From rookie safety Dillon Thieneman’s elite speed to Rome Odunze’s redemption arc, discover which Bears playmakers are under the microscope as the team prepares for training camp.
The days without football are coming to an end.
Bears rookies will report back to Halas Hall on Saturday, and veterans will return next Tuesday, signaling the start of what should be a highly competitive and intense training camp under second-year head coach Ben Johnson.
There will be plenty of storylines to follow, but tracking individual player development over the summer remains one of the most exciting aspects of training camp.
Caleb Williams will of course receive most of the attention, especially since his development going into Year 3 will be paramount to the Bears' success. But let's take the Bears' quarterback out of the equation and highlight three players who will have my extra attention during training camp.
Dillon Thieneman, Safety, Rookie
The Bears have an exciting rookie in the backend of their defense. Dillon Thieneman, the 25th overall pick, provides defensive coordinator Dennis Allen with a versatile playmaker who possess elite speed.
One of the most compelling storylines to follow throughout camp is monitoring the rapport between Thieneman and veteran safety Coby Bryant. There will likely be growing pains this summer as the two find their comfortability with each other as they learn the nuances of Allen's defense.
Watching Thieneman compete against tight end Colston Loveland in one-on-ones will be one of the top camp battles to track.
Rome Odunze, Wide Receiver, Year 3
The Chicago Bears' wide receiver will look to bounce back from a disappointing 2025 season that was impacted by injury and some concentration drops. Rome Odunze has an opportunity to reestablish himself as the Bears' go-to target.
Something to monitor with Odunze is how he catches the football. A confident receiver extends his hands and rarely lets the ball hit his body. One of Odunze's defining traits at the University of Washington was his ability to make contested catches. Williams needs to give the former top-10 pick those opportunities in camp to see if his teammate can complete the catch.
Austin Booker, Defensive End, Year 3
Even though Austin Booker played just 12 games last season, including the playoffs, he still finished with 35 total quarterback pressures and 5.5 sacks.
It's tough to gauge a pass rush during training camp because the players are not in full pads every day and the quarterback is not allowed to be touched. When the Bears have joint practices against the Cincinnati Bengals and Tennessee Titans, that will provide the 23-year-old pass rush with opportunities to unleash his pass-rush moves.
If Booker puts together a strong training camp and capitalizes in the joint practices and preseason, he can become more than a rotational pass rusher. He proved that towards the end of last season. Defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo is coming off a season-ending Achilles injury, so Booker has a prime opportunity to showcase his true talent heading into his third NFL season.
