron -Lyons has been working in his place.
Swing tackle Larry Borom got hurt in the last preseason game Thursday at the Chiefs and did not practice. It appeared to be a right leg injury.
Eberflus said the Bears “love” versatile backup Matt Pryor as a possible replacement in that role if Borom misses significant time.
Roster trimming
The Bears have until 3 p.m. Tuesday to cut their roster to 53 players and got started Saturday morning.
They waived former Illinois defensive tackle Keith Randolph, an undrafted rookie, and released tight end Tommy Sweeney.
Safety Douglas Coleman III was back at Halas Hall after suffering a scary neck injury against the Chiefs. He stayed overnight in a Kansas City hospital before traveling back Friday.
The Bears waived him with an injury designation, meaning if he goes unclaimed by Wednesday, he’ll remain with the team on injured reserve.
They also put wide receiver and returner Nsimba Webster (groin) and running back Ian Wheeler (torn ACL) on injured reserve.
Those moves, along with the arrivals of trade acquisitions Darrell Taylor and Chris Williams, brought the roster down to 87.
Odunze on fast track
The Bears aren’t slow-playing No. 9 pick Rome Odunze at wide receiver. He has been a quick learner, and despite the presence of talented veterans Allen and DJ Moore, he figures to be a huge part of the offense.
“[Odunze is] very capable of doing all those things,” Eberflus said. “He’s able to [retain] a lot of information.”
He led the country in receiving yards at Washington last season, and in his last preseason game, he had a 45-yard catch and a 16-yard run against the Bengals.
2025 draft update
The Bears’ trades for Taylor and Williams left them with seven picks in the 2025 draft.
They have their own pick in each of the first three rounds, plus the Panthers’ second-round pick as part of the 2023 deal to move out of the No. 1 pick. That trade, in which the Bears moved down to No. 9, already has brought them Moore, the 2024 No. 1 pick they used on quarterback Caleb Williams and a 2023 second-rounder they used to draft starting cornerback Tyrique Stevenson.
After the first three rounds, the Bears have their own fifth-rounder, the Steelers’ sixth-rounder and the Browns’ seventh-rounder.
They got the Steelers’ pick when they traded quarterback Justin Fields. It becomes a fourth-rounder if he plays at least 51% of their snaps this season.