LAKE FOREST, Ill. — One month from now, it all begins. 

Just after noon on September 8, the Chicago Bears will kick off one of the most anticipated seasons in franchise history — boasting legitimate hopes of playoff contention in 2024 and sustained success to come.

Will the Bears be ready to meet this moment? 

There’s a great burden on the shoulders of head coach Matt Eberflus to lead this team forward to a fast start in the new season.

Last season, the Bears began 0-4 and nearly doomed themselves from marking any sort of progress. Eberflus seemed to be a lame duck head coach before a late-season swing took Chicago to 7-10 and ultimately saved his job for a third year.

[MORE: The Bears have one of the easiest schedules in 2024]

In retaining Eberflus, the Bears believed not only that he was the right man to lead the development of a rookie quarterback — Caleb Williams, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft — but more so that he could create an environment in which a quarterback prodigy could thrive.

Those aspirations are well underway now three weeks into training camp at Halas Hall, though there are early concerns that have lingered to the side of each practice field. 

The Bears have been dealt a rash of injuries early in training camp that could compromise their starting units on both sides of the football. On offense, the Bears have been forced to play a different player at each starting offensive line position as all five projected starters have dealt with injuries. Defensively, three starters in the secondary — Jaquan Brisker, Kyler Gordon and Tyrique Stevenson — remain sidelined from action.

In reflecting on the Bears’ 0-4 start last season, Eberflus often pointed to the injury struggles in the 2023 training camp. Those issues have returned once again.

Meanwhile, the Bears have prioritized preserving their players with a mindfulness towards sports science – but it hasn’t kept this team healthy through the first three weeks of practices.

“You have to have that callous,” Eberflus said. “And you’ve got to be able to build it up and that’s what we’re doing. So, we’re very conscious of that and it’s important that we compete against each other.”

At the very least, Williams is being tested in training camp. The continued shuffling for the offensive line has led to plays breaking down and Williams forced out of the pocket. The pre-snap procedure has been an ongoing challenge that the Bears still haven’t overcome offensively — and the defense is enjoying its role in antagonizing Williams.

The Bears must settle their starting offensive line to create continuity that can benefit a rookie quarterback. They’re still sorting through that.

The Bears open the season with a favorable matchup against the Titans, and a continued build-up to greater challenges. The hope in Chicago is for this team to set course towards meaningful football late in the season and the goal of playing in the postseason.

A fast start to this season can be the catalyst for the Bears to be a playoff team in 2024. More importantly, it sets a foundation on which Williams can grow as a rookie in this league. 

First, the Bears must enjoy a healthier, productive training camp that fosters growth for this entire roster – with no one more important than Williams.

There is still a month to go before kickoff on this new season. It’s enough time to mark progress, but Week 1 will be here soon enough.

Quarterbacks coach sees Williams ‘on pace’

As part of the plan for Williams’ future, the Bears want to both test him each day but encourage him along the way. They want to push him in practice but build him back up.

Williams is a starting quarterback anointed by his team, though he’s also a rookie going through this all for the very first time in the NFL. Nothing has come easy for him — nor should it.

“I tell him all the time, ‘You’re not going to be perfect,’” Bears quarterbacks coach Kerry Joseph said. “And the way you learn is by making mistakes. You come back, you learn from the mistake you learn, and you might make a new one, or you learn from that one. I think for him it’s just taking those steps. You can’t skip a step in this process. I think he’s taken every step necessary throughout this process and we’re right there with him.” 

Hired by the Bears early this offseason, Joseph became the choice for Eberflus in large part because of his ability to connect with a quarterback. Joseph was an instrumental voice in Seattle alongside Geno Smith, who resurrected his career as a Pro Bowl player with the Seahawks.

[MORE: Caleb Williams, Bears first stringers starting this week against Buffalo]

A former Canadian Football League quarterback himself, Joseph can understand what Williams is enduring as a rookie working to be great.

