Offensive lineman Theo Benedet was asked Wednesday if the Chicago Bears had a difficult practice at Halas Hall.
“It was a Ben Johnson practice,” he replied in the affirmative.
Last week the Bears coach called out his players’ practice habits and was rewarded with a home win against the Dallas Cowboys, the Bears’ first and his first as a head coach.
Another strong week of preparation will be required when the Bears (1-2) travel to Las Vegas to face the Raiders (1-2).
“I’ve got a ton of respect for (Raiders coach) Pete Carroll,” Johnson said.
In 25 years as a coach — with just five losing seasons — “teams take his identity,” Johnson said of Carroll. “They play hard, they play fast, they play physical, they fly around, and I know that he’ll have this group ready to go here this week.”
Here are three things we learned Wednesday.
1. Bears have one Raider on their radar.
“Maxx Crosby,” DJ Moore said with all the foreboding of a horror movie. “He doesn’t get tired.”
The Raiders’ top edge rusher has four quarterback hits and two sacks through three games. Johnson said the four-time Pro Bowl recipient is underrated.
“He’s all over the place, relentless, high motor and you’ve got to account for him and know where he’s at every single snap or else he’ll get you,” Johnson said. “He wrecks drives, that’s what he does.”
Offensive lineman Benedet called Crosby “very unorthodox, very slippery,” and part of that is his bend, athleticism and explosiveness.
“His motor never quits on his rush,” Benedet said. “Every time it looks like someone has him stopped, he’s got a counter for that, so you’ve just got to stay switched on the whole time.”
While the Raiders are tied for sixth in the league with seven sacks, they rank in the bottom 10 in pressure rate (17.6%) and are middle of the pack with a 7.45% sack percentage.
Bears quarterback Caleb Williams runs the ball in the fourth quarter Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, at Soldier Field. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)
On Sunday, the Bears offensive line kept Caleb Williams clean for the first time in his 20-game NFL career — no sacks. The last time the Bears allowed no sacks came Nov. 9, 2023, against the Carolina Panthers.
Benedet called it a group effort and credited Williams for getting the ball out in a timely fashion.
“When you see that donut at the end of the game in the sack column, you’re definitely fired up,” he said.
The Raiders drafted running back Ashton Jeanty, a blend of power and speed out of Boise State, with the No. 6 pick in April as a likely generational talent.
“He’s a hard guy to bring down,” Johnson said. “Compact yet powerful. You better have low pad level when you’re looking to tackle this guy or else he’s going to lower his shoulder and run you over.”
That version of Jeanty hasn’t materialized so far.
2. It will be a tale of two (anemic) running games.
Jeanty’s 38.3% run success rate is well below league average of 49.7%, as is his 3.1 yards per attempt (4.3). A lot of that blame is shared by the Raiders offensive line.
Johnson said like the Bears, the Raiders passing game is a little ahead of their running game.
But the Bears run defense allowed the Cowboys’ Javonte Williams to run at a 7.6-yard clip on 10 rushes during the Bears’ 31-14 win Sunday, and the unit was fortunate Williams received only one carry in the second half because his team fell so far behind.
The last thing Johnson wants to do is have a porous run defense jump-start Jeanty. Johnson said he sacrificed ground gains to keep the Cowboys’ lethal passing game bottled up.
“Sometimes, if you’re going to take away a couple of dynamic receivers in the passing game, you might play with a lighter box … and you might give up a few more yards in the running game than you may like,” Johnson said, adding: “We will look to be better in the run game here this week.”
Bears running back D’Andre Swift rushes against the Cowboys in the first quarter Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, at Soldier Field. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
He was speaking defensively, but could’ve been referring to his running game as well. Both D’Andre Swift (2.5) and Kyle Monangai (2.7) averaged less than 3 yards per carry.
“We’re very conscious of it,” Johnson said.
The offensive line added three starters in the offseason, and it will take time for them to mesh. And then the running backs have to get on the same page with the line.
“We’ve got some new faces up front that haven’t played a ton of ball together yet,” Johnson said. “That’s part of the process. It’s also for the runners to understand what we intend to do with some of these play calls, where we want that ball to hit.”
Swift said it would be a major lift to get the running game on track.
“We’re close,” he said. “Just staying within the scheme if it’s blocked up well. Just being where I’m supposed to be on time and things like that. That’s where I would get there.”
3. Injury report
Bears offensive tackle Darnell Wright blocks against the Cowboys in the third quarter Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, at Soldier Field. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Right tackle Darnell Wright suffered an elbow injury Sunday and played 81% of the snaps, but he was held out of practice Wednesday. Rookie tight Colston Loveland (hip) also was injured during the game and missed practice.
Defensive tackle Grady Jarrett (knee), linebacker T.J. Edwards (hamstring) and defensive back Kyler Gordon (hamstring) were other nonparticipants.
Tight end Cole Kmet (groin), Swift (hip) and defensive back Jaylon Jones (hamstring) were limited, while linebacker D’Marco Jackson (hamstring) practiced in full.
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If Wright can’t go against the Raiders, Benedet likely would man the right side.
Benedet has played four, 11 and 12 snaps, respectively, in the first three games.
“There were definitely nerves” during the season opener against the Minnesota Vikings, Benedet said. “Obviously, my first (NFL) game, I can’t lie. But I think it’s run from nerves to excitement.”
Benedet said coaches have had a good plan to help him get his feet wet and “I feel really good if I do play this weekend.”
He was a challenger of Braxton Jones at left tackle during training camp, but he said he would have no problem making the switch.
“I played right side in college (at the University of British Columbia),” Benedet said. “That’s probably where I’ve had the most reps in my life, so I feel very comfortable.”
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/09/24/chicago-bears-ben-johnson-maxx-crosby/
