Veteran players left for the summer last week after mandatory minicamp, but coach Matt Eberflus held three more rookie sessions that he said allowed the coaches to slow down their teaching and explain concepts in detail.

Before they departed, Eberflus offered a message to the rookies, noting that more work needs to be done before training camp.

“Where we’re at right now is a place where we can’t be,” Eberflus said. “We’ve got to be at a level up. We’ve got to level up two spots in those four weeks in the preparation.”

After practice, Eberflus, offensive coordinator Shane Waldron, quarterback Caleb Williams and wide receiver Rome Odunze spoke to reporters about the offseason and what’s next before camp. Here are highlights from those sessions.

Caleb Williams watch

The Bears quarterback has only 34 days to fill between Wednesday’s official end of the offseason program and the rookie reporting date for training camp in mid-July. Williams has vowed to find a healthy balance between continuing his growth as a player while also finding time for decompression and leisure.

“You set a plan,” he said. “You set a routine before it happens so that you’re not in the process of trying to figure, ‘Oh, what’s going to happen (next)? When am I going to come back to work? What day am I going to start working? What day am I going to do this and that?’

“You set all that in place and then you stick to it. That’s the biggest thing for the offseason I’ve gotten from the older guys is set a plan, stick to it and go from there.”

Williams has been pushing to assemble a group trip — likely somewhere in Florida or California — for key offensive and defensive players to strengthen their chemistry on the field and their bond off of it. He said Wednesday his biggest accomplishment during his first seven weeks as a Bear was establishing an early connection with so many teammates, something he will continue to prioritize.

Photos: Inside Chicago Bears minicamp at Halas Hall

He understands his own responsibility, while crossing the bridge from OTAs to training camp, to heighten his mastery of the offense and all that will be required of him. With his coaches continually reminding him to stay grounded at this stage of development, the next steps, offensive coordinator Shane Waldron said, will require Williams to absorb the voluminous offense the Bears have given him while developing “continued ownership of the scheme and of the operation.”

“There is expectation there,” Waldron said. “Because that’s studying and that’s putting in the work — even though it’s downtime — on that relentless pursuit of finding the edge.

“And for him, finding that edge going into training camp is about being better than he was when he left here today without the benefit of practices. And that will be so much focused on studying, watching tape and then throwing and working on his fundamentals.”

Player in the spotlight

Odunze may be in the NFL now, but that doesn’t mean his mom is off the hook for helping him train.

He said one of his methods for learning, along with taking notes and watching film, is having his parents call out plays while he runs routes. And that won’t stop this summer now that he’s the No. 9 NFL draft pick.

“When I go back to Vegas, Mom is going to have to go to work,” Odunze said with a smile. “She’s going to have to be out there in that 115 degrees. She already knows that. But it’s all love. They want the best for me. They enjoy it.”

Over his break, Odunze plans to spend a week or two with family and friends while also working on his strength and conditioning because he isn’t where he wants to be from a physical standpoint. Then he’ll focus on training with the intention of returning to Lake Forest two weeks before camp starts to get into a routine.

Odunze got off to a slow start in his first professional offseason program because of a hamstring issue, which he said popped up because he didn’t prepare his body for the number of reps he’d be getting with his new team after the buildup to the draft.

But he recovered fairly quickly and was able to get in plenty of work with Williams against the Bears starting defense, which he said sharpened his skills. He also thinks being around veteran wide receivers Keenan Allen and DJ Moore has helped his growth.

Chicago Bears Q&A: With greater roster concerns, why sign Marcedes Lewis? Any off-the-radar players to watch this summer?

“It’s not even measurable the impact they can make on my career,” Odunze said. “Just being in the room with them for four weeks, I’ve already learned so much. So to be in a room with them throughout a whole season, learning from them in training camp, it’s just going to take my game to the next level and something I’m super excited about because it’s not often that you get to come on to the wing of a Hall of Famer and a soon-to-be Hall of Famer.”

Eberflus and Waldron said Odunze has picked up the offense and his understanding of all three receiver spots quickly.

“Some guys just have a knack to do it, right?” Eberlus said. “They can see the pictures, the drawings in the classroom, and they can apply that right to the field. He’s able to process a bunch of information at the same time and then take it to the field. He’s really good that way.”

Heard at Halas Hall

With so many new faces on the offense, relationship building was a focus during the offseason, and one of the most important unions is that of Waldron and Williams.

Since Williams arrived at Halas Hall at the beginning of May, Waldron said he has been struck by the quarterback’s ability to listen and desire to learn every day. Waldron has seen that in Williams’ readiness in the meeting room and in his texts at “all sorts of different times” asking about the “whys” of plays.

Williams said he and Waldron have been growing together, figuring out what works for them and how they will communicate when Williams is on the field or the sideline.

“That’s one of the most, if not the most, important relationships on the coaching staff and throughout this team for me to have is my OC,” Williams said. “And for us to be on the same page throughout this process and growing and learning (is key).”

Waldron also wants to get to understand Williams off the field.

“When the season starts, when there are different ups and downs during the season, I think the closer you are with people, the more willing you are to listen and overcome hard times during the season,” Waldron said. “So we’re just building up that armor, developing that relationship and just getting ready to go for this 2024 season.”

Quote of note

Eberflus on the value 40-year-old tight end Marcedes Lewis brings to the team after he re-signed this week: “He’s a tremendous leader who has a great way about him. And he has great wisdom and discernment. He helps everyone in the building, not just the players. He helps me in terms of having the feel for the team and where everybody is. He has been a tremendous leader since I’ve known him and we’re certainly excited to have him back.”

Injury update

Third-round pick Kiran Amegadjie remained unable to participate in on-field work during the final OTA sessions as he works his way back from quadriceps surgery in October.

Eberflus said the Bears project Amegadjie will be ready to get back on the field when training camp starts next month. If that’s the case, the rookie should be in line to compete for the swing offensive tackle role.

In the meantime, Eberflus said, Amegadjie has impressed the coaching staff with his retention of information and ability to understand protection responsibilities and blocking schemes.

McMichael, 66, is part of a seven-member class for the Hall of Fame, which includes former Bears Devin Hester and Julius Peppers. McMichael was voted in as a Hall of Famer in February after receiving recommendation from the Hall’s senior committee.

“In the NFL world we’ve known he should have been in the Hall of Fame a long time ago,” McMichael’s wife, Misty, told reporters at the NFL Honors event in February. “But I wanted the whole word to know. And now, finally, the whole world knows. Forever and ever.”

The Bears will play the Houston Texans in the Hall of Fame Game Aug. 1 at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. The enshrinement ceremony will be held two days later. According to Shepherd, the Hall of Fame is making plans to present McMichael with his honor at his home in Homer Glen.

Earlier this week, it was announced that Jarrett Payton would present McMichael for the Hall of Fame. Jarrett’s father, Walter, was McMichael’s teammate for seven seasons, including in 1985 when the team made its iconic run win Super Bowl XX.

At age 12 in 1993, Jarrett Payton presented his father to the Hall of Fame. McMichael was also Jarrett Payton’s coach in 2010 for the Chicago Slaughter in the Indoor Football League.

Hester will be presented for enshrinement by his mother, Juanita Brown. Peppers chose longtime mentor and agent Carl Carey as his presenter.

McMichael, 66, has been in a yearslong battle with ALS, a debilitating affliction. He has lost his ability to move or speak.

During McMichael’s 13 seasons with the Bears he recorded 92½ sacks and was an instrumental part of a run in which the team won five consecutive NFC Central championships from 1984-88, winning 62 regular-season games during that stretch. McMichael also set a Bears record playing in 191 regular-season games, a mark later matched by Olin Kreutz and topped by Patrick Mannelly (245).

