LAKE FOREST, Ill. – Ben Johnson’s intensity has been apparent on the practice field, in the way the Chicago Bears’ new head coach conducts workouts and his relentless focus on the detail.

You’d expect the same thing in the meeting rooms, too. And you’d be right.

Bears safety Kevin Byard had a funny way of describing it after Thursday’s training camp practice at Halas Hall.

“The young guys kind of call it ‘aura,’ ” Byard said with a smile. “For real, he breathes competition. You can just tell, the intensity. He just wants the best for everybody. And I think that type of energy raises the level of everybody on the team. You’re only as strong as your weakest link. That’s what we’re trying to preach — every single person in the building.

“We’re just trying to get 1 percent better every day. Everyone knows success isn’t like this (Byard’s hand pointed straight up), it’s kind of like this — there’s ups and downs. We’re just trying to eliminate those dips and make the dips smaller as we continue to climb.”

The Bears will hope to ascend to a point where they’re game ready once camp begins, by following their tone-setter of a coach.

Everyone pays the toll

Defensive back Alex Cook was waived the day veterans reported to Bears training camp. He therefore missed the first practice Wednesday, but he was re-signed Thursday morning when a roster spot came free.

That doesn’t mean Cook missed defensive coordinator Dennis Allen’s traditional start to camp.

Forty up-downs. That’s right: 40.

Defenders did them all together Wednesday — the exercise is only done once — but Cook still had to “pay the toll.”

“We all circled around him and he had to do his up-downs,” Byard said. “I kind of felt bad watching him do them by himself, but that’s one of those deals that’s an initiation to this defense. It’s funny because, if we sign a guy in Week 15, he’s going to have to do 40 up-downs. That’s going to be tough, but it is what it is, and it’s the time of family atmosphere Dennis is creating for this defense.”

While Allen has his motivation for doing it — to help players mentally and physically prepare for the tough times ahead — he also tried to have fun with the experience.

“It was funny because we watched the film yesterday — they filmed it — so y’all know Big Bill (Andrew Billings) is 340 (pounds),” Byard said. “I’m not trying to joke about Big Bill, he’s my dog, but after 20, he wasn’t getting off the ground, laying on his stomach, pinning his arms up. It was funny.”

Left tackle update

Incumbent starter Braxton Jones did a bit more during the second day of his ramp-up period, with activity during individual drills working with the left tackles and during install periods with the offense against air. He worked into the second level a few times, a sign that he can get out and run.

Jones returned to practice Wednesday after a long road back from a surgically repaired broken ankle, though he hasn’t taken part in team drills.

Second-year pro Kiran Amegadjie worked with the first team, continuing to alternate days in that role with rookie Ozzy Trapilo.

Play of the day

Kyle Monangai took a long run from the middle to the sideline, with a defender bearing down as the 2025 seventh-round draft pick crossed the 10-yard line. The Rutgers product suddenly slammed on the brakes, and the opposition flew right by. Monangai quickly got back up to speed and scored a touchdown.

It’s often hard to gauge run-game success without pads or tackling, but Monangai clearly would’ve scored in a normal setting.

“Great run. Great run. Great vision,” featured back D’Andre Swift said. “Got through clean. Scored. I was happy for him. Great play. Way to end it.”

Injury update

Wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus went down on the last play of practice, following a collision with new Bears defensive back Tre Flowers. His health status is uncertain.

Luther Burden missed Thursday’s work — read more about Burden’s health right here — and is considered day-to-day with the same soft tissue injury that has kept him out since rookie minicamp.

Cornerback Zah Frazier (personal) and defensive lineman Shemar Turner (ankle) also missed practice Thursday.

Practice notes

Rookie TE Colston Loveland increased his activity Thursday, doing individual drills with his position group. He also caught passes from the quarterbacks, which he didn’t do Wednesday. He still wasn’t present for team drills, but that could be coming soon. … CB Tyrique Stevenson had a leaping pass defensed on a deep shot to WR Maurice Alexander. … DE Dayo Odeyingbo had a simulated sack of Caleb Williams during team drills, after beating Amegadjie off the edge. That was separate from a difficult offensive slate that included the need to re-huddle, deal with a bad snap and a rep where Williams tripped over one of his own guys.