Chicago Bears wide receiver Jahdae Walker has made consistent plays throughout training camp, displaying his growth as he enters Year 2 in the NFL.
Jahdae Walker has made his fair share of plays throughout the Chicago Bears' first nine practices of training camp.
The Bears' wide receiver and backup quarterback, Tyson Bagent, have found their chemistry. During Saturday's fully padded training camp practice, the two connected for their latest big play of the summer.
According to the Chicago Tribune's Brad Biggs, Bagent connected with Walker on a 23-yard touchdown during the team's end-of-game drill. Walker described what he saw on the plays after the practice.
“Basically, I was thinking, I saw it was Cover 2, so I wanted to widen the corner as much as I could, so I could slip back inside," Walker said. "And I was just trying to get back to my original alignment, probably like the red line kind of, so Tyson could fit a good ball in there, and he did.”
Walker told reporters that he thought he had an idea he would get the ball on the play because he could hear head coach Ben Johnson relaying the play call through Bagent's helmet.
"He was like, 'We've gotta get it up and down here, we've got two plays,'" Walker said. "I was like, all right, I've got a good chance I'm gonna get it."
As for Walker's celebration afterwards, the second-year receiver said "that's just me."
The undrafted free agent from Texas A&M plays the game with his passion on his sleeves. And that's evident if he's catching a pass in the end zone or making a play on special teams.
With Walker in Year 2 of head coach Ben Johnson's offense, he understands his assignments, which allows him to play faster. Despite being in an offense that does have a lot of playmakers, Walker understands how to stay patient.
"It's kind of easy to stay patient," Walker said. "I kind of did it my whole life. I went to A&M, it was a loaded receivers room. Came here, loaded receivers room. So I've been patient my whole life and just being ready when my number's called. That's really the biggest thing I'm looking forward to."
Walker's number can be called at any moment. Luther Burden III left Saturday's practice early with an injury. There hasn't been an update from the team or Johnson, but Walker will have to stay ready when the first-team offense needs him.
He is setting himself up for success by maintaining strong chemistry with Caleb Williams.
"We get a lot of reps after practice," Walker said. "Whether we run routes and then I do, like, two go balls to end it. If I drop it or if he overthrows me, we do it again. We don't ever end on a drop; we end on a catch. So, that's the biggest thing. And we've been working out since the offseason, so we've been working out and trying to find that connection."