The Bears will hold one final session of organized team activities next week with only rookies in attendance. Coach Matt Eberflus said his staff will use the time to prepare the rookies for what they need to do before training camp.

“It’s just about relearning, reinstalling and then really setting the game plan for the summer plan,” Eberflus said. “How exactly do we go through those four weeks to make sure that our baseline is here, but now we can increase it two more steps in terms of knowledge of the scheme.”

For most of the 90-man roster, Thursday marked the end of the offseason program. After a week of competitive practices and insightful interview sessions, here are the highlights from minicamp.

Caleb Williams watch

Through the ups and downs of his first month with the Bears, rookie quarterback Caleb Williams tries to take a moment each day to remind himself that with all the talented skill players surrounding him, “we’re going to be pretty damn good.”

Then he puts his head down and gets back to work, striving for perfection when he knows it’s not possible at this stage of learning all about his new team and the offense. Williams is trying to find that balance between the confidence he needs to lead a team and the humility of understanding he has a long way to go.

Among the biggest challenges he has faced, he said after the final minicamp practice, is perfecting the cadence, an issue that has popped up in practices with false starts. He needs to nail down the verbiage, he said. And he needs to remain neutral and calm when mistakes happen.

“I didn’t come in necessarily with the expectation to seem like a 13-year vet,” Williams said. “I came in to show the guys that I’m here, I’m working my tail off, I’m progressing and trying not to make the same mistake again. … That’s been my biggest thing. And also understanding that I’m leading an organization and a team, so just having that mindset and being in that mind state and just trying to find my flow.”

Williams believes he has made progress with the cadence, making all of his reads and throwing with anticipation. He had beautiful back-to-back touchdown passes in the seven-on-seven periods Thursday, hitting DJ Moore over the middle and then perfectly placing a pass to a leaping Rome Odunze in the back left corner of the end zone amid tight coverage.

Photos: Inside Chicago Bears minicamp at Halas Hall

But later there were several incompletions in a full-team period when Williams went up against the first-team defense, as he has for much of the offseason. Eberflus said pitting Williams against the Bears starters will be beneficial, and it will be taken up a notch in training camp when the Bears have padded practices.

“Caleb is a talent, a very good talent,” Eberflus said. “His game will go to where it needs to be. I want him to see that in front of him, the windows closing, the variation of what we do on defense, and I want him to see that day in and day out so that when he gets to play somebody else, it will look like, ‘OK, I’ve been there, done that.’ That’s how we’re going to keep it.”

Through those challenges, Williams has appreciated support from teammates via texts, phone calls or words of encouragement on the field.

“Them just believing, seeing the vision that we all have,” Williams said. “And being graceful with me knowing that I’m pretty tough on myself, but they see right through it and understand that.”

News of the day

As the training camp schedule comes together, the Bears announced Thursday they will host a joint practice with the Cincinnati Bengals at Halas Hall on Aug. 15, two days before the teams meet in a preseason game at Soldier Field.

Eberflus has been collaborating with Bengals coach Zac Taylor on the logistics and said the teams will work through a variety of specific situations to squeeze the most out of the practice.

“I think it’s going to be awesome,” Eberflus said.

Last summer the Bears visited Westfield, Ind., for a pair of joint practices with the Indianapolis Colts and promoted the value of those sessions. The Bears will hold only one such practice with the Bengals but remain enthusiastic about what they can accomplish.

For the defense, the opportunity to compete against a high-powered Bengals offense led by quarterback Joe Burrow and wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins should be enjoyable.

“Those are always good tests,” linebacker T.J. Edwards said. “Those joint practices, man, they feel like games. It’s like you’re trying to see where you’re at and (how you) stack up. And that’s obviously a really good football team. So we’re excited.”

The joint practice with the Bengals will be the last of nine training camp practices open to the public. The others are on July 26, 27 and 30 and Aug. 4, 6, 7, 13 and 14. Rookies are scheduled to report July 16 with veterans reporting July 19. The first camp practice will be held July 20.

Seen and heard

There is no more appropriate category for the Bears defense, which continued to establish its presence during spring practices. Throughout OTAs and minicamp, the first-team defense consistently made plays — and then made noise, barking and chirping and creating added energy for a unit that hopes to be one of the best in the league in 2024.

“They look like a top-five defense,” veteran wide receiver Keenan Allen said. “They sound like a top-five defense too.”

Nickel cornerback Kyler Gordon noted the infectious nature of the defense’s collective enthusiasm and emphasized the value of turning up the volume for the offense to hear.

“It’s intimidating for other people,” he said. “We’re constantly running to the ball, all 11 hats. (We’re) communicating loud. I just feel like it brings a sense of ‘What are they doing?’ So I love it. Everyone’s saying something every day. Someone has some kind of energy everywhere.”

Cornerback Jaylon Johnson also used the word “intimidating.”

“It’s one thing to make plays, but when you’re talking after every play, you really start to see if somebody is going to stand up or if they’re going to fold,” Johnson said. “With execution comes energy. So I feel like for us to have that energy, we have to execute.”

Player in the spotlight

Johnson didn’t hesitate when asked what will motivate him this season after securing a four-year, $76 million contract extension in March.

“Being the best corner in the league,” he said Wednesday.

Johnson always has been forthright about his lofty goals. He reached one last season when he was named to the Pro Bowl and second-team Associated Press All-Pro for the first time. The honors came after a season in which he had a career-high four interceptions, including a pick-six, with 10 passes defended and a forced fumble.

Johnson believes growth in his football IQ and consistency helped him reach that career-best season. And he said his work and pride in his role won’t change after getting paid.

Safety Jaquan Brisker confirmed Johnson has been “the same guy every day.”

“We know what we’re going to get out of him every single day, and that’s what I appreciate,” Brisker said. “Even now, he’s working even harder. You can tell he’s not letting anything get to him. He has a chip on his shoulder. He wants to be the best and he doesn’t want any comparisons.”

Johnson and Brisker join Gordon and cornerback Tyrique Stevenson as returning starters in the secondary, which also added veteran safety Kevin Byard. Johnson believes the group is ascending.

“I feel like just having consistency within the guys, guys having a certain level of experience and a certain level of hunger and everybody just understanding what the standard is and what we want to accomplish,” Johnson said. “I feel like that allows us to play a lot faster, play a lot smarter.”

Johnson is interested to see how facing a revamped Bears offense will challenge him in practice, particularly facing six-time Pro Bowl selection Allen.

“Being able to see a guy like that and talk to him about certain things that he does and the reason why he does certain things, it’s definitely exciting for me,” Johnson said. “And then to be able to go against it because he’s a receiver that is unpredictable.

“As skillful as a lot of these guys are in this league that do a lot of great things, I feel like they are not as unpredictable, they are not as crafty as Keenan is. So being able to go against that every day, it’s something that can help me and DBs to get better.”

Injuries and attendance

Several players sat out the final day of practice, including Gordon, tight end Cole Kmet, offensive tackles Braxton Jones and Kiran Amegadjie, right guard Nate Davis, wide receivers Tyler Scott, Dante Pettis and Collin Johnson and defensive end Austin Booker.

Eberflus said the Bears don’t see any serious issues among the players who sat out.

Davis participated in a limited capacity Wednesday but was sidelined again Thursday. The Bears have used newcomers Matt Pryor and Ryan Bates at right guard with Davis out. Eberflus expects Davis to remain the starter but noted the  improved depth should benefit the Bears. Bates also has played center along with Coleman Shelton.

