Bears news and notes from OTAs and minicamp earlier this month:

QB Justin Fields had his ups and downs during OTAs and minicamp, but he did show clear improvement over last season according to his coaches and teammates. He looked more confident with his throws, went through his reads quicker, processed faster, got the ball out quicker, showed improved timing, accuracy, and decision-making, etc. According to NBC Sports Chicago’s Josh Schrock, most of Fields’ best throws were on passes over 20 yards downfield. It’s encouraging, but it’s also June. Let’s see how he looks when training camp starts.

Not much news here. RB Khalil Herbert took up boxing during the offseason to improve his blocking skills. He’ll get first dibs on carries when training camp starts, but with so many backs on the roster, this is going to be a RBBC any way you slice it.

New #1 WR D.J. Moore has been as advertised. Fields looked for him early and often, and the two connected many times on deep and intermediate passes. Moore is stellar at creating separation and getting open, just a real smooth operator. WR Darnell Mooney is still rehabbing his ankle injury, but HC Matt Eberflus expects him to be ready for training camp next month. WR Chase Claypool got off to a good start in OTAs but missed the remainder of them and minicamp due to various soft tissue issues.

Rookie WR Tyler Scott impressed many with his speed. He started with the backups but was getting time with the starters by the time minicamp rolled around. Scott did have quite a few drops though, so he needs to get that sorted out. WR Velus Jones Jr had a good minicamp, getting time with the first-team offense with Mooney and Claypool out. According to Schrock, Jones showed a more diverse route tree and more command of the offense.

According to Schrock, TE Robert Tonyan made many nice grabs in the intermediate level of the field and in the red zone. It’ll be nice for the Bears to have two legit tight end threats with Tonyan and TE Cole Kmet.

GM Ryan Poles still hasn’t addressed the huge hole at edge rusher yet, but he will at some point before the season starts. DE Terrell Lewis, signed to the practice squad last December, showed some nice pass rush moves. New additions LB Tremaine Edmunds and LB T.J. Edwards were impressive. Rookie CB Tyrique Stevenson has been working with the first-team defense and has fit in nicely. S Eddie Jackson returned from the Lisfranc injury he suffered last November in time for minicamp, providing an important veteran presence for a young secondary.

More to come next month…

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