Hold on to your helmet, fans Navy and Orange! If you thought the week before the first preseason game would be a period of routine and procedure, the universe of the Chicago Bears made sure to shake things up.

Between the discussion about the future stadium, a significant loss in the secondary, the ambitious words of Ben Johnson, and the decision about who will step on the field this Saturday, here is the breakdown of what really matters this week in Halas Hall.

I. Hammond moves forward, but resistance grows

The Bears confirmed they continue to evaluate two sites in Hammond, Indiana: Lost Marsh and Wolf Lake Terminal. They even consider combining both spaces to build a covered stadium and a commercial complex.

The project moves forward, but the relocation is still not finalized. The main point of contention is financing: Indiana could allocate more than $1 billion in public funds, partially supported by new taxes on tickets, hotels, food and beverages.

The proposal has sparked opposition from residents and officials in Lake and Porter counties, who question why taxpayers should fund a stadium operated by a multi-billion-dollar franchise. Their supporters argue that the development would create jobs, investment and new revenue for the region, but no one has yet presented figures that show who would assume the greatest risk and who would receive the benefits.

George McCaskey said the Chicago Bears will continue regardless of where they play. The name may remain; the pending question is who will pay the bill.

II. Coby Bryant undergoes surgery

The secondary took a significant hit. Ben Johnson confirmed that Coby Bryant was operated on his knee and will be out for four to six months, a timeframe considerably longer than the initial estimate of eight to ten weeks.

Bryant could return as late as the end of the season, if his recovery allows. In his absence, Chicago brought in veteran safety Xavier Woods, while Dillon Thieneman and other members of the secondary will receive more opportunities.

The Bears also signed receiver and return specialist Ray-Ray McCloud III to strengthen the special teams and increase competition for the final roster spots.

III. Ben Johnson aims for history and sparks controversy

Ben Johnson has never been shy about expressing his expectations. This week, he once again demonstrated that with a statement that quickly spread throughout Halas Hall.

“There are 31 other teams arriving at camp saying: ‘Our goal is to win the Super Bowl.’ I want more than that. I want an offense with more points in history, the Denver Broncos of 2013. I know how many points they averaged — 37.9 — and I want to surpass them. I want touchdowns. I want beat downs.”

The statement doesn’t necessarily mean Johnson considers secondary to winning the Super Bowl. His message seems to point to the idea that this shared league goal isn’t enough as a daily standard: he wants to build a team capable of dominating, not just surviving.

But the way he phrased it was so challenging that it sparked criticism. In First Things First, one analyst called the statement ‘strangely grotesque’ and presented it as a manifestation of Johnson’s arrogance. The argument is that a coach who hasn’t yet reached the Super Bowl as head coach is comparing himself to one of the most productive offenses of all time.

The bar is almost absurd. The 2013 Broncos, led by Peyton Manning, scored 606 points and averaged 37.9 per game. Neither of the recent top offenses led by Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid have reached that average.

There’s also an apparent contradiction. Johnson is no longer just an offensive coordinator: he is responsible for the entire team. Talking about scoring records can be exciting, but demanding beat downs involves a defense that starts the season with important questions and that just lost Coby Bryant for several months.

The other interpretation is less scandalous. Johnson could be setting a deliberately difficult standard to prevent the 2025 success from relaxing the team. Asking for a historically productive offense, touchdowns and beat downs doesn’t mean promising they will happen; it means that winning by the smallest margin doesn’t represent their maximum aspiration.

Is it competitive confidence or hubris? There’s probably a bit of both. The answer will come when the games begin and we discover whether his words raised the standard or simply increased the pressure.

IV. A practice without a script and the Williams-Odunze bomb

On the field, Johnson raised the level of demand with a simulated practice without a script. Players received the game plan the night before and had to execute it with less preparation time, a test designed to evaluate their ability to react under pressure.

The most spectacular play came during an exercise to move the ball from the 1-yard line.

Caleb Williams felt how the pressure was beginning to close in, escaped to the right and threw a deep pass of 58 yards to Rome Odunze, who completed the catch near the sideline despite the coverage.

It was a brilliant play and another example of Caleb’s ability to produce outside the structure. It also left a positive signal about his connection with Odunze, who needs to stay healthy and find greater consistency to assume an even more important role in the offense.

August plays don’t guarantee magical nights during the regular season, but they do fuel the imagination. If Williams and Odunze carry that chemistry into games, opposing defenses will have a serious problem.

V. The starters will watch the debut from the bench

This Saturday, August 15, the Bears will host the Cleveland Browns at Soldier Field to open the 2026 preseason. However, those who bought tickets hoping to watch the starting offense for four quarters will need to adjust their expectations.

Ben Johnson announced that Caleb Williams and several starters will not participate in the game.

The decision responds to the work accumulated during camp and the desire of the coaching staff to protect their key players. It also allows the game to focus on evaluating those competing for a spot on the 53-man roster.

The absence of Caleb doesn’t make the game a routine. On the contrary, it directs attention to players who will have few opportunities to demonstrate they belong on the team.

Three names to watch

  • Tyson Bagent: he will have the responsibility of leading the offense and demonstrating he can keep it under control when Caleb isn’t available.

  • Kyle Monangai: he will seek to confirm what was shown during his standout rookie season. More than his explosive cuts, we’ll have to watch his pass protection, his decisions and his production without the entire starting line.

  • Dillon Thieneman: the absence of Coby Bryant could accelerate the development of the rookie safety. The game will allow evaluating his communication, discipline and adaptation to the speed of the NFL.

In preseason, statistics can be misleading. What’s important will be observing who knows their assignments, who avoids mental errors and who takes advantage of repetitions they may not get again.

The fanaticOSO note

We’re just hours away from seeing the bear’s uniform on the grass of Soldier Field again.

The starters won’t risk their bodies this Saturday, but that doesn’t mean the game lacks importance. For some players, it will be a laboratory; for others, an audition; for a few, it could be their last chance to extend their dream within the NFL.

Meanwhile, outside the field, the Bears face questions as big as their ambitions: who will pay for their new stadium, how will a battered secondary respond, and whether Ben Johnson’s extraordinary expectations can become something more than a provocative statement.

The wait is over.

NFL football is back in Chicago.

🐻⬇️