Introduction
As the Chicago Bears gear up for their 2025 training camp, set to begin on July 25 with rookies reporting on July 19 and veterans on July 22, several position battles are poised to shape the team’s roster and performance for the upcoming season. With new head coach Ben Johnson at the helm and significant offseason moves, including a revamped offensive line and draft picks, the Bears are looking to improve on their 5-12 record from 2024. Training camp will give us the first look at some of the important positional battles ahead of the preseason, so let’s take a look at the biggest training camp battles in 2025.
1. A Switch a Left Tackle?
The left tackle position is arguably the most critical battle, given its role in protecting quarterback Caleb Williams‘ blindside, especially after the Bears allowed a league-high 68 sacks in 2024. General manager Ryan Poles has made significant efforts to bolster the offensive line, but the left tackle spot remains a point of contention among Bears fans.
- Key Players:
- Braxton Jones: Drafted in the fifth round in 2022 from Southern Utah, Jones has been the Bears’ starting left tackle for the past two seasons, accumulating 40 career starts. In 2024, he played in 12 games, earning a Pro Football Focus (PFF) grade of 77.4 (20th among tackles), with a pass-blocking grade of 80.8 (17th) and a run-blocking grade of 70.2 (35th). Despite steady production, he missed spring practices due to a high ankle sprain surgery, raising concerns about his readiness for the start of training camp.
- Ozzy Trapilo: A second-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Trapilo stands at 6’8″ and weighs 312 lbs, bringing significant size and potential. At Boston College, he allowed just two sacks on 710 pass-blocking snaps and finished with an 80.5 pass-blocking grade. During minicamp, he has received first-team snaps and has created a good dilemma for the Bears at the tackle position.
- Kiran Amegadjie: A third-round pick in 2024, Amegadjie has struggled in limited snaps, finishing last year with a 40.3 PFF grade, one of the worst among linemen. Despite the struggles, injuries have not helped, he still has the talent to be a contributor.
- Details: Head coach Ben Johnson has emphasized the need for the best pass protector, stating, “The No. 1 job of an offensive tackle, doesn’t matter right or left, is to pass protect.” Jones is the presumptive starter if healthy, given his experience, but Trapilo’s size and performance in minicamp make him a strong contender. Trapilo forcing himself into contention for the starting tackle position has created a good problem for the Bears, which is depth at the tackle position. While those two duke it out at the top, Amegadjie has a harder time to the field in 2025 if Braxton Jones stays healthy.
2. Running Back Rotation
With the Bears missing out on some of the top running backs in the draft, the running back rotation heading into 2025 is unclear. D’Andre Swift, Roschon Johnson, and Travis Homer all return from last year’s abysmal ground game; meanwhile, the team added Kyle Monangai late in the draft. We know that Ben Johnson loves to use multiple running backs, so let’s see how the RB room shakes out ahead of training camp.
- Key Players:
- D’Andre Swift: Swift had an uninspiring 2024 season, rushing for 959 yards and six touchdowns on 253 carries, with an additional 42 receptions for 386 yards. His role as the third-down back is secure, but his ineffectiveness on early downs makes him a candidate to see fewer snaps in 2025. Ben Johnson, in the past, has used him in the Jahmyr Gibbs role, but with less depth than Detroit could he opt to use Swift more this year?
- Roschon Johnson: A second-year player, drafted in the fourth round in 2023 from Texas, Johnson has shown promise as a backup. In 2024, he appeared in 14 games, rushing for 150 yards and six touchdowns while adding 16 receptions for 104 yards. Johnson was not efficient last year (2.7 ypc), but he has the most to gain in a potential David Montgomery-like role in 2025 under Ben Johnson.
- Kyle Monangai: A rookie, selected in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft from Rutgers, Monangai brings fresh legs and potential. At Rutgers, he rushed for 1,279 yards and 13 touchdowns in his final college season, earning third-team All-Big Ten honors. His performance in rookie minicamp was promising, positioning him as a contender to earn more snaps in training camp and potentially seize a bigger role in the offense.
- Travis Homer: A veteran, signed as a free agent in 2023, Homer has primarily served as a depth piece and special-teams contributor. In 2024, he played in 10 games, rushing for 23 yards and contributing on kick returns. His experience makes him a candidate for situational roles, such as third-down back or special teams, but he has not had any experience as a lead-back.
- Details: Ben Johnson’s identity is having a timeshare at the running back position. D’Andre Swift is a clear front-runner for 3rd down snaps, but an early down role can still be seized from either Roschon Johnson or Kyle Monangai. Training camp and the preseason should provide a better outlook on which player seizes the opportunity and wins an important role within the Bears’ offense.
3. The 3rd Linebacker
The Bears’ linebacker corps is anchored by Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards, both signed to long-term deals, leaving the third linebacker spot as a key battle for depth and situational play. Jack Sanborn, who held this role in 2024, signed with the Dallas Cowboys, opening the door for competition.
- Key Players:
- Ruben Hyppolite II: A fourth-round pick in 2025, Hyppolite has already shown promise during spring practices, impressing with his speed (4.39 40-yard dash at Maryland’s Pro Day) and physicality. He’s seen as a potential immediate contributor
- Noah Sewell: A fifth-round pick in 2023, Sewell has been primarily a special-teams contributor, recording 13 tackles and two forced fumbles over two seasons. This is a make-or-break camp for him to secure a larger role
- Amen Ogbongbemiga: A seventh-round pick in 2022, Ogbongbemiga has been a depth piece, with limited statistical impact. He could factor into the competition if he outperforms the others
- Details: The third linebacker is often an important player who may not see as many snaps as the top two options but plays a crucial role in pass coverage and heavy run sets. Replacing Sanborn may not be as daunting as it seems. He had a 70.5 PFF grade against the run last year, but only finished with a 45.1 coverage grade last year. Ogbongbemiga and Sewell have limited action in the NFL, so my early thoughts are that it is Hyppolite’s battle to lose. Hyppolite tested well athletically but was not overly impressive in college, so by no means is he a lock to win the position.
Conclusion
The Chicago Bears’ 2025 training camp will be defined by three key position battles: left tackle, running back, and linebacker (third spot). With new head coach Ben Johnson emphasizing accountability and performance, these position battles will be closely watched during training as the Bears aim to improve on their 5-12 record from 2024.
