The Bear’s Den, July 27, 2018

BEAR DOWN, CHICAGO BEARS, BEAR DOWN!!!!

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Kane: After one last ‘Philly Special’ hurrah, Trey Burton ready to step up leadership, playing time with Bears - Chicago Tribune - It’s still too early in training camp for Matt Nagy to evaluate exactly how Trey Burton is faring in the role he envisioned for him, but the fifth-year tight end has shown his worth in other ways so far.

Wiederer: Without Danny Trevathan and Roquan Smith, the Bears are left scrambling to plug holes - Chicago Tribune - Linebacker Danny Trevathan missed his sixth consecutive practice Thursday with a hamstring injury. With Trevathan hurt and rookie Roquan Smith still stuck in contract negotiations, the Bears have been left to reshuffle their linebacking corps in the early stages of training camp.

Campbell: 5 observations from Bears practice Thursday - Mitch Trubisky’s accuracy, live tackling, Anthony Miller’s hands and more - Chicago Tribune - Observations from Thursday’s Chicago Bears practice include Mitch Trubisky’s two interceptions, some touchdowns by the second-year quarterback and a standout day for rookie slot receiver Anthony Miller

Jahns’ Bears training camp 2018: Kylie Fitts, Isaiah Irving compete at outside linebacker - Chicago Sun-Times - Bears outside linebackers Kylie Fitts and Isaiah Irving have gotten more opportunities to establish themselves at Olivet Nazarene University

Potash: Tight end Trey Burton new role; better production; Matt Nagy - Chicago Sun-Times - If there’s any consistent responsibility, it’s to make plays when the Bears need them most — on third down, short yardage and at at the goal line.

Finley: Observations, analysis report from Bourbonnais - Chicago Sun-Times - Quarterback Mitch Trubisky threw two interceptions to cornerback Prince Amukamara in a three-play span on Thursday, but Matt Nagy isn’t worried

Finley: Roquan Smith holdout: Bears getting closer to signing 1st-round pick? - Chicago Sun-Times - Bears general manager Ryan Pace claimed last week that such stalemates were commonplace around the NFL. That is, clearly, no longer the case.

Finley: Why the Bears invested in Mitch Trubisky’s backup quarterbacks - Chicago Sun-Times - The value of the Bears’ backup quarterbacks lies in the meeting room. And on the sideline. And at the dinner table.

Mayer: Amukamara picks off two passes in practice - ChicagoBears.com - Prince Amukamara has performed well since the start of training camp, and Thursday may have been his best practice to date as the veteran cornerback intercepted two passes in a three-play span.

Mayer: Burton working on run blocking, conditioning - ChicagoBears.com - Assuming a more significant role with the Bears than he filled with the Eagles, Trey Burton is focused on becoming a more complete tight end who never has to leave the field.

Mullin: Bears emphasis on takeaways paying off but LBs getting in short supply - NBC Sports Chicago - The Bears coaching staff is emphasizing getting turnovers. The secondary showed signs of improvement in that area Thursday at training camp.

Mullin's Postcard from Camp: Long-time Bears campers see hitting and 'Showtime' from offense and defense - NBC Sports Chicago - The Bears are getting flashy in training camp on both sides of the ball, as John "Moon" Mullin tells us in today's Postcard From Camp.

Training Camp Daily: Perfect 10 - NBC Sports Chicago - Insider John “Moon” Mullin and producer Paul Aspan discuss a great sign for the offense, how the defense immediately bounced back, and how Trey Burton has excelled…and where he needs to improve.

Perez: Bears sign Arena League Rookie of the Year - NBC Sports Chicago - The Chicago Bears added a wide receiver Thursday, who happens to be the Arena League's Rookie of the Year.

Mullin: Bears, Roquan Smith still without a deal as camp proceeds and HOF game approaches - NBC Sports Chicago - With the Bears' first preseason game just one week away, the team has yet to sign rookie linebacker Roquan Smith.

