The Chicago Bears practiced for two hours at Halas Hall on Friday in shells and helmets after three practices in full pads this week.
Here are four things we learned from Zoom calls with Bears coach Matt Nagy and players after the session wrapped up.
1. Defensive lineman Akiem Hicks sat out practice with a quad issue.
Akiem Hicks, who missed most of last season with an elbow injury, made some big plays over the first three practices, but he was absent from the field Friday. Coach Matt Nagy said the Bears are keeping him out because of a quad issue but also equated it to a veteran off day.
The return of Hicks this year is a boon to a Bears defense that missed his formidable presence on the line last year, so they are being careful with him, Nagy indicated.
“We don’t want to make anything worse than what it is,” he said.
Inside linebacker Josh Woods, who is in the mix to be a key backup, missed practice with a groin injury.
Tight end Darion Clark is out for the year with a shoulder injury and will be put on injured reserve, Nagy said. Clark, who wore a sling at practice, is a former college basketball player who signed a reserve/future contract in January. He was deep on the depth chart for the Bears in the revamped tight ends room.
2. New safety Tashaun Gipson believes he can be part of an “elite” Bears defense.
Tashaun Gipson, an eight-year NFL veteran of the Browns, Jaguars and Texans, had lofty expectations when he signed a one-year contract with the Bears this spring. But he’s been even more impressed since he’s taken the field with his new teammates.
“Obviously you see the names on the paper, you see the statistics behind each individual guy and things like that, but being able to see these guys up close and personal and just seeing behind that, I mean, it’s crazy,” Gipson said. “It’s a lot different than I imagined, and I think my perception coming here was already sky-high.
“So being part of this is truly crazy, man, to see how everybody moves and how things work. And when the defense is flowing it’s just a beautiful thing. I’m excited to be a part of it.”
First, Gipson, whom the Texans cut after one season, has to win the competition against four-year Bears veteran Deon Bush. Gipson said he has been impressed with Bush and his eagerness to continue learning. But he also has confidence in his ability to make an impact on the Bears defense.
“I absolutely believe that I’m still a starting safety in this league, that I’m a productive starter in this league,” Gipson said. “So I would like to always bet on myself versus anybody, no matter who I’m in competition with. And I’m sure if you ask Deon the same thing, he should say the same thing. So obviously it’s what you do out there.”
Bush, who has started eight games since 2016, called it “exciting” to be in the position battle after playing behind Adrian Amos and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix the last few years. He said he trained in his cousin’s backyard in Miami when the COVID-19 pandemic hit so he would be prepared.
“I knew the opportunity I was going have this upcoming training camp, and I just prepared like I was trying to be the guy,” he said. “This competition is just making all of us better, I believe.”
3. Matt Nagy said rookie wide receiver Darnell Mooney has shown maturity as he soaks up his first NFL experience.
Bears coach Matt Nagy noted a steadiness that he has seen on and off the field with wide receiver Darnell Mooney, a Bears fifth-round draft pick out of Tulane.
“He practices the same way that he plays, whether it’s a rapid practice with Coach (Mike) Furrey or a regular practice or 7-on-7,” Nagy said. “He reminds me a lot of (Allen Robinson) in the meetings. He asks really good questions. He’s very calm, cool and collected. I just like where he’s at. I just think he has a bright future, and no one is getting too high or too low.”
Of course, Mooney still has a lot to learn if he’s going to see playing time, and Furrey said he’s interested to see how Mooney handles it as play gets faster and the Bears put more on his plate. But Mooney, who attended a training session with Robinson and Javon Wims in Tampa during the offseason, said he already feels comfortable in the Bears offense.
“If you know the plays, you don’t have any type of confusion or discomfort with it,” Mooney said. “If you know what you’re doing, you just go out there and play ball. It’s just reading the coverage and finding out your assignment with the coverage.”
4. Matt Nagy offered his well wishes to Washington coach Ron Rivera.
Washington coach Ron Rivera, a former Bears linebacker and defensive coordinator, announced Thursday night he has been diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma, which he detected in a lymph node during a self-care check.
Washington called it “very treatable and curable” and said Rivera plans to continue coaching as he fights the disease.
Nagy said the Bears are keeping Rivera and his family in their thoughts and prayers.
“We’re all here in Chicago thinking about him and wish him the best, and we’re in his corner,” Nagy said.