With left guard Teven Jenkins limited and center/guard Ryan Bates mending but still out, the Bears were in mix-and-match mode with their offensive line again Thursday, the final training camp practice before preparation for the regular season opener begins in earnest next week.
They remain on target for a starting lineup of left tackle Braxton Jones, Jenkins, center Coleman Shelton, right guard Nate Davis and right tackle Darnell Wright.
With all the excitement over rookie quarterback Caleb Williams and wide receivers DJ Moore, Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze, the offensive line is an x-factor.
Wright, the No. 10 overall pick in the 2023 draft, was excellent as a rookie and is a developing anchor. But there are question marks everywhere else. Jenkins played at a Pro Bowl level when healthy last year, but missed five games and has missed 20 overall in three seasons. And Poles couldn’t help but acknowledge the reality that Davis, whom he signed to a three-year, $30 million contract in 2023, “obviously needs to continue to work on his dependability and his consistency.”
But Poles, an offensive lineman at Boston College, likes what he’s got. “I think that group has the ability to be special,” he said.
And he’s confident that lineup can take a hit.
“This is probably the best depth I’ve ever had,” Poles said. “I let one of the guys go on cut-downs and I was like, ‘Man, you did an excellent job. I wish we could keep you here.’ He said, ‘This is the deepest room I’ve ever been a part of.’
“So we have more versatility, more depth. Shoot, we have 10 guys, so I feel comfortable. Obviously you want your starting five to be healthy and ready to go, but I feel more confident in the depth of our offensive line that I ever have before.”
While depth is valuable, continuity might be more important. The Bears have used 18 different starting lineups on their offensive line in Poles’ first two seasons and 42 different combinations overall. Out of 2,172 offensive plays in Matt Eberflus’ two seasons, no combination has played more than 137 consecutive snaps together.
Roll call
Defensive end Montez Sweat, wide receiver Keenan Allen and cornerback Jaylon Johnson (personal) did not practice Thursday. Also out were running back Roschon Johnson, Bates and defensive tackle Zacch Pickens.
Safety Kevin Byard was limited but participated in a portion of team drills. Jenkins participated in the opening team drill, but Bill Murray and Matt Pryor shared his spot for the rest of practice.
Campus visits
While Bears players have the weekend off before Week 1 preparation begins Monday, general manager Ryan Poles does not.
As has been his custom, he will spend Labor Day weekend scouting big-time college football games. Poles is scheduled to attend No. 1 Georgia vs. No. 14 Clemson in Atlanta on Saturday afternoon, a source said, and fly from there to see No. 7 Notre Dame visit No. 20 Texas A&M that night. His tour ends with No. 13 LSU and No. 23 USC playing in Las Vegas on Sunday.
The Bears hope they aren’t picking near the top of the draft again in 2025, but they have a first-round pick and two second-rounders.
Vikings sign Rypien
The Vikings signed former Bears quarterback Brett Rypien on Thursday, waiving quarterback Jaren Hall to make room for him.
The Bears cut Rypien on Tuesday after he posted one of the best exhibition seasons in the NFL. He posted a 131.4 passer rating in the preseason, but was firmly entrenched as the team’s No. 3 quarterback. The Bears brought back the No. 4, undrafted rookie Austin Reed, to the practice squad.
Contributing: Jason Lieser, Patrick Finley