Mullin: Fire and Ice - Inside the helmets, different Bears personalities flourishing - NBC Sports Chicago - Get inside the minds of the Bears at all positions based on their personalities and identities they've formed since arriving.

Bears' Nagy optimistic on Smith signing soon - Daily Herald - The Bears' first-round draft pick Roquan Smith is now 11 days behind his fellow rookies, who reported to training camp on July 16. Smith and Jets QB Sam Darnold are the only first-rounders who have not agreed to terms, but coach Matt Nagy expressed optimism when he was asked after Thursday's sixth full-squad practice if the team was close to signing the inside linebacker.

Burton's past an asset for Bears' future - Daily Herald - All the leading indicators point toward TE Trey Burton having a career year in his first season as a Bear. During his first four seasons as an Eagle, Burton mostly flew under the radar, playing behind Zach Ertz and Brent Celek. But the Bears didn't give the 27-year-old Burton a $32 million, four-year deal in free agency so he could play second fiddle, even at a TE position that already had veteran Dion Sims and 2017 second-round draft pick Adam Shaheen.

MMBQ: What's holding up the Ruqan Smith signing, Gurley, More - SI.com - Questions about the Roquan Smith holdout plus the Rams are rapidly locking up key pieces to a long-term contender, and everyone seems happy about it

Joniak's Journal: Bears Defensive Line Carries Intrigue - 670 The Score - Jonathan Bullard and Roy Robertson-Harris are two players to watch.

DeYoung's Bears Notebook: Day Five Training Camp Observations - The Loop Sports - Our very own Dan DeYoung was at the first day of full contact practice for the Bears. All his observations are here.

PFW Chicago Podcast 120: Early training camp updates - Pro Football Weekly - This week on the PFW Chicago Podcast, Hub and Bob, along with Eric Edholm review some early takeaways from the first week of training camp. Matt Nagy's offense is looking versatile and the defense is showing some good signs as well. Plus, the guys talk about the latest on Roquan Smith.

Perez: Aaron Lynch misses another Bears training camp practice - NBC Sports Chicago - Chicago Bears OLB Aaron Lynch sat out of Thursday's practice as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury.

Smith: Sam Darnold, Roquan Smith are the only remaining unsigned rookies – ProFootballTalk - As training camps open, rookies across the league are getting their deals done -- with only two exceptions. Jets quarterback Sam Darnold (the third overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft) and Bears linebacker Roquan Smith (the eighth overall pick) are the only remaining unsigned rookies.

Cox: Chicago Bears training camp: 3 storylines to keep an eye on - Bears Wire - Chicago Bears training camp is already well underway, and we're starting to see the storylines to follow throughout the preseason.

Eurich: Matt Fleming cut, Malachi Jones signed by Bears - 247Sports - It is now the end of the road for now for Matt Fleming with the Chicago Bears. The team announced on Thursday it waived the local product and signed fellow wide receiver

Eurich: Isaiah Irving ready to take next step - 247Sports - Isaiah Irving is ready for his opportunity with the Chicago Bears.

Eurich: Aaron Lynch injury continues to linger - 247Sports - Aaron Lynch was brought in to anchor down one side of the defense as a pass-rusher this season. That could still be the case for the Bears this season, but Lynch has been

Eurich: Anthony Miller predicted to breakout by former GM - 247Sports - Anthony Miller continues to be the talk of Bears training camp.

Eurich: Akiem Hicks names takeaways as top area to improve - 247Sports - The Chicago Bears have added a new goal on the defensive side of the ball.

Eurich: Taylor Gabriel has a history of production dropping off - 247Sports - Taylor Gabriel has the tendency to disappear for stretches during the regular season.

Dannehy's Ranking the Entire Bears Roster: Top of the Heap (1-10) - Da Bears Blog - As I got down this list and into the top ten, it struck me that the only player Ryan Pace isn’t responsible for bringing in is Kyle Long. Not only has Pace turned nearly the entire roster over, but he’s brought in almost all of their best players in a short amount of time. And what’s different this year is that some of their best players are actually among the best in the league.

