Chicago Bears Have A New Team Lined Up For Crossover Practices
Matt Eberflus is a big fan of joint practices in the preseason. He’s said they actually benefit a team more than the actual games themselves. That is because the players get two length practice sessions to work against unfamiliar opponents, allowing them to gain some additional insight into where their readiness is for the regular season. If a Chicago Bears wide receiver is doing well against his defensive back teammates but struggles against another team, that would offer invaluable information into what he must do to improve.
Last year, the Bears held joint practices with the Indianapolis Colts. It was a fruitful affair for several players. Nobody benefited more than quarterback Tyson Baget, who performed well in drills and carried that into the preseason game against the Colts. Roschon Johnson also played well. Tyrique Stevenson was one of the biggest standouts, which proved to be a taste of what was to come. Now, according to Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune, it appears the Bears are angling for joint practices against this year. They even have a team already lining up.
“In 2023, the Bears traveled to Westfield, Ind., for two days of joint on-field work with the Indianapolis Colts, sessions Eberflus and Poles valued for the amount of controlled competitive reps they were able to get for their team. Those two practices were viewed by Bears coaches as a valuable substitute for preseason game action.
The Bears are pushing to get in similar work this August and will feel out the possibility of hosting this summer’s crossover practices at Halas Hall. Keep an eye on the Atlanta Falcons as a potential partner, which would also position the two teams to play against each other in the preseason.”
Atlanta is a terrific option for the Chicago Bears.
They are a good football team, for starters. Their offense is stacked with talent, headlined by new quarterback Kirk Cousins, wide receiver Drake London, and running back Bijan Robinson. They also have some talented defensive pieces like Jessie Bates, AJ Terrell, Arnold Ebiketie, and Nathan Landman. All of them will be great litmus tests for a young roster the Bears feel is on the cusp of playoff-ready. It will be even more fun since Atlanta would be the first team to get a sneak peek at Caleb Williams’ progress at quarterback.
The Chicago Bears’ preseason will kick off in Canton, Ohio, for the Hall of Fame game. It is a fitting way to celebrate the induction of two more team legends, Devin Hester and Steve McMichael. Eberflus will get to start training camp early because of this, gaining extra time to prepare his players for another long and grueling season. It figures to be a tough one as the NFC North looks stronger than ever. Green Bay and Detroit made the playoffs. Minnesota is still talented despite losing Cousins.