Chicago Bears training camp 2022 is here, with fans, coaches, and players all getting ready to attend Halas Hall for their first look at the team. We’ve got everything you need to know about the Bears training camp for the 2022 season.
Now that Matt Nagy is out of the way, the Bears turn to Matt Eberflus, the former defensive coordinator of the Indianapolis Colts to lead the charge. He’s never been a head coach before, but he has two decades of experience as a football coach. How can he transform this roster from a 6-11 team to one with hopes of reaching the playoffs?
That question likely has a lot to do with how Justin Fields can develop now that he’s set to enter the season as a full-time starter. I’m not going to sugarcoat it. The Bears likely aren’t headed for a strong season, but if the defense takes a big jump, there’s at least hope for Fields to have less of a burden on his shoulders. If Fields can become a superstar, the sky’s the limit, but this team has a lot of skeptics heading into camp. We’ll see how it all plays out.
Let’s dive into Sportsnaut’s Chicago Bears training camp preview, examining everything you need to know from location, schedule and storylines to follow.
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Chicago Bears training camp schedule
The Chicago Bears’ rookie class reported to training camp on July 23, and the team’s veterans reported three days later, on July 26. Here’s the full Bears training camp schedule for practices open to the public.
- Thur., July 28
- Fri., July 29
- Sat., July 30
- Tues., August 2
- Wed., August 3
- Fri., August 5
- Sun., August 7
- Wed., August 10
- Thur., August 11
- Fri., August 15
- Wed., August 20
Fan gates open at 9 AM.
Chicago Bears training camp location
For the third consecutive year, the Bears are attending training camp at the team’s headquarters and official training facility located in Lake Forest, Illinois. But the Bears have held camp at many different locations in their years. Here is the full history of where the Bears training camps have taken place in the franchise’s history, via Pro Football Reference.
- 2020-2022 – Halas Hall – Lake Forest, Illinois
- 2002-2019 – Olivet Nazarene University – Bourbonnais, Illinois
- 1984-2001 – UW Platteville – Platteville, Wisconsin
- 1975-1983 – Lake Forest College – Lake Forest, Illinois
- 1944-1974 – St. Joseph’s College – Rensselaer, Indiana
- 1935-1943 – St. John’s Military Academy – Delafield, Wisconsin
- 1934 – Lane Tech High School – Chicago, Illinois
- 1933 – University of Notre Dame – Notre Dame, Indiana
- 1932 – Logan Square Ballpark – Chicago, Illinois
- 1931 – Loyola (IL) University – Chicago, Illinois
- 1930 – Mills Stadium – Chicago, Illinois
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Can you go to Bears training camp?
Yes, 11 practices will be open to the public. All will begin at 10 AM and will require a free ticket for fan entry. Tickets are available at ChicagoBears.com/camp, starting July 7.
All tickets will be distributed via mobile devices.
Storylines for Chicago Bears training camp
Here are the top storylines and Bears position battles to follow in training camp this summer.
Justin Fields working with Luke Getsy instead of Matt Nagy
Anyone watching the Bears last season quickly grew frustrated with how the team handled their prized first-round rookie QB. While they didn’t need to throw him to the dogs right away, they also didn’t put him in position to use his skill set to his advantage.
Hopefully we’ll see new offensive coordinator Luke Getsy get Fields on the move more often, where his athleticism can be on full display. Fans tuning into camp should be able to see just how quick, and how powerful his arm can be, but it will also be interesting to see how he develops chemistry with a new cast of receivers.
Related: NFL QB Rankings: Check our top-20 quarterbacks, find out why Josh Allen is No. 1
Who becomes the No. 2 receiver on the Bears?
We likely already know the answer to who the replacement for Allen Robinson as the top receiver is, it’s Darnell Mooney. But Fields will need a plethora of pass-catchers he can learn to rely on. While Cole Kmet is another emerging target, the rest of the group is unproven.
Equanimeous St. Brown and Byron Pringle appear in line for the most reps, but rookie third round pick Velus Jones Jr. could see time in the starting lineup as well, especially considering he’s already 25, and hopefully a bit more pro-ready. That’s what training camp will help determine this summer.
Related: 2022 NFL Power Rankings: Outlook for all 32 teams entering summer
Piecing together the offensive line
After four years with the Bears, James Daniels moved on in free agency. The addition of Riley Reiff gives Fields an experienced blindside protector, but there’s still a right guard and possibly right tackle competition brewing in the Windy City.
Right guard in particular is wide open, and the Bears have several contestants, from veteran newcomer Michael Schofield and Sam Mustipher expected to battle it out. With Schofield having 81 career starts between guard and tackle, he appears to be the early frontrunner for the gig.
Even at right tackle, there figures to be a battle between Larry Borom and Teven Jenkins, with the other likely ending up in a swing tackle role as a backup. With so many uncertainties, we could see a lot of positional movement in camp as the Bears try and find their best five in the trenches.
Related: 2022 NFL defense rankings: Huge shakeups for top 20 defense before training camp
Cornerback battles will bring out the best
We can’t mention the Bears’ training camp battles without mentioning the cornerback group. After allowing the sixth-most passing yards in football a season ago, the Bears had a strong need to improve their secondary. They added cornerback Kyler Gordon and safety Jaquan Brisker in the second round, adding talent, but how can all the pieces fit?
Jaylon Johnson is the unquestioned CB1 here, and Gordon figures to compete, but it’s still undetermined whether his best spot comes as the nickel back or as the team’s other boundary corner. Free agent signee Tavon Young flashed ball skills with the Ravens, and he could be the favorite to start opposite Johnson for now, but Thomas Graham was a surprise bright spot last season, and he could compete for the second or third corner role as well. It should be a heated battle.