The Bears held their annual Rookie Minicamp over the weekend, and if you’re like me the festivities of Mother’s Day Weekend meant that today is a catch-up day for minicamp news. Here’s what you missed:
Rookie OT Kiran Amegadjie Will Not Participate In Chicago’s Offseason Program
Head Coach Matt Eberflus revealed that Amegadjie’s quad injury will keep him out of the entire offseason program. The news isn’t totally unexpected, but a bummer nevertheless — here’s wishing Kiran a swift recovery.
Matt Eberflus said that Kiran Amegadjie will not practice today, and Eberflus doesn’t expect him to practice in the offseason program due to a quad injury.
Eberflus said the team knew about this injury. The hope is that he is ready for training camp.
— Nicholas Moreano (@NicholasMoreano) May 10, 2024
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Caleb Williams Is Focused On Listening Now, Speaking Later
The Bears’ new rookie QB said all the right things at the podium this weekend, talking up new teammate Rome Odunze, praising his coaches, and outlining his plan to “lean how to follow” before he tries to lead.
Concerns about Caleb Williams character seem to have been greatly exaggerated thus far, though it’s easy to sound confident when the bullets aren’t yet flying. Still, it’s nice to hear Williams sound so composed.
Caleb Williams on how he’s establishing his leadership while he’s also learning the culture of the Bears: “To be a great leader, you have to learn how to follow first. So right now I’m following all the vets, I’m following all the coaches, I’m listening – having both ears open…
— Courtney Cronin (@CourtneyRCronin) May 10, 2024
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Of course, it helps when his throwing looks equally effortless. I know this footage is from a minicamp practice in shells, but it’s neat seeing Caleb’s ball placement stay consistent when throwing 40 yards down the field.
Here is Caleb Williams throwing passes for 33 seconds at Bears practice today. pic.twitter.com/xTdpTSB6wl
— Adam Jahns (@adamjahns) May 10, 2024
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Hopefully this means I can write less articles about the ‘jitters’, ‘rust’, and ‘lack of chemistry with new teammates’ that you often hear in defense of a rookie QB’s camp performance, but we’ll just have to wait and see.
Caleb Williams Got A Head Start On Shane Waldron’s Offense, Is Now ~6 Weeks Ahead Of Schedule
The Bears used the security of the #1 Overall Pick to their advantage this offseason, giving Caleb Williams a ~6-week head start on Shane Waldron’s preferred cadences, dropback footwork, and route terminology via Caleb’s personal QB coach (Will Hewlett).
According to Chicago’s QB Coach (Kerry Joseph), Williams’ head start paid dividends at rookie minicamp — Joseph described Caleb as ‘light years ahead’ of the information he’d already received, and I imagine that same studying allowed for much more effective offensive installs at minicamp.
Bears QBs coach Kerry Joseph on how the head start Caleb Williams got on the fundamentals (cadence, drops, verbiage) of Chicago’s scheme has already paid off: “Coming into this minicamp, he was light years ahead of the information that he already had.”
— Courtney Cronin (@CourtneyRCronin) May 11, 2024
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
I Should Mention, Caleb Williams Is The Official 2024 Bears Starting QB
HC Matt Eberflus mentioned this in response to a question about Caleb’s status next year — “No conversation, he’s the starter”. There will be no ‘competition’ with Tyson Bagent.
In the non-news, breaking news department out of Halas Hall: Caleb Williams is QB1. No ifs, ands, buts or debate.
Matt Eberflus: “No conversation. He’s the starter.”
— Dan Wiederer (@danwiederer) May 10, 2024
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Realistically, Everything Else From The Weekend Is Noise
Rome Odunze, Austin Booker, and Tory Taylor’s individual press conferences are great ways to get to know Chicago’s new rookies, but Rookie Minicamp is more about the rookies getting their first official work with their coaches than it is anything newsworthy.
Rome Odunze sat out Saturday with hamstring tightness, but the optimist in me doesn’t see cause for concern given the nature of these rookie practices. The weekend is focused more on mental reps than physical reps, so holding a player out over even the most minor injury makes sense to me — still, it’s worth keeping an eye on throughout OTAs.
Rome Odunze won’t practice today at rookie minicamp due to hamstring tightness.
— Courtney Cronin (@CourtneyRCronin) May 11, 2024
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
That’s more or less all you need to know from this weekend! Be sure to check 0ut the Bears’ official YouTube and Twitter page if you like Social Media-style short videos of the players in action, but outside of those you’re caught up.
Your Turn: Did you have a favorite part of this weekend’s proceedings?