“The versatility there has certainly been helpful,” Eberflus said. “Ryan (Poles) did a really good job of having those pieces in there so (it’s not) like last year or prior years (when) a guy goes down and we’re like, ‘Oh, what are we going to do?’ At least we have that flexibility at the O-line position.”

Williams will learn quickly which of his gifts as a quarterback immediately translate at the highest level of his sport. Plus he’ll learn what he can’t get away with anymore in the NFL when it comes to making magic as a playmaker.

It’s all still fluid this week at Halas Hall as the Chicago Bears continue their minicamp.

Williams continues learning a new offense. He’s learning the skill sets of his new teammates. He’s learning how to use his cadence as a weapon at the line of scrimmage.

Yet with every learning process comes struggle. Inconsistency. Error. That’s all part of this, too, a reality the rookie quarterback and the Bears have accepted and are embracing as they march toward the 2024 regular season.

During a 7-on-7 period Tuesday afternoon, Williams was a beat slow and a hair off in processing where he wanted to go with the football. He went through his progressions properly. Yet his timing and rhythm were off.

His body hitched and brain glitched. Rather than finding a completion, Williams threw a wild pitch over the middle that sailed into the arms of veteran safety Kevin Byard. It was a mistake. A turnover. A learning experience.

“He took a hitch and the ball should have come out,” Bears coach Matt Eberflus explained. “Then he took two hitches and (the ball) was late over the middle. That’s always dangerous when you do that. But that’s the learning experience in the process a young quarterback has to go through.”

Williams made a similar mistake Wednesday, another turnover also in 7-on-7 on a pass over the middle. This time it was veteran linebacker Tremaine Edmunds reading the quarterback’s eyes and alertly sinking to snatch a pass toward receiver Freddie Swain.

“Balls that are thrown late over the middle, they’re usually put in harm’s way,” Eberflus said.

But the Bears coach also offered an appropriate early-June shrug.

“This is that process and exposure and experimentation of the quarterback,” he said. “And that ultimately leads to that whole evolution of what he feels he can and cannot do.”

Photos: Inside Chicago Bears minicamp at Halas Hall

‘A beginner’s mindset’

The Bears must continue wrapping their arms around that process as they seek a successful balance in retaining patience with their young quarterback’s development while still showing ideal urgency to compete for a playoff spot this season.

Through that lens, it won’t always be easy — particularly when the day’s results take on much greater significance — to maintain proper perspective or wall off any heightened frustration that might bubble up when Williams’ struggles are more pronounced.

Still, there’s an understanding inside the walls of Halas Hall that finding a healthy equilibrium might be vital to success this season.

“It’s a good thing our quarterback is highly competitive and that he’s of high character,” Eberflus said. “He’s going to be pushing that ball down the court. I don’t think we have to worry about that. I really don’t. We’ll be pacing this thing at a pretty fast pace — like we’ve done already. And I’ve seen the progress in him.”

When Eberflus talks of “pushing that ball down the court,” it’s a declaration of confidence in Williams’ prowess for learning, of taking in high volumes of information and understanding it all quickly. That will continue to be a catalyst to the quarterback’s growth. And through six weeks as a Bear, two of Williams’ obvious strengths have been his push to improve and ability to learn.

“(It’s) having a beginner’s mindset,” Eberflus said, “to be able to learn, absorb, ask questions and just keep learning. That is what has been impressive to me. If he does that, he’ll be just fine.”

‘A lot going on’

Williams’ ability to keep up with everything being thrown at him will be tested in the coming months. Quite frankly, it might become one of the major variables in determining how far the Bears can go this season.

Playoff aspirations are real in Lake Forest. They’re realistic too. Still, there’s a longer-term, bigger-picture aim, which is to set Williams up to become one of the league’s top starting quarterbacks into the 2030s. That’s where the hope for both Williams and the Bears to display early success this season must be balanced with a vision for the future and an understanding of the bumpy road ahead.

Once again, there will be times when patience and urgency will be in a fierce tug of war. That has been obvious already. Imagine how much things might heighten in September and October and beyond.

Still, Williams’ offensive teammates remind themselves daily that some of their current struggles — “rough spots,” as guard Teven Jenkins identified them Wednesday — are an inevitable byproduct of bringing a rookie quarterback along.

“I mean, that’s football,” Jenkins said. “New face, new guy. He’s coming in from college. It’s all going to be a little different for him.”

To that end, empathy continues a reliable pain reliever.

“I have all the confidence he’s going to get this down quick,” Jenkins said. “He’s a quick learner. There’s always that patience (you have) with everybody. New offense, new playbook, new city. There’s a lot going on for him right now.”

Trusting the process

Tight end Cole Kmet is entering his fifth season. Only one player on the 90-man roster — long snapper Patrick Scales — has been here longer. Williams is about to become the eighth starting quarterback the Bears have used during Kmet’s tenure.

“I’ve played with a bunch of different quarterbacks at this point now,” Kmet said. “So that’s nothing new.”

After enduring 43 losses over his first four years, Kmet feels momentum building to where he can realistically envision his first trip to the playoffs in January. Still, like everyone else on the Bears offense, Kmet will retain perspective for where Williams is at in his development.

“It’s really just being patient with it all and understanding there’s a learning process to it,” Kmet said. “Especially as a rookie, there’s a lot you have to learn coming into the league.

“I feel like (Caleb) has done a great job so far throughout OTAs. You can see those steps he’s taking week to week. But there’s definitely an element of patience that has to be there just because of where he’s at in his career.”

Eberflus sees the Bears’ OTAs and minicamp as periods of experimentation, particularly for Williams. When training camp begins, the sense of purpose will escalate.

The Bears feel confident their established defense can be the team’s engine until Williams is ready to take on greater responsibility. They are also reassured that the veteran presence around Williams on offense will lessen some of his stress and struggle.

Said Eberflus: “It’s really about growing together. It’s about having that continuity together and really feeling out the skill sets. Once we get the skill sets down to feel (out) what we can do offensively, we have to leverage those things as our strengths.”

In the meantime, the learning continues with Williams in the early stages of his NFL education and working to accelerate toward a meaningful breakthrough.

“We’re just doing a really good job of getting experience, getting him exposure,” Eberflus said. “Let him experiment with his arm talent and the receivers he has. Eventually, then, player development happens and the evolution of a quarterback happens. That’s the process we have to go through. And that’s what we are doing right now.”

Away from the field, the organization continues its push to build a new stadium with its current efforts focused on the museum campus downtown. And in August, three former stars — Devin Hester, Steve McMichael and Julius Peppers — will be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame as part of its Class of 2024.

So why not give these Bears in this moment a brighter spotlight? HBO plans to do just that by featuring the Bears in the popular NFL documentary series “Hard Knocks” during training camp this summer, the team announced Thursday.

The first hourlong episode of the five-part series will air at 8 p.m. Aug. 6 on all HBO platforms. The show will continue to run Tuesdays at 8 p.m. until Sept. 3.

“’Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Chicago Bears’ will provide our passionate fans across the world the ability to experience this unique and critical time in the history of our franchise,” Bears President and CEO Kevin Warren said in a statement.

Narrated by Liev Schreiber, “Hard Knocks” first launched in 2001, following the Baltimore Ravens through camp. The Bears will be featured on the 19th edition of the series after the New York Jets were showcased last summer and the Miami Dolphins were chronicled during an in-season version of the documentary in 2023 and the New York Giants will be featured this summer in an offseason edition of “Hard Knocks,” which debuts July 2.

