In two weeks, the scores will start counting for real when the Bears kick off the season against the division-rival Minnesota Vikings on Monday Night Football.
Head coach Ben Johnson and the coaching staff have a few weeks to work out until that time, and then as Bears camp winds down.
The Bears will use next three days to work on improving as a team before focusing on the Vikings. Veteran safety Kevin Byard said defensive starters are also reflecting on a disappointing performance in the preseason finale versus the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Bears beat the Chiefs 29-27 on Friday, but Coach Johnson expressed disappointment in the team's performance, saying the first-team offense played "really sloppy football."
"It was really like a kind of say eye-opening a little bit, you know what I mean? Like, we all see stuff. Everybody's been saying like: 'Oh, the defense looks so good! Da da-da da-da!' And then we go get whooped," Byard said. "It's kind of like reality check a little bit, you know what I mean? So everything is never lost a lesson. I think guys are kind of, you know, they got the message."
Over the next two weeks, the Bears also have a chance to get healthier at running back.
D'Andre Swift and Brittain Brown were the only healthy players practicing on Monday, but there is not a concern about depth in the backfield.
"We're depleted a little bit in that area, you can see, and so, you know, we've got to find ways to get our guys the ball," said Bears offensive coordinator Declan Doyle. "That doesn't always have to be a running back. It can be a wide end. It can be a tight end. But we'll continue trying to get the ball in the hands of our playmakers."
Byard added that Monday was a tough day around the league, as teams made cuts ahead of Tuesday 3 p.m. deadline for initial 53-man rosters.
Running back Ian Wheeler and quarterback Austin Reed were amongst Bears players who were waived.
Jori Parys
Jori Parys joined the CBS 2 News Chicago sports team in October of 2022. Born and raised in Crystal Lake, she calls it a "dream come true" to be covering her hometown teams.