Chicago Bears training camp report: Justin Fields’ red-zone connections and Dominique Robinson’s elite training partner

The Chicago Bears held their fourth training camp practice Saturday at Halas Hall before their first day off Sunday.

Coach Matt Eberflus said the coaches and scouting staff will use Sunday to evaluate every player on the roster to assess where they are in their development, what they need to work on and how they’re competing.

Here’s our camp rundown from the day.

News of the day

Eberflus said he thinks cornerback Jaylon Johnson is playing with the right mindset as questions about a possible contract extension continue.

Johnson, who is one of the next candidates to get an extension after tight end Cole Kmet received one Wednesday, told reporters Friday that while he wants a new deal he also feels “like I still have a lot to prove.”

“That’s the right frame of mind,” Eberflus said. “Be where you are, right here where your feet are and focus on the now and the present and just becoming a better player. And producing more — that’s what we all want to do.”

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Eberflus said he believes Johnson, who had no interceptions, seven passes defended, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in 11 games in 2022, can make a leap in Year 2 of this defense.

“We’re going to see him improve,” Eberflus said. “Part of that improvement is getting takeaways. Punching the ball. … Stepping in front of things when it’s there and making some interceptions. He’s more than capable of doing that. He’s got a great set of hands, he’s got great instincts and he’s a good player. We want to have that Year 2 bump up.”

Justin Fields watch

The Bears went heavy on red-zone work Saturday, and the play of the day came when quarterback Justin Fields threw a dart to wide receiver DJ Moore in the corner of the end zone in 7-on-7s. Moore was tightly covered by nickel Kyler Gordon but still made the play for a touchdown.

“I hesitated a little bit,” Gordon said. “I was like, ‘Is he going to throw it?’ And I think if I would have just shot it like my instincts, I would have had a pick for sure. That would have been nice. But it was a good throw, good catch.”

That play came after Fields couldn’t connect with Moore in the same corner with Johnson in coverage.

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Tight end Robert Tonyan also caught a couple of touchdown passes from Fields, with Eberflus noting they’re “really getting comfortable” together.

Safety Adrian Colbert intercepted Fields in the end zone when Fields couldn’t find an open target but still tried to get the football to Kmet. Cornerback Greg Stroman picked off P.J. Walker and ran 90 yards to the end zone, where he did a dance and celebrated with Eddie Jackson and Gordon. Middle linebacker Tremaine Edmunds also had an interception.

Fields led a touchdown drive in the two-minute drill toward the end of practice.

Player in the spotlight

At Dominique Robinson’s exit interview from the 2022 season, Eberflus and general manager Ryan Poles told the rookie defensive end that he needed to find a veteran edge rusher in the offseason and learn from him.

Robinson converted from wide receiver to defensive end in his final two seasons at Miami (Ohio), and he and coaches have been honest that he still has a lot of growth to do at the position.

Robinson’s agent hooked him up with Indianapolis Colts five-time Pro Bowl selection Robert Mathis to further that development. From Mathis — who had 123 sacks over 13 NFL seasons from 2003 to 2016 — Robinson said he learned how to study his opponent and go into a game with a plan, discussed what to watch for pre- and post-snap and worked on some new moves.

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Robinson had 1 ½ sacks in his NFL debut but didn’t record another one last season. He said it was the difference between being an athlete and playing the position.

“You feel like just because you have athleticism you can get by, and then you can only get by so far,” Robinson said. “And then that cuts off because they start to catch on to what you’re doing.

“That first game was a lot of athleticism, and then I tried doing the same thing the next week and it didn’t work as well. It just went downhill from there. I had some flashes within games where I was in the backfield doing stuff. It wasn’t where I wanted it to be at.”

The Bears still might bring in an edge rusher. But they also are hoping for continued development from Robinson and fourth-year defensive end Trevis Gipson so they can contribute behind veterans DeMarcus Walker and Rasheem Green.

But Eberflus noted it’s hard to tell much about where defensive linemen are until they put pads on for the first time.

Quote of the day

Rookie cornerback Terell Smith has been getting some first-team reps opposite Johnson, as has fellow rookie Tyrique Stevenson. While defensive coordinator Alan Williams told reporters not to read too much into who was getting which reps, Eberflus said Smith has been “really solid.”

“He’s got a lot of good, long speed to him,” Eberflus said. “He’s got good size. He’s smart. He knows what to do and how to do it. We’re going to create competition at those spots, and that’s certainly one of them.”

Seen and heard

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Bears fans cheer for autographs after practice on July 27, 2023, during training camp at Halas Hall. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

Gordon arrived at his post-practice interview session wearing a kids-size Spider-Man mask he said he bought from Party City after Williams revealed Friday that was his nickname.

Gordon said Eberflus first gave him the name last season, and the second-year nickel agrees it fits.

“I feel like it’s similar to how I play,” he said. “Aggressive. I just like using my abilities and instincts, especially in the nickel position where I’m at as far as reading run-pass, just trying to find a way to the ball.”

Gordon also agreed with Williams’ assessment that he is playing rather than thinking in his second training camp.

“The way I felt last year compared to this year, being on the field, I feel so good,” Gordon said. “I’m just having fun, honestly. I’m really playing the game. Stuff is like way easier. My mind is as calm as a lake.”

Injury watch

Jackson watched practice from the sideline during a veteran rest day. The safety recovered from a Lisfranc injury to his left foot that caused him to miss the final five games of the 2022 season. Second-year safety Elijah Hicks received some work in his place.

Wide receiver Dante Pettis continued to sit out, but linebacker Dylan Cole returned after an absence.