Three Standout Storylines that will Define Chicago Bears Training Camp

June 9, 2026; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III (10) warms up during Chicago Bears Minicamp at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

This year's training camp may be one of the most important ones for the Chicago Bears yet! After a great season last year, capping it off with their first Wild Card victory and Division round appearance since January of 2011. This is Ben Johnson’s second year as the head coach for the Bears, which is important as second-year head coaches often make the Super Bowl. This was also a notably great draft for the Bears, and a lot of key players are either returning or getting healthy. But this is just the tip of the iceberg of optimism heading into the 2026-27 season for the Chicago Bears heading into training camp.

Healthy Cornerbacks are Deadly Cornerbacks

The Bears have two of the best cornerbacks in the NFL, Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon. Both of these players also had injuries that took them out at some point this season. Johnson tore an abductor off his pelvic bone that took him out of training camp and preseason last year, and then in week 2 against Detroit he sustained a groin injury that required surgery, taking him off the field the remainder of the season. Gordon was dealing with various soft tissue problems that kept him off the field for all but three games.

Joseph Grassano goes in-depth on why this is a make-or-break season for Kyler and how this could be his biggest season yet. With a player like Kyler Gordon, who is a difference maker for the Bears at the cornerback position, his participation, or lack there of, will be something to watch this training camp. If Gordon is able to remain healthy for the entirety of training camp, that is a great sign for the Bears, even if Johnson gets injured.

Speaking of Jaylon Johnson, he is a back-to-back Pro Bowler. He has had amazing seasons with the Bears, and is entering a leadership role heading into this training camp. Not to mention the fact that he has been falling in his position ranking due to having an injury riddled season. He is going to enter this season hungry and something to prove.

If the Bears have both Johnson and Gordon available at the cornerback position, they could have one of the most dangerous defenses in the NFL. Last years Super Bowl champions had the number one ranked defense. If these cornerbacks stay healthy through training camp, the Bears have the opportunity to make a run to the Super Bowl for the first time since 2007 in Ben Johnson's second season as the Head Coach.

The Reconfiguring WR Room

After DJ Moore got traded to the Buffalo Bills, the Bears are now having to adjust their wide receiver room. The rookies are going to be fighting for the third and fourth spots for wide receiver, and Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III will be fighting for the number one spot. Odunze should arguably be a smooth fit for the number one spot, as he was William’s number one target last year with 90 targets, while Luther Burden III received 60. 

The main contenders for the third and fourth wide receiver spots are Kalif Raymond, Zavion Thomas, Jahdae Walker, and Scotty Miller. Out of the four, Thomas is the only rookie, but he has been turning heads at practice not only with his ability at the wide receiver position, but also his special teams return skill and speed. The former LSU receiver could follow the path of Odunze and start in his first season as a Chicago Bear.

The depth could still change, but the Bears trading DJ Moore leaves an opening at the wide receiver position with players that are hungry to prove themselves. It will come down to who fits best in the system that Ben Johnson has, and if they are going to be reliable consistently throughout the entirety of the season.

Uncertainty at EDGE Rusher

One of the big questions regarding the Bears after the draft was at the edge rusher position. Montez Sweat is currently the one solidified player at the position, which leaves room for others to step up opposite of him. There is potential with Austin Booker and Dayo Odeyingbo, and the coaching staff is closely looking into the development of those two players. 

After a slow start last season, Booker showed some potential and was able to total 4.5 sacks with 12 QB hits and 35 tackles, and this was only in nine games. If Booker stays healthy, the questions regarding the EDGE rusher position will be answered very quickly and in a very positive way.

Obeyingbo, on the other hand, has a lot of pressure to perform. Last offseason, the Bears signed Dayo to a 3-year $48 million contract, $32 million guaranteed. His first year with the Bears was a bit of a failure. In 8 games, he totaled 21 tackles, 2 of them for loss, one sack, four hits on the quarterback, and ten pressures before he tore his Achilles against the Bengals in week nine.