Chicago Bears: 5 Names Quietly Excelling at Training Camp

The Chicago Bears have had plenty of notable standouts in training camp so far. Some of them established stars and others high profile acquisitions.

This has made it easy for other players on the roster to get overlooked. With 80-90 bodies on the field every day, that’s not a huge surprise. Still, it’s important to take stock of these young men because one never knows. They might end up becoming bigger contributors than we realize. So while the Mitch Trubiskys, Jordan Howards, Leonard Floyds, and Kyle Fullers do their thing who are the unsung guys working hard to earn their shot in the big league?

Here are five names across the offense and defense who haven’t dominated per se, but they have provided a handful of impressive plays to indicate they might have more to them than their humble backgrounds would indicate.

Ryan Nall (RB)

The Bears are already strong at running back, so it’s going to take a lot to make the final roster this year. One player who has accepted that challenge is undrafted free agent Ryan Nall. The Oregon State product has provided quite a few pops among fans with his impressive runs during drills. He demonstrates good vision and fluidity, not to mention surprising quickness for his bigger 6’2 frame. As a pure runner, he’s clearly talented. To make the roster though he’ll have to find a way to make an impact on special teams.

Javon Wims (WR)

Most people might not even remember that the Bears picked two receivers in the 2018 draft, not just one. That’s how good 2nd round pick Anthony Miller has looked so far. Expectations for him have risen with each practice. Yet there, lingering in the background, 7th rounder Javon Wims hasn’t looked totally out of place either. The 6’3 out of Georgia has made a handful of nice plays, showcasing his intriguing mix of size and body control. He still has work to do as a technician, but it’s clear why the Bears liked him.

Colin Thompson (TE)

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The tight end position might be one of the deepest on the Bears roster. Trey Burton, Adam Shaheen, and Dion Sims make up an underrated trio that could do big things in Nagy’s new system. The question is whether they might try carrying a fourth. Colin Thompson, a free agent they picked up last year, is trying hard to make his case. He’s showcased a good deal of pass catching potential. While the practice squad is a sure possibility, he might be able to aim higher if he flashes in the preseason.

Kylie Fitts (OLB)

The Bears’ 6th round draft pick came in with lots of questions, most of them pertaining to his health after an injury-filled college career at Utah. So he has a lot of doubters to silence. That might explain why he’s been so active in drills thus far. He’s showing lots of quickness and explosion, winning one-on-ones with regularity. There’s still work for him to do but it’s a first sign that the Bears may have done well to take a calculated risk on him, especially given their pass rush concerns.

Michael Joseph (CB)

This kid could fast become the fan favorite of camp. Michael Joseph is an undrafted corner out of Dubuque and also a Chicago native. He’s a diehard Bears fan, so it’s apparent he’s chasing his dream of playing for his hometown team. Great story. The good news is he’s begun to support his case with solid play on the field. He’s produced a couple nice interceptions in drills and has maintained quality coverage for the most part. A defense can never have enough good, young corners so he’s certainly one to watch.

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