At the NFL owners meetings in March, Bears Chairman George McCaskey reiterated his longstanding aversion to the team being featured on the show.

“We’re told there is some interest in other teams being on the program,” McCaskey said, “and we welcome that interest.”

General manager Ryan Poles has expressed similar hesitance about the program. But Warren was less firm on shooting down the team’s interest in participating in the series back in March.

Asked about his interest in the team being featured on “Hard Knocks,” Warren laughed and paused.

“That’s always interesting,” he said. “I have interests in making sure that the NFL stays strong and vibrant.”

Now, the Bears will lean into the “Hard Knocks” experience.

Caleb Williams watch

Bold-letter emphasis: It’s May. It’s the first week of OTAs. The Bears are installing a new offense for a rookie quarterback who is going through his first true week of practices against NFL competition. That’s the frame that must remain squarely around the QB conversation for the next several weeks.

That said, it was a bumpy day for Williams and the Bears offense with obvious struggles during both 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills. Williams, quite frankly, looked every bit like a green quarterback still adapting to the tempo of the pro game while also trying to process what he was seeing and make decisions within the Bears system.

“It’s frustrating,” veteran receiver DJ Moore said. “But we also know we’re learning a new system.”

For Williams, there were errant throws, late throws and throws that were never made as he occasionally held on to the ball too long, particularly during successive 11-on-11 periods in or near the red zone.

To be clear, that all comes with the territory of developing a rookie quarterback. And it’s a reminder that the Bears can’t just fast-forward through all the inevitable growing pains and shaky practices Williams is likely to endure early in his career.

“This is his first time going against a pro defense, and a pretty good one, Eberflus said. “It’s going to be a learning (experience) for everybody.”

Eberflus emphasized that Williams’ progress throughout the week has been notable in his understanding of concepts, coverages and where to go with the ball. The Bears coach also has been impressed with the quarterback’s ability to take in a high volume of information.

“It’s been very impressive,” Eberflus said. “We’re not holding back.”

Photos: Inside Chicago Bears OTAs at Halas Hall

News of the day

We all know how this works by now. During OTAs, minicamp and training camp, a positive spin can often be the mood-lifter on days in which one side of the ball struggles significantly.

On Thursday, it was easy to see the first-unit defense appears totally locked in, playing with notable cohesion and confidence and, predictably, chirping about their successes.

Ninth-year safety Kevin Byard, a newcomer to a defense that has nine starters returning from last season, liked what he saw.

“We had a good day,” Byard said. “I’m not going to sit here and lie about that. But to be honest, that’s to be expected. You have a returning top-15, top-10 type of defense going against a younger rookie quarterback who’s getting acclimated and learning things. That’s what it is supposed to look like.”

Defensive coordinator Eric Washington called his unit “salty” and hopes that carries over.

“I think that is just a part of their DNA,” Washington said. “But definitely we want to play with an edge. We want to compete with an edge. We want to compete like we’re the best unit on the field. And that’s something you have to back up with how you play, how you study, how you invest. I really like the spirit and the attitude out there.”

Player in the spotlight

Moore spoke with reporters for the first time since locker cleanout day in January. And boy, has a lot changed in his world since then.

For starters, the Bears made their well-documented pivot at quarterback, replacing Justin Fields with Williams. On top of that, they added two elite receivers with the March trade for Keenan Allen plus the selection of Rome Odunze at No. 9 in the draft last month.

Moore again expressed his excitement about how dangerous the trio could become.

“Like I’ve said, it’s probably going to be a race to 1,000 (yards) now,” Moore said. “I don’t know who’s going to get there first. But it’s going to be a race.”

Moore had 1,364 yards in his first season with the Bears. Allen had 1,243 yards with the Los Angeles Chargers. Odunze, meanwhile, put up 1,640 yards during an All-American season at Washington and then made a positive first impression when he joined Moore, Allen and Williams for a predraft workout last month in California.

“When I first seen him, I was like, ‘Whoa. He can move!’ ” Moore said. “I didn’t know he was that fast until I saw him in person and (saw) how smooth he was. I’m  looking forward to him being out there.”

Seen and heard

Washington spent the early part of this week at the NFL spring meetings in Nashville, Tenn., where he was immersed in the league’s Coach Accelerator Program, a platform designed to link league owners and executives with coaches from diverse backgrounds. The program is part networking event, part educational seminar and valued by the league as a way of increasing diversity in the coaching ranks.

“It was an outstanding event,” Washington said. “Very informative. And I’d like to think that not only was the information useful and valuable for me, but that these are things that can enhance my role and that I can pass along to my colleagues.”

Washington, 54, broke into the NFL in 2008 during his first stop with the Bears. He also has been an assistant coach with the Carolina Panthers and Buffalo Bills. He conducted a mock interview as part of his experience at the Accelerator Program and said he valued the “unprecedented access” to owners and execs that helped him establish new connections and expand his knowledge.

Quote of note

Byard was asked Thursday to describe the responsibility of the Bears defense in readying Williams for the season. “Make it as hard on him as possible,” Byard said. “It’s going out there, showing some swag, talking trash, doing all that stuff.

“At the end of the day, he’s going to have to lead us there. You know what I mean? That’s kind of how it’s going to be. I said something to him at the end of practice like, ‘Keep it going. We’re going to keep making you better.’ And not necessarily saying he had a terrible day, but days like this are going to make you better. That’s our job.”

Injury and participation watch

Among the most notable absentees Thursday were defensive end Montez Sweat, right tackle Darnell Wright, guard Nate Davis and Allen. Receiver Velus Jones also was not spotted.

Because OTAs remain voluntary, Eberflus wouldn’t specify the reasons for any of those players’ absences. Moore played the “good teammate” role and absolved Allen by noting that the 32-year-old receiver was back in California celebrating the birthdays of his wife and one of his daughters.

Eberflus was quick to praise the participation numbers the Bears have had throughout the offseason.  “I want to commend everybody who’s here wanting to get coached and getting better,” he said.

Still, it will be worth tracking attendance during next week’s OTAs for the participation trends.

On the injury front, Odunze was on the field Thursday but still very limited after suffering a hamstring strain during rookie camp earlier this month. Odunze’s only participation was during walkthrough reps. But Eberflus indicated that Odunze would continue ramping up during next week’s OTAs.

Here’s a look at the week-by-week itinerary, along with predictions on each game from the Tribune’s Bears writers.

Week 1: Bears vs. Titans

Sunday, Sept. 8, noon, Fox-32

This is where it all begins for Caleb Williams. It feels like a friendly ease-in game for the rookie against an opponent that lost 11 games last season. Still, the Titans used the 10-meter platform to make big splashes this offseason, signing a horde of big-name free agents including Calvin Ridley, Tony Pollard, Lloyd Cushenberry and Chidobie Awuzie. They also traded for standout cornerback L’Jarius Snead and added offensive tackle JC Latham in the top 10 of the draft.

• Brad Biggs: Bears
• Colleen Kane: Bears
• Dan Wiederer: Bears

Week 2: Bears at Texans

Sunday, Sept. 15, 7:20 p.m., NBC-5

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C.J. Stroud reset the bar for rookie quarterbacks last season. He threw for 4,108 yards and 23 touchdowns, earned Pro Bowl honors and led a Texans franchise that went 3-13-1 the previous season to the AFC South title and a playoff win. Your move, Caleb Williams.

