Who is Joel Wilson?

Chicago head coach Ben Johnson called Joel Wilson one of the standout “under-the-radar” players this offseason.

Last week, following their final mandatory minicamp practice, Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson shouted out four “under-the-radar” players who have impressed him this offseason. Two were members of the 2025 rookie class, running back Kyle Monangai and linebacker Ruben Hyppolite II; one was fourth-year defensive lineman Dominique Robinson, and the other was tight end Joel Wilson.

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The Bears are Wilson’s fifth team since being an undrafted free agent from Central Michigan in 2023. He signed with the New Orleans Saints but couldn’t pass his physical. He quickly landed with the Buffalo Bills, was with them all offseason, and after being released, he was signed to their practice squad, where he lasted a couple of months.

The Green Bay Packers signed him a couple of weeks later, and he stayed with them the remainder of 2023 and all of 2024’s offseason, but was cut.

He had a workout with the Bears in September of ‘24, was signed to the New York Giants’ practice squad a couple of weeks after the Bears initially passed, was waived by New York a week later, and finally found his way back to Chicago on October 24 when they signed him to the practice squad. He signed a reserve/futures contract in January, and now he has the inside track to be a fan favorite once training camp opens.

“You saw him today with a big catch,” Johnson said in his presser after their final minicap practice. “He’s kind of had one or two of those almost every OTA.”

“He’s got a little savvy in how he moves,” Johnson added. “He’s got a nice route feel about him. The test will really be when we get going in camp, how he holds up in the run game and the pass pro game. But so far in the running route section of tight end play, he’s stood out in a positive light.”

He also impressed former NFL tight end, and current CHSN personality, Clay Harbor.

And to be fair to Harbor, he said he was impressed by Wilson before Johnson mentioned him at his June 5th press conference.

Wilson has never appeared in a regular-season game, although he did catch four passes for 20 yards in 2023’s preseason and six for 45 yards last preseason.

The 24-year-old, 6’4”, 250-pounder had an injury in his senior season, so he didn’t work out at the combine. He didn’t run the 40 at his pro day, but his other athletic testing numbers were all either average or above average, and his overall RAS was in the red.

Coming out of college, scouts called him a willing blocker, but he needed to get stronger at the point of attack. While not exceptionally fast, he was a good route runner and productive receiver for the Chippewas with 75 receptions, 812 yards, and 11 touchdowns in his last two years. He played both in line and from the slot.

The tight end depth chart is top-heavy in Chicago, with Cole Kmet and rookie Colston Loveland expected to man most 12-personnel situations, and Durham Smythe is currently the number three.

Smythe is an experienced Y, known for his blocking, plus his one-year contract included a $1.5 million guarantee.

Other tight ends on the roster are Jordan Murray and Stephen Carlson, but if Wilson has the head coach’s eye, that could nudge him ahead of those two in a fight for a job.

Last year, the Lions offense broke camp with three tight ends on their roster, so if Johnson does something similar in Chicago, Wilson will need to really impress to earn a spot on the 53. At the very least, he’ll be in line for a practice squad gig if he continues his solid offseason.