The Bears begin their training camp each year with a press conference to meet with local and national media. This is the second year the presser was led by GM Ryan Poles and HC Matt Eberflus. They were followed by Justin Fields and DJ Moore, representing the offense. The defensive players to be the first to speak as camp begins were veteran Eddie Jackson and newcomer Tremaine Edmunds. Here are some of the highlights from today.
Ryan Poles
One of the first topics Poles touched on was the health of the roster, specifically mentioning Chase Claypool and Darnell Mooney. Both are ready to go and have been cleared to practice. In Claypool's one-day stint on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list, Poles said "he (Claypool) needed an extra day.
Poles then specifically mentioned the progress he has seen from first-round draft choice Darnell Wright. Raving about his rookie offensive tackle, he talked about how Wright "crushed his workout." He added, "he barely broke a sweat."
Poles was adamant in his belief that the team has an improved roster and continuity. He praised his players for their work on and off the field, bonding to create a better environment.
Poles was asked about the 600 lb gorilla in the room regarding the edge rusher, and Poles praised the work of several players but indicated he has had talks with candidates, adding, "It takes two." It will be interesting to see if something more develops.
Matt Eberflus
Head Coach Eberflus is excited about the prospects for this year, and it was apparent as he discussed how his team is practically brand new. His main focus is keeping the team focused on improving day-to-day to be ready for September 10th.
Matt praised T. J. Edwards and Tremaine Edmunds for stepping in immediately and assuming leadership roles with the defense. He also raved about Edmunds and Justing Fields as "elite competitors."
Justin Fields
Justin spoke about his off-season, working hard to improve. While he didn't elaborate on specifics, he simply said he worked on many aspects of his game. His goal is to get this team to be a consistent playoff contender and the goal of becoming a Super Bowl Champion is on everyone's mind. Fields was asked about the Netflix Quarterback show saying he was approached but declined to participate.
Fields also spoke to the confidence he has entering year two with the same offense under Luke Getsy, and how the team is developing a mindset of winning, walking out on the field expecting to win this year.
D J Moore
After coming to Chicago via trade, Moore worked tirelessly learning OC Luke Getsy's system. He mentioned how this system fits his skillset and how it will enhance his production. When asked about the timeline for his connection with Fields, Moore quickly pointed out he works with Fields daily. Moore also was happy to point out how the chemistry has quickly developed with Justin.
Eddie Jackson
Eddie Jackson and LB Tremaine Edmunds were the last to answer questions and Jackson stole the day by vocalizing his frustrations with the team's "same old standard." His excitement about all the new pieces on defense shined throughout his time in front of the media.
To a man, everyone echoed the mindset of winning expectations. Now it's time to get to work.
News and Notes
During the press conference, coach Eberflus announced the first practice in pads will be Wednesday, August 2nd.
Today is Walter Payton's birthday. He would have been 70 years old today.
Congratulations to QB Justin Fields. Fields was named to the top 100 NFL players for 2023, coming in at 86th.