• Biggs: Texans
• Kane: Texans
• Wiederer: Texans

Week 3: Bears at Colts

Sunday, Sept. 22, noon, CBS-2

Current events note: This will be the third consecutive game against an AFC South opponent to open the year. Ancient history note: The last time the Bears played a regular-season game at Lucas Oil Stadium in October 2016, it looked — from the hot-dog-laden press box, at least — like Brian Hoyer failed to see Alshon Jeffery open for what could have been a game-winning 28-yard touchdown pass in the final two minutes. The Bears lost 29-23.

• Biggs: Bears
• Kane: Bears
• Wiederer: Bears

Week 4: Bears vs. Rams

Sunday, Sept. 29, noon, Fox-32

The rebuilding formula for Rams general manager Les Snead has involved drafting 24 players in the last 13 months. The headliner of this year’s rookie class is defensive end Jared Verse, the organization’s first first-round pick since it drafted Jared Goff at No. 1 in 2016.

• Biggs: Rams
• Kane: Rams
• Wiederer: Rams

Week 5: Bears vs. Panthers

Sunday, Oct. 6, noon, Fox-32

For those keeping track, the current return for the Bears from trading the No. 1 pick in the 2023 draft to Carolina is wide receiver DJ Moore, right tackle Darnell Wright, cornerback Tyrique Stevenson, quarterback Caleb Williams and punter Tory Taylor. Oh, and the Bears own the Panthers’ second-round selection next spring as icing on the cake.

• Biggs: Bears
• Kane: Bears
• Wiederer: Bears

Week 6: Bears vs. Jaguars at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London

Sunday, Oct. 13, 8:30 a.m., NFL Network

In addition to a 1986 exhibition in London, the Bears have played two regular-season games across the pond, beating the Buccaneers in 2011 and falling to the Raiders in 2019. On this trip they’ll face a Trevor Lawrence-led Jaguars team playing the first of two games in England over eight days. Jacksonville enters the season 6-5 all time in London and will “host” the Patriots at Wembley Stadium in Week 7.

• Biggs: Jaguars
• Kane: Jaguars
• Wiederer: Jaguars

Week 7: Bye week

The Bears had their open date in December in each of the last two seasons but will get the traditional recovery week after the return from London.

Week 8: Bears at Commanders

Sunday, Oct. 27, noon, CBS-2

The top two picks in this year’s draft square off. Some pockets of the league believe Jayden Daniels is a more complete quarterback than Caleb Williams and should have received more serious consideration by the Bears at No. 1. Daniels went No. 2 to Washington and will challenge the Bears with his football intelligence, passing production and speed.

• Biggs: Bears
• Kane: Bears
• Wiederer: Bears

Week 9: Bears at Cardinals

Sunday, Nov. 3, 3:05 p.m., CBS-2

Bears GM Ryan Poles and his Cardinals counterpart, Monti Ossenfort, can have a good Sunday morning discussion about who landed the more complete rookie wide receiver in the top 10 of the draft. Then Marvin Harrison Jr. and Rome Odunze can help settle that debate inside State Farm Stadium.

• Biggs: Bears
• Kane: Bears
• Wiederer: Bears

Week 10: Bears vs. Patriots

Sunday, Nov. 10, noon, Fox-32

It’s a whole new world in Foxborough, Mass., where Jerod Mayo is stepping into the head coaching role Bill Belichick held for the previous 24 seasons. Mayo and offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt will help oversee the development of No. 3 pick Drake Maye as the team’s quarterback of the future. The Patriots quarterback of the present, meanwhile, is Jacoby Brissett.

• Biggs: Bears
• Kane: Bears
• Wiederer: Bears

Week 11: Bears vs. Packers

Sunday, Nov. 17, noon, Fox-32

The Bears have lost 10 straight to the Packers, dating to a colossal dud in the 2019 season opener. Consider this yet another chance to turn the tide. It’s also a big test during what could become a pivotal 12-day stretch for the Bears in the NFC North.

• Biggs: Packers
• Kane: Bears
• Wiederer: Bears

Week 12: Bears vs. Vikings

Sunday, Nov. 24, noon, Fox-32

The Vikings selected their quarterback of the future at No. 10 last month, drafting La Grange Park native J.J. McCarthy. The question now is how quickly McCarthy will leapfrog veteran Sam Darnold as QB1.

• Biggs: Bears
• Kane: Bears
• Wiederer: Vikings

Week 13: Bears at Lions

Thursday, Nov. 28, 11:30 a.m., CBS-2

Finish up your Turkey Trot and get to the couch early. It’s another Thanksgiving showdown for the Bears at Ford Field, the team’s fifth trip to Detroit for Thanksgiving in the last 11 seasons. Also of note: The Bears blew a 12-point lead in the final four minutes during a galling loss in Motown last November.

• Biggs: Lions
• Kane: Lions
• Wiederer: Lions

Week 14: Bears at 49ers

Sunday, Dec. 8, 3:25 p.m., Fox-32

The Bears are working hard to open a window of sustained championship contention. The 49ers are square in the middle of theirs — though still stinging from an overtime Super Bowl loss to the Chiefs. Still, if the Bears defense needs a good measuring-stick game, a date with Brock Purdy, Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, George Kittle and Trent Williams fits.

• Biggs: 49ers
• Kane: 49ers
• Wiederer: 49ers

Week 15: Bears at Vikings

Monday, Dec. 16, 7:15 p.m., ABC-7

Bears Vikings

The “Monday Night Football” stage awaits. And presumably the Bears will be squarely “in the hunt” for a playoff berth as the NFC North race heats up during the Christmas season. The Bears have won four of their last six at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, including a walk-off 12-10 victory on a Monday night in December last season.

• Biggs: Bears
• Kane: Bears
• Wiederer: Bears

Week 16: Bears vs. Lions

Sunday, Dec. 22, noon, Fox-32

Rams Lions Football

When the Lions traded Matthew Stafford for Jared Goff three years ago, many expected Goff would be a placeholder until Detroit found its quarterback of the future. This week Goff signed his third NFL contract, agreeing to a four-year, $212 million extension as the Lions vie to become an NFC powerhouse for years to come.

• Biggs: Bears
• Kane: Lions
• Wiederer: Lions

Week 17: Bears vs. Seahawks

Thursday, Dec. 26, 7:15 p.m., Prime Video

A second Thursday nighter will bring another quick turnaround for the Bears. Of the eight teams that underwent head coaching changes this offseason, five are on the Bears schedule in 2024. Mike Macdonald — who replaced Pete Carroll in Seattle — will bring his team to Soldier Field the day after Christmas.

• Biggs: Bears
• Kane: Bears
• Wiederer: Bears

Week 18: Bears at Packers

Saturday, Jan. 4, or Sunday, Jan. 5, TBD

Bears vs Packers

If the stars align, the stakes for the season finale will be huge. Caleb Williams grew up idolizing Aaron Rodgers, who won four MVP awards, eight division titles and one Super Bowl during 15 seasons starting for the Packers. Now Williams gets his first opportunity to play at Lambeau Field.

• Biggs: Packers
• Kane: Packers
• Wiederer: Packers

2024 season predictions

Brad Biggs: 10-7

If the Bears develop in the manner they believe is possible, the stretch run of the season beginning on Thanksgiving in Detroit will be a great challenge for a young roster that will have to learn how to win meaningful games. The game at Ford Field against the defending NFC North champions begins a stretch of three straight road games, and the Bears will have the Lions twice, the defending NFC champion 49ers and the Packers in the final six games. It’s the kind of stretch that can define a season in a schedule with some quirks, including three consecutive home games early — though one comes with an asterisk at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London against the Jaguars.

