Chicago Bears: Justin Fields and other early camp standouts

The Chicago Bears have a number of young players that could be ready to breakout in 2021. Justin Fields leads a talented pack showing out at camp.

The Chicago Bears and the entire Bears fan base are collectively and rightfully pumped about the early reports on rookie quarterback Justin Fields. The Bears traded a lot to move up in the 2021 NFL Draft and acquire Fields, and for a franchise with a brain trust (HC Matt Nagy, GM Ryan Pace) in danger of potentially losing their jobs, making the move to get Fields might just keep that duo in Chicago.

Although the Chicago Bears are in apparently no rush to start Justin Fields with Andy Dalton in place as the starter (at least, until things go awry), Fields has wasted no time making an impression.

As the Bears and most other teams approach their first preseason action of the 2021 season, which other players have stood out thus far in training camp?

Starting with the rookie quarterback, let’s take a look through some of those players.

Chicago Bears 2021 training camp standouts

1. Justin Fields, QB

Justin Fields may not be looking like a seasoned veteran at this point in training camp (and no one should be expecting that of him), but he’s undoubtedly made some big splashes early on.

https://twitter.com/PFF/status/1424458739122311171

Again, Chicago Bears fans are understandably excited with what they’ve seen early on from this year’s 11th overall pick.

Fields had been considered throughout last season as a potential first overall pick candidate He certainly didn’t do a whole lot on the field to change that, save for a couple of games here and there.

No prospect enters the NFL as a perfect, finished product. Fields is unquestionably a high-upside player at the position with plenty of arm talent, outstanding athletic ability, and a lot of really good stuff on tape at Ohio State.

The Chicago Bears are certainly not complaining about the fact that other teams passed on Fields at this point, even if up to this point he has not been tested in an actual game situation.

2. Darnell Mooney, WR

So far at Chicago Bears training camp, wide receiver Darnell Mooney is on fire.

At 5-foot-10, 176 pounds, Mooney doesn’t have the look of a WR1 but in today’s NFL, he’s a guy that is going to be open more often than not because of his ability to create separation.

Mooney was really solid for the Bears as a rookie with 61 receptions, four touchdowns, and some big-time plays among them.

With his 4.38 speed, Mooney is an outstanding vertical threat but his short-area quickness and impressive catch radius for his size make him a very difficult cover to all levels of the field.

No matter if it’s Andy Dalton throwing passes or Justin Fields, they’re going to be looking Mooney’s way a lot as he hopefully emerges in his second NFL season as a breakout star.

Along with Allen Robinson, Mooney gives the Chicago Bears a go-to player who can really help open things up for the entire offense.

3. Kindle Vildor, CB

Dating back to the 2020 NFL Draft process, I have been a huge fan of Kindle Vildor.

A sleeper in last year’s draft, the Bears picked Vildor in the fifth round out of Georgia Southern and gave him an opportunity to compete on special teams as well as get into the defensive rotation a little bit last season.

He wound up with 17 tackles and a pass breakup in his rookie season for the Chicago Bears, but the pressure will be on Vildor in year two to step into a much bigger role.

Bryce Callahan left with Vic Fangio in 2019. Kyle Fuller followed him to Denver two years later. Jaylon Johnson established himself as the Chicago Bears’ CB1 of the present and future last season but there will unquestionably be an opportunity for Vildor to seize a prominent role this season.

Vildor is making plays at Bears camp early on and after a promising albeit limited rookie season, he’s someone to watch for this team in 2021 as a potential breakthrough player defensively.

4. Trevis Gipson, EDGE

Trevis Gipson has been looking and feeling so good at Chicago Bears training camp that he’s laughing about it during the reps, apparently.

Despite playing just 71 defensive snaps as a rookie, Gipson managed to rack up three QB hits and pressures.

His pass rush potential was evident in his final two seasons at Tulsa when he racked up 12 sacks and seven forced fumbles along with 24 tackles for loss.

Although every rookie faced unique challenges in 2020, Gipson certainly had a tougher road than most trying to find playing time behind Khalil Mack and Robert Quinn as well as Barkevious Mingo off the edge.

The path to playing time is much clearer in 2021, and Gipson obviously has a renewed confidence going into his second NFL season.

There is something about that comfortability that can really give players a needed mental boost.

Reports out of Bears camp are saying that Gipson looks even bigger than he did as a rookie, and obviously, he’s having some success on the practice field getting pressure on the quarterback.

His development is an exciting overall development for the Chicago Bears in 2021.