4 takeaways from Wednesday's Bears OTAs
· Yahoo Sports
The second week of Chicago Bears organized team activities (OTAs) is in full swing as veterans and rookies alike hit the practice field on Wednesday for their second-to-last practice of voluntary workouts.
Head coach Ben Johnson met with the media prior to practice taking place, and he was all business. After dealing with a phone mishap with one of the media in attendance that went viral on social media, Johnson spoke on Braxton Jones' involvement now that he's fully healthy, working with Jaylon Johnson while dealing with the availability of Kyler Gordon, and his lack of reaction to Caleb Williams being named the Madden 27 cover athlete.
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From strong showings by the receivers to a few notable injured players on the field, here are our takeaways from Wednesday's OTA practice:
1. Ben Johnson doesn't trust Kyler Gordon
Two of the Bears' top cornerbacks, Kyler Gordon and Jaylon Johnson, missed significant time in 2025 due to injuries. And for a team with a new coaching staff, it can be tough to fully know the players on the roster when they're unavailable. There was frustration on both ends with Gordon and Johnson being out, but each one had a fresh start going into 2026. Ben Johnson seems pleased with the progress Jaylon Johnson is making as he participates in OTAs. Gordon, on the other hand, seems to be trending in the wrong direction.
Ben Johnson spoke on Gordon prior to practice and said the trust is still being built between the two of them over a year into their relationship. "We spoke last year, and neither one of us were really happy with how it went just from a perspective of being available to get to know each other," Johnson said via ESPN's Courtney Cronin. "I think he only played in three games when I look back at it, and so, you know, this spring was going to be a springboard for us to get going in the right direction. We're still working through that. We're still trying to get that availability piece going. We know he's a good player when he's out there but trust level is a huge thing for this team, for this coaching staff, for the locker room and you can only develop that trust by being available."
Gordon has shown throughout his career that he can be a difference maker in the secondary when healthy. His ability to make plays near the line of scrimmage while also helping in pass coverage has been evident since he came into the league. But he has to show Johnson and defensive coordinator Dennis Allen that he's ready to roll. Not being at OTAs doesn't exactly do that, as Gordon was absent on Wednesday.
2. Rome Odunze is adjusting to his new normal
Another player looking to bounce back after an injury-plagued season is wide receiver Rome Odunze. The third-year pass catcher was instrumental to the Bears' offensive success early on in 2025, but a stress fracture in his foot limited his effectiveness before it ended his regular season prematurely. Now, Odunze is healthy and garnering plenty of targets in practice, according to CHGO's Mark Carman. He's also learning to play with a healed foot, which could present challenges.
"This is my new normal," Odunze said when asked if he's back to 100% and his foot feels normal again. "And it’s not from a standpoint that I’m always in pain but the way my foot broke, there are calluses in there that like creates a different type of foot structure with those bones—different types of things that kind of shift things around. So my new normal was kind of what I am growing into and I don't think that's going to prohibit me or keep me from making plays."
Odunze is motivated to get back to where he was at the start of 2025 and grow from there. He has a prime opportunity to lead the Bears' receiving corps now with the departure of DJ Moore and will be eligible for an extension next offseason. He's just going to need to stay on top of his rehab from here on out to stay healthy.
3. The young receivers are flashing
While plenty of focus was on Odunze, the other young receivers on the Bears were out on the field making plays. CHSN's Clay Harbor noted that Luther Burden caught a few passes in tight coverage, while Herb Howard said he caught a dart from Williams across the middle with Jaylon Johnson in pursuit. Harbor also took note of fellow second-year receiver Jahdae Walker getting involved, and CHGO's Mark Carman pointed out that Zavion Thomas had the catch of the day from backup quarterback Tyson Bagent.
OTAs are where the skill players shine, so it's not too surprising to see the Bears' receivers make plays in helmets and shorts. But it's still a good sign that his receiving corps will be just fine despite the departure of DJ Moore, with Burden and Odunze leading the way.
4. Injured Bears are on their way back
Arguably the best thing that happened during Wednesday's practice was the return of linebacker TJ Edwards and defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo. The veteran defensive starters both suffered serious injuries last season, with Edwards breaking his fibula in January and Odeyingbo tearing his Achilles tendon in November. Both players were spotted during individual warmups by the media, a positive sign that their rehab is trending in the right direction. Though it will be a while still before each player is back doing full drills, Edwards and Odeyingbo are doing everything they can to get back on the field.
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: 4 takeaways from Wednesday's Bears OTAs