Extra time to prepare for the Dec. 8 game at San Francisco coming out of Thanksgiving will help, and there’s a long week before playing at Minnesota on “Monday Night Football” on Dec. 16. Of course that leaves a short week to prep for the Lions at Soldier Field on Dec. 22. If the season goes the way the Bears hope — if the arrival of Caleb Williams really sparks something — maybe that Week 18 game in Green Bay would be flexed to prime time. Because how can the Bears have a remarkable season and not tussle with the Packers in prime time?

Colleen Kane: 10-7

The NFL gifted Chicago with a home opener against a beatable Titans team for Caleb Williams’ regular-season debut. And then the league gifted the national audience with a matchup of Williams against C.J. Stroud, the 2023 offensive rookie of the year, in Week 2. That game won’t be easy, but against a manageable early schedule, the Bears have a chance to get to their Week 7 bye at .500 — or maybe a little better depending on how they handle their first London trip since 2019 in Week 6. The Jaguars have more experience in international games, and that could give them a leg up.

After the bye, the trip to play the Commanders and new quarterback Jayden Daniels is fun, and the trip to play the 49ers in December is … formidable. It could be the toughest test the Bears face all season. The meat of the second half of the schedule comes with all six NFC North games after Week 10. That means the Bears will have a tough final stretch against the Lions and Packers to earn a playoff berth. But it also means Williams and the revamped Bears offense will have time to click before facing their division rivals.

The Thanksgiving meeting with the Lions should be one of the biggest of the year. And in my opinion, the Bears regular season always should end with the Packers. A January 2025 trip to Lambeau Field — where the Bears last won in 2015 — seems like the perfect place to prove this is a new Bears era.

Dan Wiederer: 9-8

The fun is back in Chicago for what sets up to be a compelling season, starting with Caleb Williams’ debut — a very winnable home game against the Titans. That should have Bears fans at full tilt right out of the gates. It also will be the first of three consecutive games against AFC South opponents to open the year, a schedule abnormality that should allow Williams and the Bears to build early momentum.

Still, for a team like the Bears, now five seasons removed from their last winning season, there isn’t the luxury yet of having a full slate of should-win opportunities. This remains an on-the-rise team that must remain ultrafocused for every step of its treacherous climb.

Ten of the Bears’ 17 games this season come against teams that finished above .500 last season, including six against opponents that won at least one playoff game. Also on the schedule: seven opposing starting quarterbacks who have received Pro Bowl recognition in their careers and three other quarterbacks who were drafted in the top 10 last month.

There’s every reason to believe the Bears can take a significant step forward this season and emerge as a legitimate playoff contender. The fate of the season, though, likely hinges on how well they navigate a closing stretch that includes all six NFC North games over the final eight weeks.

The buzz within league circles is that it will occur this week, potentially Wednesday night, with the inevitable schedule leaks likely coming earlier that day.

The Chicago Bears — with No. 1 pick Caleb Williams as their new headliner — are suddenly a big draw and likely to be featured on prime time often in 2024. And while the Bears have known their opponents since last season ended, there’s eagerness inside Halas Hall to learn how the schedule will be sequenced.

The Bears open the preseason Aug. 1 in Canton, Ohio, in the Hall of Fame Game against the Houston Texans, an opponent they also will face during the season. The Bears also are slated to “host” a game in the NFL’s international series at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, likely in October.

As the schedule release nears, we’re making a direct request for an ideal Bears itinerary. This isn’t a prediction or even a wild guess at how the schedule will take shape. It’s a wish list, an appeal to the schedule makers to maximize the theater for the Bears.

Week 1: Bears at Lions on ‘Monday Night Football’ (Sept. 9)

As the curtain lifts on the Williams era, why not start with a significant division road test under the lights? When Bears general manager Ryan Poles vowed, on Jan. 24, 2022, that his team would “take the (NFC) North and never give it back,” the Green Bay Packers were the reigning division champions. Then the Minnesota Vikings took the division crown the following fall. Now the Lions are entering a season as defending NFC North champs for the first time, and they seem built to hold their spot atop the division until further notice.

Week 2: Packers at Bears on ‘Sunday Night Football’ (Sept. 15)

To be honest, we really wanted this one in Week 1. But the Packers already are committed to opening their season in Brazil, so we’ll have to wait a week. No problem. The home opener still would have oomph. Capitalize on the game’s oldest rivalry by welcoming the league’s newest budding star to his new stage. Let Williams open his career at Soldier Field on a big stage in front of a jacked-up home crowd and national TV audience. And give him a pressure-packed challenge in trying to help end the Bears’ 10-game losing streak against the Packers.

Week 3: Bears at 49ers (Sept. 22)

The reigning NFC champions would provide a valuable early measuring stick for the Bears, especially for an on-the-rise defense led by Montez Sweat, Tremaine Edmunds and Jaylon Johnson.

Week 4: Patriots at Bears (Sept. 29)

In what seemed like a big breakout game for Justin Fields two years ago, the Bears went to Foxborough, Mass., and thumped Bill Belichick’s team 33-14. Now the Patriots have a new coach in Jared Mayo and a new quarterback in No. 3 pick Drake Maye. That presents a new opportunity for the Bears to win a game they’re supposed to.

Week 5: Panthers at Bears (Oct. 6)

Last year’s No. 1 pick, quarterback Bryce Young, faces this year’s No. 1 pick, Williams. Also, prepare for a week’s worth of social media reminders and TV graphics on the ridiculous collection of talent the Bears acquired as a result of trading the top pick in the 2023 draft to the Panthers.

Week 6: Jaguars vs. Bears in London (Oct. 13)

The Jaguars played back-to-back games in London last season, hosting the Falcons in Week 4 and then serving as the road team for a game against the Buffalo Bills at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium the next week. This season the Jaguars’ two-week stay across the pond should culminate with a game against the Bears.

Week 7: Bye week

After the overseas trip, the Bears could benefit from an early breather and then reset for a demanding 12-game finishing stretch.

Week 8: Bears at Texans on ‘Sunday Night Football’ (Oct. 27)

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C.J. Stroud was last season’s Offensive Rookie of the Year, throwing for 4,108 yards and 23 touchdowns while leading the Texans on an improbable return to the playoffs. Williams is likely this year’s OROY favorite and will be looking to author a similar script with the Bears. A Sunday night audience would love to get a look at two of the league’s most promising young quarterbacks.

Week 9: Bears at Cardinals (Nov. 3)

The Cardinals have paired rookie wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. with quarterback Kyler Murray. Williams has his own rookie receiver in Rome Odunze — not to mention accomplished veterans DJ Moore and Keenan Allen. Certainly this sets up to be a more entertaining matchup than the Bears’ 27-16 defeat of the Cardinals on Christmas Eve last year.

Week 10: Seahawks at Bears (Nov. 10)

The Seahawks’ Mike Macdonald is one of four first-time head coaches on the Bears schedule. The others: the Patriots’ Mayo, the Panthers’ Dave Canales and the Titans’ Brian Callahan.

Week 11: Titans at Bears (Nov. 17)

The Titans replaced Mike Vrabel with Callahan and are trying to squeeze the most out of Will Levis as the potential franchise quarterback. Levis has talent in his receiving corps in DeAndre Hopkins and Calvin Ridley and two first-round picks on his line in Peter Skoronski and JC Latham.

Week 12: Bears at Packers (Nov. 24)

A football junkie like Williams should be in heaven during his first trip to Lambeau Field. It is, after all, the place where Williams’ favorite quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, started for 15 seasons. Make this the Sunday afternoon spotlight game and away we go.