Cox: Bears sign standout Arena Football League wide receiver - Bears Wire - Matt Nagy is getting back to his Arena Football League roots with the Chicago Bears. He knows that talented players slip through the cracks, so he's taking a chance on one of the other league's best.

Cox: Chicago Bears may not face Jameis Winston in Week 4 vs Buccaneers - Bears Wire - Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Dirk Koetter wouldn't committ to Jameis Winston for their Week 4 game against the Chicago Bears.

Cox: Allen Robinson ‘fine’ physically, still overcoming mental hurdles - Bears Wire - Chicago Bears wide receiver Allen Robinson is recovered from offseason ACL surgery, but he's still getting back used to the swing of things.

Medina: Getting to Know the 2018 Chicago Bears - Cornerbacks - 247Sports - Kyle Fuller leads a talented Bears secondary into 2018.

Mayer: Bears see Hicks as natural leader on defense - ChicagoBears.com - The Bears are counting on defensive end Akiem Hicks to do more than just sack quarterbacks and stuff running plays this season. They’re also looking at the seven-year veteran to provide leadership on a young defense.

POLISH SAUSAGE

Patra: Jameis Winston asks fans to ‘continue to support me’ - NFL.com - Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston addressed the media Thursday for the first time since he was handed a three-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal-conduct policy.

KNOW THY ENEMY

Packers young WRs need to develop but could become deep threats early - Acme Packing Company - The Packers needed deep threats, and that’s precisely what they drafted.

Lions place Devon Kennard, Cornelius Washington on NFI list - Pride Of Detroit - More Lions will start training camp on an injury list.

Vikings Kicker Competition Starts At Training Camp - Daily Norseman - May the kicker who consistently makes it through the upright win

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON

Infante: Bears sign arena league standout Malachi Jones, waive Matt Fleming - Windy City Gridiron - The Bears have made a switch at wide receiver a few days into training camp.

Link's Chicago Bears Training Camp 2018: Andrew Link’s Camp Notebook 7/26 - Windy City Gridiron - After spending the morning in BEARbonnais, I empty out my notebook of all things Bears!

Berkes: Fantasy Files - NFC East Divisional Preview - Windy City Gridiron - Checking in on the World Champion Eagles and the rest of the NFC East for your fantasy football drafts

Wiltfong: Chicago Bears Training Camp Recap 7/26 - Windy City Gridiron - Here’s our recap of what went down at Bourbonnais today at Bears’ camp.

Infante: One dark-horse candidate at each Bears offensive position who could move up the depth chart - Windy City Gridiron - The Bears have added a lot of talented players to their offense. Now it’s just a matter of who takes which spot on the depth chart.

Link: The sneakiest most important Bears for 2018: No. 4 - Prince Amukamara and Bryce Callahan - Windy City Gridiron - Unsung heroes will help make or break the Bears’ 2018 season. Cornerbacks Prince Amukamara and Bryce Callahan will be crucial to the success of the defense.

Wiltfong: Bears Training Camp Live Stream Open Thread - Windy City Gridiron - We have Robert Zeglinski and Andrew Link both down at Olivet Nazarene University in beautiful downtown Bourbonnais, Illinois, and they’re going to bring you guys as much info on Chicago Bears...

Infante's Bears UDFA breakdown: Defensive end Cavon Walker - Windy City Gridiron - Every year a few UDFAs make the Chicago Bears’ 53-man roster, so we’ll take a look at the Top 10 most likely to do so. This time, we’re looking at Maryland alumnus Cavon Walker.

WCG CONTRIBUTORS BEARS PODCASTS & STREAMS

2 Minute Drill - Website - iTunes - Andrew Link; Steven’s Streaming – Twitch – Steven Schweickert; T-Formation Conversation - Website - iTunes - Lester Wiltfong, Jr.; WCG Radio - Website - Robert Zeglinski

THE RULES

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