“He’s doing a tremendous job,” Joseph said. “From Day 1 that he walked into the building to where he is now, he’s doing an amazing job. He’s working through the kinks and it’s funny because if he messes something up, he’s frustrated about it, because he corrects it himself. 

“He’s right where you expect a young guy that’s a rookie learning a new offense, learning the game at a different level. I think he’s on pace and he just continues to grow.”

Joseph was an important figure in the Bears’ scouting process that led their conviction on Williams. He traveled with Eberflus, general manager Ryan Poles and their brass to not only evaluate Williams but also to assess alternatives like JJ McCarthy, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye. 

Nothing has surprised Joseph so far with Williams, who he sees establishing himself as a quarterback and a leader for the Bears.

“It’s just his personality and he’s authentic with it,” Joseph said. “It’s just his personality. I mean, when you have that personality, you’re not going to have a problem connecting with people, because you have that in your heart. I just think that’s him to his core, who he is. That’s just who he is.”

Another setback for Davis

On Tuesday morning, the Bears went through their pre-practice stretch lines with veteran right guard Nate Davis present and preparing to work. Not long after, he returned to the sidelines.

Davis suffered an injury setback in what’s the latest health-related issue he has endured. It’s becoming clear that the Bears are growing frustrated with Davis. Now, they’re perhaps making plans without him.

The Bears entered this season with a contingency plan in place for their offensive line. Veteran offensive lineman Ryan Bates was brought in to compete for the starting role at center, though his versatility makes him the top backup at guard. Chicago also signed veteran center Coleman Shelton, who was competing with Bates at that position.

The injury for Davis has brought that plan into action, with Shelton working as the starting center and Bates at right guard. The Bears seem plenty comfortable with that formation for their starting offensive line. 

Davis is expected to be a “week-to-week” absence, Eberflus said. While the Bears are not required to offer a formal injury report until the regular season, Eberflus’ phrasing with Davis suggests he won’t be returning soon.

The Bears would like to see through their best options for the offensive line, though the clock is ticking.

“You want to have continuity and you want consistency, for sure,” Eberflus said. “That’s what you’re getting at and that is for sure the case. We will go as fast as we can to make that decision, but we’ll also have our patience and go as slow as we need to make the right decision.”

Opportunity to run

Velus Jones Jr. is a player whose future with the Bears is in great jeopardy. A 3rd-round pick in 2022, he has struggled to catch on at wide receiver. He’s now getting a new opportunity with this team.

The Bears have moved Jones to running back this week in what’s a short-term trial period. They want to see how he can operate at that new position, and that chance will carry into Saturday’s preseason game in Buffalo.

The Bears haven’t committed to Jones as a running back beyond this week, though it may be his best chance to make this roster.

“He’s done well back there,” Eberflus said. “He’s certainly got speed, we know that. He’s very durable. He’s got some good lean mass to him, so he can knock it forward pretty good. He’s got some good acceleration. He’s going to be a threat out of the backfield in terms of the passing game, so I’m excited for him.”

Praise to boot

Rookie punter Tory Taylor doesn’t approach his position like most others, and that has struck the Bears thus far.

Bears special teams coordinator Richard Hightower sees Taylor working with a special mindset for his role.

“One thing clearly evident with Tory Taylor is he doesn’t give a damn about anything but winning,” Hightower said. “And that’s how (he thinks). So, that’s why I really love this kid. And he wants to work on his craft every day, so he could put the team in a position to own the field. That’s how he thinks. He doesn’t think, like, ‘Oh, it’s my time to punt.’ Or, ‘I just trot out there.’ He’s like, ‘I’m owning the field. This is my field when I’m out here and I’m going to pin ‘em for my defense.’ And that’s the kind of mentality punter I want. That’s a go-getter. That’s what I want. So that’s what I’ve grown to learn about him. 

“He’s got a chance to be really good. Now, it’s still early and we still got a lot of work to do. I don’t want to put the cart before the horse, obviously. But the kid is wired the right way. He’s really wired the right way. Hell, I can be up here talking about Tory Taylor for a long time.”