Week 13: Vikings at Bears on Thanksgiving night (Nov. 28)

The Bears have gone on the road for Thanksgiving in five of the last 10 seasons. But why lean on an early game in Detroit as custom when the Bears can play a prime-time game next to Lake Michigan against Justin Jefferson and the Vikings?

Week 14: Bears at Commanders on ‘Thursday Night Football’ (Dec. 5)

In some circles, there was serious debate about whether Williams was a better prospect than fellow Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Jayden Daniels, whom the Commanders selected at No. 2. Why not test the premise in front of the Amazon Prime Video audience in early December?

Week 15: Bears at Colts (Dec. 15)

A quick trek south gives the Bears another reunion with Matt Eberflus’ former team. Depending on the health and developmental progress of Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson, could it also be a December reunion with 39-year-old Joe Flacco?

Week 16: Rams at Bears (Dec. 22)

Matthew Stafford was 5-6 at Soldier Field as the quarterback of the Lions. He threw for 400 yards and three touchdowns in his last game in Chicago late in the 2020 season.

Week 17: Bears at Vikings (Dec. 28)

Turn on the prime-time lights one more time for a key divisional showdown Saturday in Minneapolis.

Week 18: Lions at Bears (Jan. 5)

The Bears have played either the Packers or Vikings in the regular-season finale in 10 of the last 11 seasons. Let’s change it up for 2024. And let’s hope something significant is at stake as the reigning division champion Lions make their annual visit to Chicago.

Only three of the team’s five 2024 draft picks participated in the on-field session that also included nine undrafted rookies under contract, 27 tryout players and two players who have futures contracts. Rookie quarterback Caleb Williams remained the main attraction, of course.

Here are the highlights from the practices and interviews of rookie camp.

News of the day

Wide receiver Rome Odunze experienced hamstring tightness after Friday’s practice and was held out of Saturday’s on-field work as a precaution.

On the surface, it’s a minor setback for the rookie, whom the Bears selected at No. 9 last month, and the conservative approach makes sense. But Odunze’s status will be worth keeping on the radar when the Bears resume practicing in organized team activities on May 20.

The Bears expect big things as Odunze joins an impressive receiving corps that includes six-time Pro Bowl selection Keenan Allen and DJ Moore, who put up 1,364 receiving yards last season.

Odunze’s combination of size and speed has been evident, as has his ability to make contested catches. The Bears are optimistic those strengths will allow him to acclimate quickly to the NFL.

On Friday, Bears coach Matt Eberflus complimented Odunze for his drive.

“It’s how he worked at his craft to master it,” Eberflus said. “He knows he’s not a finished product. He has a lot of improving to do as he gets into the NFL. But his work ethic is elite. He worked himself into being that top-10 pick.”

Odunze will push to get back to 100% to resume his offseason improvement efforts.

Caleb Williams watch

Only so many big-picture conclusions can be drawn from rookie camp practices, at which much of the work is on an introductory level. Williams’ progress reports will become much more meaningful as the spring moves along through OTAs and minicamp.

Still, it’s easy to recognize the quarterback’s high-level arm talent and ability to change speeds with his passes, throw with accuracy and make plays from different arm angles and while on the move.

Odunze’s early work with Williams has left him with a strong impression of the quarterback’s grace and precision.

“It’s really effortless for him,” Odunze said. “He can do a lot of things that other quarterbacks may think is hard effortlessly. He continues to improve every time I see him.

“And he’s very smooth. He can throw the ball from any angle, any body position to anywhere on the field, to any spot on the field. So you always have to be ready.”

In a setting like this, Williams didn’t have much opportunity to show off his superpower, which is his ability to extend plays and be dangerous as a passer off script. Inside league circles, there’s curiosity to see how Williams can use that skill in the NFL while not becoming overly reliant on it.

Asked about Williams finding that balance in the pro game, Bears quarterbacks coach Kerry Joseph smiled Saturday.

“That’s an easy one,” Joseph said. “Just look at the players around him. You don’t have to do it all.

“This organization did a great job of putting players in place. It’s the guys who were here, bringing guys in, the coaches who are here. He doesn’t have to do it all. Just utilize the people around you and watch it unfold in front of you.”

Player in the spotlight

Yep, we are indeed shining the spotlight on a punter at rookie camp. But for good reason. Tory Taylor, a fourth-round pick out of Iowa, became the first player in the Bears draft class to sign his rookie contract, agreeing to terms Saturday on a four-year deal.

The Bears became enamored with Taylor during the predraft process after he was a consensus All-American and set a single-season NCAA record in 2023 with a 48.3-yard average.

On Friday, the Bears turned Taylor loose for an open-field punting period that offered the opportunity for the rookie to show off his leg strength.

“He’s a big man,” special teams coordinator Richard Hightower said. “He’s all of 6-4, 200-plus pounds. And when he hits that ball, you can hear the sound, that thump of the ball.”

Photos: Chicago Bears rookie minicamp at Halas Hall

On Saturday, Taylor took part in a punting period from inside the 50-yard line, his opportunity to display his touch and ball placement. The Bears have been emphatic about how impressive Taylor can be with his ability both to boom punts when needed and to pin an opponent deep when touch is required.

General manager Ryan Poles has talked about Taylor having many clubs in his bag as a punter, and Hightower described Saturday as “the day we get to see his wedges.”

Taylor had a decent day on that front, even as he acknowledged the need to understand the windy conditions in Chicago. Asked when ball placement became a focus for him, Taylor noted his extensive background as an Australian rules football player in his hometown of Melbourne.

“It’s been one of those things that I’ve always had in the tool bag,” he said. “A lot of the time it comes back to practice. Again, that’s stuff I’ve been doing for 20 years. And it’s stuff I’ll be working on for the next 20 years hopefully too.”

Quote of note

Attending college at Iowa more than 9,000 miles from home, Taylor typically returned to Australia for a month or so at this time of year, shortly after final exams wrapped up. This year he has a different schedule.

“My mom’s always like, ‘When are you coming home next?’ ” Taylor said. “I said, ‘The longer I’m here, the better. So stop asking.’ ”

Seen and heard

Fifth-round pick Austin Booker certainly looks the part as a pass rusher, a sleek athlete with a natural ability to use his length as a weapon. The Bears saw tremendous upside in Booker during their predraft evaluations, choosing to trade a 2025 fourth-round pick to the Buffalo Bills for the chance to grab Booker as a developmental prospect.

Eberflus has lauded Booker for his motor and labeled him a “slippery” rusher, a description defensive coordinator Eric Washington co-signed.

“When you talk about him being slippery, it’s just hard for the protection, either the person assigned to him or (another blocker), to get a solid shot on him,” Washington said. “He’s always rotating and flipping his hips at the right time so he can continue to advance toward the quarterback. He has that innate feel and ability.”

Injury update

In addition to Odunze’s absence Saturday, third-round pick Kiran Amegadjie missed his second consecutive practice and figures to be out until training camp at a minimum as he rehabilitates from a left quadriceps injury that ended his 2023 season at Yale. Amegadjie, a promising offensive tackle, needed surgery in October and is being brought along on a cautious timeline.

The Bears are hopeful Amegadjie can lock down the swing tackle role heading into the season with an eventual chance to compete with Braxton Jones for the starting left tackle job. For now, though, Amegadjie’s focus is on getting healthy.

“We’ll see how everything plays out,” he said. “I’ll trust them and trust their guidance on this. I’m not a doctor. I know how my body feels and I’ll communicate that to them and we’ll see how it goes as time goes on.”

