The Chicago Bears wrapped up their final practice of training camp Wednesday at Halas Hall in Lake Forest.
When the team returns to the practice field next week, the attention will shift fully to preparing for the Sept. 8 season opener against the Minnesota Vikings.
The Bears claimed two players off waivers Wednesday, adding cornerback Jaylon Jones and linebacker D’Marco Jackson. In corresponding moves, they released long snapper Scott Daly and return specialist Devin Duvernay.
Here’s what else happened Wednesday at Halas Hall.
1. Jaquan Brisker exited practice with an apparent injury.
The fourth-year safety left practice with trainers, and the exact nature of his injury was unclear.
Brisker missed time in each of his three seasons because of concussions. Last year, he missed the final 12 games after suffering a concussion in early October.
Brisker, 26, had nearly made through camp without missing any time due to injury. His status will be one to watch when the team is required to submit its first injury report next week.
Additionally, cornerback Jaylon Johnson (soft tissue) did not practice. The Bears added Johnson back to the active roster Tuesday.
Cornerback Josh Blackwell (undisclosed), linebacker T.J. Edwards (undisclosed) and defensive ends Dominique Robinson (undisclosed) and Austin Booker (knee) did not participate. Linebacker Ruben Hyppolite II also exited practice early.
On offense, running back Roschon Johnson (foot) and running back Kyle Monangai (soft tissue) both missed practice.
The Bears placed running back Travis Homer (calf) and linebacker Amen Ogbongbemiga (shoulder) on injured reserve Tuesday. Both must miss at least four games. Both are key special teams contributors.
“I don’t want to understate the fact that you’re asking about Amen and Homer, that they’re really good contributors for us,” special teams coordinator Richard Hightower said. “They do an outstanding job. They are productive. But that happens in this business. So the young guys have been challenged and they’ve got to step up rock and roll.”
2. Cuts are largely in the rearview mirror.
The last 24 hours before cutdowns are a tough time across the league as all 32 teams trim their rosters to 53 players. Many talented players were told they didn’t make the cut. And while plenty will get a shot with another team or on a practice squad, this could be the end of the road for some.
“I’m checking my phone too,” Bears veteran Kevin Byard said this week. “To see around the league, because I have players and guys that I know around the league that I’m just kind of checking in on and stuff like that. It’s not a great day at all.”’
Nobody is more intimately familiar with the process than the special teams coordinator. The players helping out on kicks and punts are typically the ones at the back end of the roster — the ones most in danger of being cut.
“As a (special teams) coordinator, I deal with the whole roster,” Hightower said. “So, in the last 24 hours, (there’s) a lot of tough conversations that have to happen.”
But with those tough conversations come some uplifting ones, such as when undrafted rookie receiver Jahdae Walker makes the team.
“Passionate. Loves football,” Hightower said of Walker. “He’s in the front row all the time, always asking questions. Not kiss-butt questions, real questions. I’ve seen a guy that really cares about football and he’s earned his opportunity.”
3. The transition from camp to regular season begins now.
From an offensive lineman’s perspective, the focus shifts from how to contain Montez Sweat and Gervon Dexter — a couple of their teammates on the other side of the ball — to the likes of Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave — who anchor the Vikings defensive front — in Week 1.
Bears offensive linemen Joe Thuney (62) and Ozzy Trapilo stretch during training camp at Halas Hall on July 25, 2025 in Lake Forest. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)
“You’re blocking the same guys except for the joint practices,” veteran guard Joe Thuney said. “You’re blocking the same D-line day after day after day.
“It just changes the film study and then just seeing a new defense. So we’ll have to delve into that when the time comes.”
Coach Ben Johnson and offensive coordinator Declan Doyle will have had the better part of two weeks to game plan for the Vikings, who ranked No. 1 in interception rate (3.77%) last season and fifth in points allowed per game (19.5). Under defensive coordinator Brian Flores, the Vikings led the NFL in blitz rate (at 38.9% of snaps).
An extra week to prepare helps.
“Anytime you have more time for a defense, it’s better than less time,” Doyle said. “They present specific challenges, not only with scheme but personnel.”
Thuney is just looking forward to facing another team for real stakes.
“It’s exciting,” he said. “The season’s here. Week 1’s coming up. A lot of excitement.”
4. The big engagement.
Any current or former teammate of Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce eventually was going to be asked about the tight end’s recent engagement to pop superstar Taylor Swift.
And Wednesday was that day for Thuney
“I wish them nothing but the best,” Thuney said. “Travis was an unbelievable teammate. Wish him all the happiness in the world, and Taylor. It’s amazing.”
He’s not the only former Kelce teammate on the Bears roster. Kicker Cairo Santos swapped jerseys with Kelce after Friday’s preseason game in Kansas City, Mo. The two grew close when Santos was a Chiefs rookie in 2014.
“Can’t say enough about the person that he is and he gave me a big hug there at the end and said he missed the memories that we had,” Santos said. “I asked if he had a kicker jersey and he said, ‘Well, shoot me yours and I’ll shoot you mine.’ Yeah, so super grateful for the friendship we had since I was here and also the admiration I have for the person that he continues to be through all the stardom.”
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/08/27/chicago-bears-jaquan-brisker-injury-training-camp/