Chicago Bears training camp report: Coaches talk Caleb Williams’ progress, a D’Andre Swift highlight and a kicker thinking about tackling

Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Shane Waldron and his assistant coaches spoke to the media Wednesday at Halas Hall after a training camp practice.

Coaches are preparing their units for Saturday’s preseason game against the Bills in Buffalo, NY. Here’s our camp report from the day.

Caleb Williams Watch

The Bears defense, which has been without five starters in practice, still seems to be holding the offense and starting quarterback Caleb Williams in check during practice. The Bears have completed a few passes and haven’t made many explosive plays during periods when the team has been at full strength.

But offensive coordinator Shane Waldron said there are signs of progress from Williams that the Bears believe he’s getting closer to success.

“When you watch him and you watch him make his reads and his progressions, he’s going to where the ball should be going a lot more often than not,” Waldron said. “And some of the things that didn’t work out were just a miss here or an angle that didn’t seem right. OK, I get it. Let’s move on. But he did a good job of reading with his feet, staying in progression, recognizing coverage patterns. So seeing all those things is what really gives you confidence moving forward.”

Passing game coordinator Thomas Brown said Williams’ competitiveness, communication with teammates and accountability have been on point. Quarterbacks coach Kerry Joseph complimented Williams’ running game management in practice Wednesday, as well as his timing, rhythm and ability to get the ball out quickly in the passing game.

And he showed flashes on the field of what makes him special, Brown said.

“He’s making two to three throws a day, which is better than most starting quarterbacks you’ve seen,” Brown said. “Being able to figure out how to run the offense, make plays on time, but also not hurt his athletic ability to move outside the pocket is going to be a big thing. He’s done a really good job so far.”

Piece of the day

Running back D’Andre Swift was the highlight of the morning when he leapt to catch a screen pass from quarterback Brett Rypien one-handed. Swift then leapt for a well-blocked play that could have been a touchdown.

The Bears signed Swift to a three-year, $24 million contract this offseason, hoping he could be an asset to Williams in the running and passing games.

Brown said Swift has many traits that make him “not a typical running back.”

“His short-yardage quickness,” Brown said. “His fluidity and his ability to move, but also his natural ball skills and his ability to understand how to adjust to the ball in the air. I think he can run the entire route tree.”

Brown called Swift, who rushed for 2,729 yards and 1,412 receiving yards in four seasons with the Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles, “an extremely talented football player.” But Brown was also impressed with the way Swift works.

“Every day he’s busy with his work,” Brown said. “He doesn’t do anything stupid.”

Player in the spotlight

As the NFL implements its new kickoff rule, kicker Cairo Santos is preparing for a potentially bigger task in his role: being the last line of defense as a tackler.

The league expects to see longer returns under the new rules, which place the kickoff and return teams 5 yards apart and prevent all players except the kicker and returners from moving until the ball is kicked. Players, coaches and officials said it feels more like a running play, and a returner could break free with a single cut.

Santos, who had the ball on his first kickoff in Thursday’s preseason opener and was retired by the Pro Football Hall of Fame, said they practiced safe tackling techniques — sweeping the ankles and wrapping the legs — and also visualized what he would do in such a situation.

“From what I’ve seen, the likelihood of a returner breaking that coverage line is greater,” Santos said. “He gets more speed where he catches the ball. And it’s going to be hard to tackle when they’re running full speed at you.”

“Before, you could pin guys in the corners, use the playing time to my advantage, try to close the gap and get him to the touchline and use the touchline to tackle. There will be more opportunities for an open tackle, which I can’t say I’ve done a lot of. But I’ll definitely try to do it in the safest way possible.”

After seeing coach Matt Eberflus play a Toledo player on “Hard Knocks,” Santos wondered, “Maybe he can teach me how to tackle.”

Quote to note

Linebacker TJ Edwards said he didn’t watch Episode 1 of “Hard Knocks” Tuesday night because he got home late and had to go to bed. But he did watch the clip of offensive lineman Theo Benedet stripping down to an Eagle swimsuit while singing “God Bless the USA” as part of a Bears rookie performance.

“I knew Theo was going to be there, so I saw the highlight of that just because I had to see the reactions,” Edwards said. “One of the craziest things I’ve seen in my time in the NFL. But that’s what it’s about, right? It’s awesome for people to see, honestly. I don’t know about this part “It’s great for people to see, but it’s cool.”

Edwards said he would watch more episodes in the future.

Seen and heard

Defensive tackle Gervon Dexter has stepped up to pick off a good number of passes in the first few weeks of camp. Dexter, who is in his second NFL season, said he has “actively improved” in that area.

“In college, if I didn’t get a sack, then the game was over,” Dexter said. “Coach (Eric) Washington and coach (Travis Smith) would preach a lot, ‘Put your hands up, hit the ball.’ Now I’m like, ‘OK, if I’m not there, I’ve got to put my hands up. Or if I’m going to pick off a rushing player and I’m right in front of the quarterback, I’ve got to put my hands up.’”

On the other hand, Joseph said he doesn’t think batted balls will be a problem for Williams in games, noting that practices are different because defensive linemen know they can’t touch the quarterback.

“They know they have to stop at a certain point, so the line drives are a little different than in a real game, when guys are really trying to get to you and make a sack,” Joseph said. “The defensive lineman that’s blocked and right in front, he knows, ‘OK, I can’t get near him, so I’m just going to put my hands up.’”

Injury Report

Among the defensive starters, nickel Kyler Gordon, safety Jaquan Brisker, cornerback Tyrique Stevenson, defensive tackle Andrew Billings and defensive end Montez Sweat all missed practice.

Cornerback Terell Smith, who was replacing Stevenson, also left practice early after falling while defending DJ Moore in an 11-on-11 play.

Right guard Nate Davis remains out and right tackle Darnell Wright has been limited.

Running back Roschon Johnson, linebacker Noah Sewell, offensive linemen Bill Murray and Benedet, defensive lineman Keith Randolph, receiver Collin Johnson and tight end Marcedes Lewis were also ruled out.

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