General manager Ryan Poles and coach Matt Eberflus have been busy over the past four months, first overhauling the coaching staff and then upgrading the roster. Eberflus has added 11 new assistants to his staff since last season ended, and the Bears improved their depth chart with the five-man draft class they assembled last weekend to go with 12 free-agent signees and two key trade acquisitions.

Suddenly the Bears appear to have a playoff-caliber team around rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, who already seems to be settling in as the franchise’s new headliner. The optimism percolating out of Halas Hall seems justifiable as the Bears eye a big leap in their climb back toward championship contention.

With offseason practices around the corner, here are five observations about where the team is headed.

1. Caleb Williams won’t be caught off guard by the attention, pressure and expectations that await him in the NFL.

And in Chicago specifically.

Williams’ mic-drop moment at his introductory news conference at Halas Hall last week came when he was asked about his comfort in the spotlight and his willingness to take on high-level pressure when it would be easy to duck all the expectation and stress.

“What’s the reason to duck?” Williams said with a smile. “It’s here. There’s no reason to duck. I’m here. … We’re here. I’m excited. I know everybody’s excited. The Bears fans are excited from what I’ve heard and seen. And there’s no reason to duck. Attack it headfirst and go get it.”

It was an impressive, mature answer from a young quarterback whose fearlessness has been lauded as one of his best traits. It’s not just that Williams is willing to lean into the pressure, it’s that it has been his default setting, his preference.

Lincoln Riley, who was Williams’ coach for one season at Oklahoma and two more at USC, believes that mindset will catalyze Williams’ NFL emergence. Riley was continually impressed by Williams’ desire to set grand goals and vocalize them.

“He’s not scared for greatness,” Riley said. “He’s not scared to put it out there. He’s not scared to be himself.

“You have to have that belief in yourself. You have to have that belief in the people around you. And it’s contagious. When a leader or a quarterback feels that way about his team and about what they’re trying to accomplish, it energizes the entire group.”

Riley sees similarities between Williams’ 2022 arrival at USC and his beginning in Chicago.

“You’ve got an all-time iconic place that’s been a little bit down and you’re trying to bring it back,” Riley said. “Obviously there are a lot of parallels with what he’s getting ready to come up and do in Chicago. So to have that jolt of confidence and excitement in the beginning to help get it off the ground is a key part. He certainly has the inner belief to get that done.”

2. Rookie wide receiver Rome Odunze already is gravitating toward Williams’ strive-big mindset.

Odunze, whom the Bears drafted at No. 9 last week, believes he is wired in similar fashion.

“I want to go out there and do legendary things,” he said. “And that takes legendary goals and not being shy to come out and say (in advance) that you’re going to do those things. So I appreciate that (in Williams).”

Odunze also appreciates his journey during four seasons at Washington.

He joined a Huskies program in 2020 that was undergoing a coaching change. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Washington played only four games in Odunze’s freshman season, then sputtered to a 4-8 record in 2021 before making another coaching change from Jimmy Lake to Kalen DeBoer.

Odunze had to adjust and stay locked in and ultimately became a major contributor to a two-season run in 2022-23 during which Washington went 25-3 and made it to the College Football Playoff national championship game last season.

Odunze posted an FBS-best 1,640 receiving yards in 2023 on 92 catches, 13 of them for touchdowns. More importantly, he saw what it took for the Huskies to go on that climb.

“I learned a lot,” he said. “From the camaraderie and the brotherhood that you have to have in the locker room to dealing with the adversity that you go through in a season to the thrilling games that you have to clinch at the end to having the skill set to clinch those games. Being able to be clutch in those moments and be reliable for the team is one of the biggest things for me.”

In October, Odunze caught the game-winning touchdown pass in the final two minutes of a 36-33 win over Oregon. He had eight catches and 102 yards in the rematch with the Ducks in the Pac-12 championship game, then went for 125 yards in the Huskies’ 37-31 triumph over Texas in the national semifinals.

“We had that chip on our shoulders knowing the only thing that mattered was what was in that locker room with the effort we put forward and invested in one another,” Odunze said. “Through a lot of adversity, through perseverance, we believed in one another. And that can take you a long way.”

3. The Bears still need help on their defensive front.

Poles used only one of his five draft picks on a defensive player, and that was pass rusher Austin Booker, regarded as a raw prospect who needs considerable time to develop. The Bears selected Booker after trading back into Round 5 with a 2025 fourth-round pick they sent to the Buffalo Bills. And while the front office and coaching staff are intrigued by Booker’s traits and upside, they understand he’s likely a ways off from becoming an impact starter.

Who did the Chicago Bears select in the 2024 NFL draft? Meet the 5-player class.

In free agency, meanwhile, Poles signed only five defenders: safeties Kevin Byard and Jonathan Owens, linebacker Amen Ogbongbemiga, defensive end Jake Martin and defensive tackle Byron Cowart.

The push to add another major pass-rushing threat, either off the edge or at tackle, has yet to hit the mark. It wouldn’t be a surprise if the Bears continued shopping the discount shelf of free agency this spring and summer to find a veteran who can contribute right away.

Don’t forget, the Bears didn’t sign pass rusher Yannick Ngakoue last year until training camp had already begun. Ngakoue agreed to a one-year, $10.5 million deal in early August, then struggled to his lowest sack total (four) in his eight-season career before breaking his ankle in December and missing the final four games.

A reunion with Ngakoue at a team-friendly price isn’t out of the question. The buzz within league circles is that Ngakoue’s rehabilitation from ankle surgery should have him ready for training camp. So it will be interesting to see how serious Poles might be in trying to run it back with the 29-year-old defensive end.

Other veteran pass rushers still on the market include Shaq Lawson, Bud Dupree and Markus Golden.

At defensive tackle, meanwhile, the Bears seem to be betting on a big Year 2 jump from Gervon Dexter at the three-technique position. If Poles is interested in adding competition and depth, Calais Campbell, Hassan Ridgeway and Rakeem Nunez-Roches are available as free agents.

4. Ryan Poles is ecstatic about not only the talent he has assembled, but also the chemistry growing within the team.

Poles left draft weekend feeling the Bears are in great shape. The talent has been upgraded on both sides of the ball, but just as significant, the GM believes, is that the Bears have loaded the locker room with a bunch of team-first, Type A competitors who genuinely enjoy being around one another.

“It’s really rare to have the skill level be improved so much but the culture and the people be top notch as well,” Poles said. “To bring in really good people and really talented players, that’s really hard. And you don’t have to worry about having a bad locker room or a bad culture where through adversity things begin going bad and it starts eating at itself.

“These guys love being around each another. They love football. Coming up through scouting, those are kind of the staples. You want to make sure guys are passionate about football and that they’re good teammates. You lean into that. And you have to have faith that when you put a bunch of those people together, they can be special.”

5. The 2024 schedule release is just around the corner.

The Bears should learn the sequence of games next week, with the official release expected on Thursday, May 9. With the addition of Williams plus a much-improved supporting cast, it would not be surprising if the Bears are a major prime-time draw with at least five night games.

Adding to the intrigue is an eye-catching list of opposing starting quarterbacks. If everyone stays healthy — yes, that’s a massive “if” — Williams could have six games against quarterbacks who also were drafted at No. 1 (Bryce Young, Trevor Lawrence, Kyler Murray, Matthew Stafford and two versus Jared Goff) plus four games against QBs also drafted in the top 10 last week (Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye and two versus J.J. McCarthy).

The other opposing quarterbacks on the docket aren’t too shabby either: C.J. Stroud, Brock Purdy, Jordan Love (twice), Geno Smith, Anthony Richardson and Will Levis.