Find out when the Chicago Bears will kick off training camp and who the team will face in joint practices this summer.
The NFL announced the dates for each team's respective training camps and joint practices on Monday morning.
The Chicago Bears' rookies will report to Halas Hall on July 25 and veterans will report on the 28, signaling the start of what should be another physical camp under coach Ben Johnson.
"You have to pay a price, you have to make deposits if you want to have success in this league," Johnson said during mandatory minicamp. "I've been in it 15 years now, and I don't think there's any way you can cut corners and expect to win on Sunday. Training camp is a big part of that. Our guys understand that. They know what they're walking into. I think our type of guys embrace it and want it. I'm really looking forward to it."
Something Johnson also enjoys is having joint practices. The Bears will have two different sessions this preseason. Before the Bears' Week 2 preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Chicago will have a joint practice with Cincinnati on Aug. 20 at the Kettering Health Practice Fields in Ohio.
On Aug. 27, Johnson's team will have a joint practice with the Tennessee Titans at Vanderbilt Health Football Camp in Nashville. Two days following the practice, the Bears will play their final game of the preseason.
During Johnson's first season as the Beras' coach, Chicago hosted Miami and Buffalo at Halas Hall for joint practices. As expected with NFL joint practices, there were some scrums that happened in both practices.
It wouldn't be surprising if the same occurs in the sessions with the Bengals and Titans. Anytime the temperature increases and there is an opportunity to compete against people who aren't teammates, that usually brings out the intensity and physicality in NFL players.
Some matchups that will be must-watch include the battles between the Bears' offensive line and the opposing defensive linemen. The Bengals traded for interior defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence, who is one of the best players at his respective position.
The Titans just signed Jeffery Simmons to a three-year deal worth $105.8 million with $100 million guaranteed, making him the NFL's highest-paid defensive tackle.
Lawrence and Simmons will get some one-on-one opportunities against left guard Joe Thuney, center Garrett Bradbury and right guard Jonah Jackson. Bears' second-round draft pick Logan Jones will also get his fair share of reps against some of the best interior D-linemen in the league.
Of course, the Bengals also have wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. That duo will give the Bears' secondary some tough reps during the joint practice.
With joint practices providing a more controlled environment than a game, it will be noteworthy to see how Johnson approaches the preseason games against the Bengals and Titans.
After the joint practice with the Dolphins last season, the Bears starters didn't play in the game against Miami. That changed in the matchup with the Bills, as the Bears' starting offense played two series, and the first-team defense forced one three-and-out before calling it a day.
Training camp and joint practices establish the foundation for the entire year. As the team prepares for the 2026 NFL season, expect Johnson to have his roster ready to compete from day one.
