Chicago Bears training camp report: Interceptions, trash talk and Justin Fields’ plea for energy on offense

The Chicago Bears held their second padded practice Wednesday at Halas Hall, a spirited session that lasted 2 hours, 20 minutes. The Bears head into an off day before resuming practices Friday.

Here’s our rundown from the day.

News of the day

The Bears defense was dominant — and vocal about it — as the group tallied multiple interceptions and big stops.

Nickel Kyler Gordon had a leaping interception against Velus Jones Jr. in the Bears’ first 11-on-11 period. In 7-on-7s, the defense came up with three interceptions. Cornerback Jaylon Jones picked off PJ Walker on a throw that bounced off Robert Burns. Rookie cornerback Tyrique Stevenson had an interception against Justin Fields that bounced off Robert Tonyan. And safety Jaquan Brisker intercepted Fields on a high throw wide receiver Chase Claypool tipped.

The defensive players celebrated big with each play, led by plenty of trash talk from Brisker, Eddie Jackson and others.

“It’s amazing. That’s the kind of edge you want to play with,” linebacker Tremaine Edmunds said. “If you were just a fan out there watching, you felt that. Defensively, that’s what you want. You’ve got a lot of dawgs over there. A lot of guys are stepping up and growing up fast. It’s not just the old guys, it’s the younger guys. You hear Jaquan Brisker, you hear Kyler Gordon, you hear all those guys. … You feel that energy. Guys are making each other better.”

Justin Fields watch

Bears quarterback Justin Fields said the offense came out flat, and he spoke to his teammates after practice to ask for the same type of energy he saw from the defense.

“Every little win that we have on the field we just need to have energy about it because that energy is contagious,” Fields said. “That’s one thing I think the defense does well is every little thing they do well, the DBs are always hyping stuff up. They’re always ‘Ahhhhh,’ and that just gets the whole defense going. I told the offense today that we just need to have that same juice as the defense did.”

Fields and the first-team offense at least ended on an OK note in the two-minute drill against the second-team defense. He marched them from the 25-yard line, connecting with tight end Cole Kmet on three straight plays to get to the 6. The offense then stalled, but Cairo Santos made a field goal.

As he reflected on the rough day, Fields said the Bears offensive players need to focus on what they can control.

“We definitely had a couple drops out there. I missed a couple throws out there,” Fields said. “So just making the easy plays easier, not really making them harder than they have to be. Of course we had a bumpy practice, but in two minutes we came back and bounced back and I was proud of the guys for that. Every practice isn’t going to be perfect … It’s really good to actually have days like this, just to see how guys respond to a little bit of adversity.”

Player in the spotlight

Fields has an even-keeled demeanor on the field, as does wide receiver Darnell Mooney. But Fields singled out Claypool as one of the players who can bring the energy when needed. Fields said Claypool plays with emotion, something his teammates also help rein in.

“Chase is a hothead for sure,” Mooney said. “He’ll run through guys and don’t know how to calm down. He just needs somebody to pull (him) back and be like, ‘Hey, chill out.’ I’ll be that guy for him for sure.”

Despite the offense’s overall bumpy outing, Fields and Claypool connected on a few plays. Claypool, who was sidelined by injury during the offseason program, has done enough for Fields to be encouraged.

“Chase has been doing his thing lately,” Fields said. “I’m proud of him. … He’s been doing good, making contested catches. He’s such a big body where he’s a big presence out there. When he gets going on every route, it’s hard to stop him. Even in the running game, he’s crushing linebackers.”

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Seen and heard

Offensive coordinator Luke Getsy is typically levelheaded. But when he saw some of his players not running back to the huddle the way they usually do during practice, he yelled from the sideline.

“Whatever the circumstance is we all stick together,” Getsy said when asked why he got emotional. “We stay together and we find a way to dig out of whatever it is, and we’ve got to find a way to keep fighting.”

But Getsy did stay levelheaded when talking about the significance of the offense’s bad day.

“I’m not going to overreact,” he said. “It was touch football. That wasn’t real football. We’re a physical football team. We run through tackles and all that stuff. I’m not going to get too worked up about that.”

Quote of the day

“I mean goodness gracious. We had one play today where if it was any other linebacker in the country, (the receiver) would have been open. Just his presence, he’s so huge. He definitely covers ground well too. It has been great for us as an offense to have him out there, to challenge us every day. And he’s been of course a great defensive leader so far.” — Fields on Edmunds.

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Injury news

Right guard Nate Davis was absent from practice for the second straight day, with Lucas Patrick filling in for him. The Bears then were without another starting guard when left guard Teven Jenkins spoke with a trainer and exited the field. Alex Leatherwood filled in.

“Accountability is availability,” Getsy said when asked about the importance of Jenkins staying on the field consistently this season. “That’s important for every single person on our team, so that’s important for Teven as well too.”

Defensive end DeMarcus Walker and linebacker Jack Sanborn were absent after leaving mid-practice Tuesday. Running back Roschon Johnson and wide receiver Dante Pettis were present but didn’t practice.

Defensive tackle Justin Jones and tight end Chase Allen were also absent. Edmunds sat out the second half of practice but said “everything’s good.”