Head coach Matt Eberflus wants to do everything in his power to prepare his players for the upcoming NFL season. Working them hard in training camp is fine, but it has limits. There are only so many times you can line up against the same players day after day before there isn’t much left to learn. That is why the Chicago Bears need to find ways to shake things up. One Eberflus has long preferred is getting his team to practice against another one during the preseason. He wasn’t able to in 2022 because of scheduling conflicts, but they worked against the Indianapolis Colts last year.
It appears the schedule worked in their favor again this time around. According to Nicholas Moreano of CHGO, the Bears are aiming to have joint practices with the Cincinnati Bengals before their August 15th preseason game.
This is a great opportunity for the Bears. Cincinnati has been one of the best teams in the AFC for the past few seasons. Joe Burrow is a top-5 quarterback in the NFL, and he’s surrounded by top-flight weapons like Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Their defense is also among the most well-coached in the league.
Their defense believes it is one of the best in the NFL after their strong finish last season. Burrow is sure to test them on that front. Conversely, Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo will give Bears #1 overall pick Caleb Williams plenty of complex looks. If the young quarterback can hold his own against somebody of that caliber, he will handle the rest of the league just fine. It is a terrific educational opportunity. Even if the Bears get humbled during the practice sessions, they will at least know they have a lot of work to do.
Lots of players will be able to get learning experiences. Austin Booker will work against Bengals 1st round pick Amarius Mims. Rome Odunze gets to work against DJ Turner, Cam Taylor-Britt, and Mike Hilton. Kiran Amegadjie will tangle with Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard. Expect the Chicago Bears to take full advantage of these opportunities. They relish competition. Many have the Bengals in the Super Bowl picture this year. If the Bears can hang with them, it could signify what’s coming.
