Bears OTAs 2026: 3 Thoughts/Reactions

June 3, 2026; Bears quarterback Case Keenum (left, number 11), running back Roschon Johnson (center), and quarterback Caleb Williams (18) take part in Chicago's OTA practice at Halas Hall in Lake Forest, Illinois. Credit: Chris Sweda | Chicago Tribune

It’s certainly been a busy week for the Bears. Wednesday saw quarterback Caleb Williams announced as the cover athlete for “Madden NFL 27”, making him the team’s first-ever player to appear on the cover. Today (in less positive news), the Bears’ board of directors voted to move forward with the stadium development in Hammond, Indiana—though there’s still much more to be worked out, so they won’t be leaving Soldier Field any time soon.

And finally, yesterday saw the NFL’s oldest franchise wrap up their second and final set of voluntary OTA practices at Halas Hall ahead of next week’s mandatory minicamp, which will take place from June 9-11.

The Bears’ OTA sessions packed plenty of highlights, noteworthy developments, and even just amusing social media content. One thing’s for sure—there’s definitely plenty to talk about, and that’s what I’ll be doing here. Here are three of my thoughts/reactions following Bears OTAs.

1: Caleb Williams Might Be The NFL's Next Deep Ball Artist

We already knew Caleb was a great quarterback; the growth he showed throughout last season made that clear. But after OTAs, it seems that one underrated (at least, to me) part of his game could take center stage in 2026: his deep ball.

Williams’ now-viral throw to Rome Odunze last Thursday showcased everything that makes him special—mobility, vision, creativity, and the ability to deliver strikes on the move. It was arguably his best highlight of OTAs, but certainly not his only one. The very next day, he connected with rookie WR Zavion Thomas on a 50-yard bomb. Deep ball artist, indeed.

So yes, Bears fans, it appears Ben Johnson plans to lean more heavily into Williams’ downfield arm talent this season. Bears fans got glimpses of it in 2025, and the rest of the NFL may get a much closer look in 2026. I, for one, am incredibly optimistic about how much more this will open up Chicago’s offense—and about Williams’ chances of becoming the first 4,000-yard passer in franchise history.

2: The Bears Are DEEP At Wide Receiver

The Bears already looked strong at receiver entering OTAs, especially with Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III expected to play major roles. The consensus around Halas Hall—including from Ben Johnson—is that Chicago could employ a "WR1 by committee" approach, which fits the offense's versatility.

That depth could prove especially valuable, given the lingering effects of Odunze’s foot injury. Odunze has said he’s had to adjust to a “new normal” in his training and route running, though his performance during OTAs would indicate he’s adjusted rather quickly. He had several big/flashy plays, and—most importantly—, appeared to have cleaned up the drop issues that surfaced during the second half of last season.

Burden also continued to flash the traits that made him one of Caleb Williams’ favorite targets last year. And with DJ Moore now in Buffalo, he'll have every opportunity to establish himself as one of the offense’s primary weapons in 2026. The expectation—and belief—from many around the Bears is that he’ll do exactly that.

Following OTAs, though, it looks like the Monsters of the Midway won’t have to rely solely on Burden and Odunze. Third-round pick Zavion Thomas generated plenty of buzz with his speed, route running, and playmaking ability. Initially viewed as a special teams weapon, he now looks capable of earning a legitimate offensive role and should see first-team reps during training camp. Jahdae Walker also made several notable plays and spent significant time working with Williams.

In other words, it looks like the Bears offense is in a perfect position to navigate the loss of DJ Moore without missing a beat.

3: The Defense Looks Strong Overall—But Still Has Some Questions

If there was one encouraging takeaway from the defense during OTAs, it was how connected they looked despite several notable absences. Communication was generally solid—though pre-snap penalties remain an issue on both sides of the ball—and the secondary (including Jaylon Johnson, whose participation surprised many) looked impressive.

More importantly, the unit appears far more comfortable in Dennis Allen’s scheme entering Year 2 than it was a season ago. Considering the Bears led the NFL in takeaways in 2025 despite adjusting to/learning that system, that added comfort level could make an already productive defense even better.

That’s encouraging, because there are still questions to answer. While the pass rush is certainly the obvious one, that’s a difficult unit to assess given the non-contact, no-pads nature of OTAs. So, within the context of OTAs, the biggest questions may be at safety, where first-round pick Dillon Thieneman remains one of the offseason’s most intriguing storylines.

While many expected him to immediately claim a starting job, he opened OTAs with the second unit. All indications seemed to point to that decision being more about ‘earning’ the role than any concern about his talent—in other words, it was simply a formality—and he remains the favorite to start alongside Coby Bryant by Week 1.

In terms of individual players, the biggest concern is the status of Kyler Gordon. After missing significant time in 2025 with soft-tissue injuries, Gordon was again sidelined during portions of OTAs. Ben Johnson's comments suggested some frustration, emphasizing that availability is critical for building trust and chemistry. Add in the limited participation of veterans T.J. Edwards and Dayo Odeyingbo—both of whom were present but only worked in individual drills, which was expected—, and it's clear there are still unanswered questions on all three levels.

Of course, OTAs should always be taken with a grain of salt. Pads aren't on, roster battles are still unfolding, and plenty can change between now and Week 1. Still, the early signs are encouraging for the reigning NFC North Champions. Caleb Williams looks poised for another leap, the receiving corps appears deeper than expected (and the tight end room should be excellent as well), and the defense seems to be building chemistry despite some lingering questions.

Ultimately, Bears fans have plenty to look forward to at both mandatory minicamp next week and training camp in late July—and they definitely have plenty of reasons to be optimistic about where this team can go in 2026.