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Chicago Bears training camp is just around the corner, which means it’s time to start looking ahead at the roster the team is bringing to Lake Forest this month.
Rookies and quarterbacks are set to report to Halas Hall on July 25 with veterans following on July 28. But before that, we're unveiling our Bears 2026 training camp position previews, where we're breaking down every player by position and examining the biggest question facing the group.
It starts at the most important position: Quarterback, where Caleb Williams is fresh off a breakout sophomore campaign after his first season with head coach Ben Johnson. Expectations are higher than ever for Williams, who has become of the biggest faces of the NFL, and he has a chance to ink a long-term extension with a strong Year 3. Meanwhile, Tyson Bagent remains one of the league's top backups, Case Keenum is back to serve as a sounding board and a new undrafted rookie joins the fold. Let’s take a look at the Bears' wide receivers heading into training camp:
Battling through a foot injury last season, Rome Odunze saw a dip in production in his sophomore year, but will be depended on for a bounce back season as the team's top receiver. Following the trade of veteran DJ Moore to the Buffalo Bills this offseason, Odunze will have the opportunity to cement himself as the primary receiver for quarterback Caleb Williams, so long as he can show full recovery from the foot injury that hampered him last year.
One of the most popular players to discuss whether it's on lists of "players to watch" or fantasy football lists, Luther Burden III has a lot of expectations around him in his second season in the league. With the shift of the depth chart, Burden becomes the Bears No. 2 receiver, with a chance to overtake Odunze as the top guy, depending on how Ben Johnson plans to use the versatile weapon. Burden displayed big-time playmaking abilities last season in a limited role, and his skillset should see him create plenty of opportunities to see a heavy volume workload in his second year.
A veteran who has reunited with Ben Johnson from their days together in Detroit, Kalif Raymond brings some veteran experience to the receiver room that is full of youth. Raymond's biggest impact is expected to come on special teams as a return specialist, but as the current No. 3 receiver on the depth chart and his familiarity with Johnson, he could have a vital role in the offense in the passing game.
The most intriguing player at the wide receiver position, Zavion Thomas was a third-round pick in the 2026 draft and his speed is what makes him interesting. Thomas has done work in the special teams return game during his collegiate career but with the door open in the receiver room for others to step up, the rookie may have an opportunity to really show out if he earns reps on the field, especially after a standout offseason.
Jahdae Walker is a fan-favorite for what he did during the preseason and in very limited opportunities last season, including his game-tying touchdown against the Green Bay Packers to force overtime in Week 16. Walker, similar to Thomas, is an intriguing option, more so because he flashed signs of his potential last year and could be worth monitoring if there is an injury or he simply out performs others ahead of him.
A veteran who is now on his fourth team since entering the league as a sixth-round pick in 2019, Scotty Miller is a crafty and shifty receiver, mainly out of the slot, with capability to contribute on special teams as well. Miller has a good chance to make the roster through special teams and a depth addition in the wide receiver room.
A former quarterback turned wide receiver who spent time with the Detroit Lions before coming to Chicago prior to the 2025 season, Maurice Alexander has some familiarity with Ben Johnson. He spent all of last season on the team's practice squad, and should be considered to wind up there this season as well, unless opportunities open up ahead of him.
Omari Kelly was signed as an undrafted free agent this offseason following the 2026 NFL Draft, after splitting his college career between Auburn, Middle Tennessee State, and Michigan State. He's got tremendous athleticism and the ability to go find the ball when it's in the air, but is more likely to land on the practice squad.
After spending his first two collegiate seasons at Oklahoma State, JP Richardson transferred to TCU where he played two seasons, elevated his game, and signed with the Bears as an undrafted free agent prior to last year. Richardson is a practice squad candidate.
An undrafted free agent signing who stands 6'1" and weighs 212 pounds, Kyron Hudson saw increased productivity throughout his college career between USC and Penn State. He's a practice squad candidate on a deep wide receiver depth chart.
Kaden Davis has bounced around the professional football world, having spent time in the NFL, USFL, and UFL, which is where the Bears signed him from this offseason. A veteran who entered the league in 2022, Davis will likely have a bigger opportunity to make a case for a roster spot throughout training camp and preseason due to experience, but should still be considered a practice squad candidate.
DJ Moore's absence will loom large around the wide receivers this year, so can Odunze and Burden carry the weight of the receiver room on their own? Odunze struggled with a foot injury last year that still has left some question marks about how he'll be when he's fully recovered, while Burden is a player that many analysts are picking as one to watch across the NFL this season. The young stars will have to grow up quickly in order to make sure fans don't miss the veteran leadership of Moore, and for Odunze especially, entering his third year having had plenty of success as a rookie, he can make a leap to being a leader in his own right this year.
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears 2026 training camp preview: Plenty of youth at wide receiver
Continue reading...
Rookies and quarterbacks are set to report to Halas Hall on July 25 with veterans following on July 28. But before that, we're unveiling our Bears 2026 training camp position previews, where we're breaking down every player by position and examining the biggest question facing the group.
It starts at the most important position: Quarterback, where Caleb Williams is fresh off a breakout sophomore campaign after his first season with head coach Ben Johnson. Expectations are higher than ever for Williams, who has become of the biggest faces of the NFL, and he has a chance to ink a long-term extension with a strong Year 3. Meanwhile, Tyson Bagent remains one of the league's top backups, Case Keenum is back to serve as a sounding board and a new undrafted rookie joins the fold. Let’s take a look at the Bears' wide receivers heading into training camp:
Rome Odunze
Battling through a foot injury last season, Rome Odunze saw a dip in production in his sophomore year, but will be depended on for a bounce back season as the team's top receiver. Following the trade of veteran DJ Moore to the Buffalo Bills this offseason, Odunze will have the opportunity to cement himself as the primary receiver for quarterback Caleb Williams, so long as he can show full recovery from the foot injury that hampered him last year.
Luther Burden III
One of the most popular players to discuss whether it's on lists of "players to watch" or fantasy football lists, Luther Burden III has a lot of expectations around him in his second season in the league. With the shift of the depth chart, Burden becomes the Bears No. 2 receiver, with a chance to overtake Odunze as the top guy, depending on how Ben Johnson plans to use the versatile weapon. Burden displayed big-time playmaking abilities last season in a limited role, and his skillset should see him create plenty of opportunities to see a heavy volume workload in his second year.
Kalif Raymond
A veteran who has reunited with Ben Johnson from their days together in Detroit, Kalif Raymond brings some veteran experience to the receiver room that is full of youth. Raymond's biggest impact is expected to come on special teams as a return specialist, but as the current No. 3 receiver on the depth chart and his familiarity with Johnson, he could have a vital role in the offense in the passing game.
Zavion Thomas
The most intriguing player at the wide receiver position, Zavion Thomas was a third-round pick in the 2026 draft and his speed is what makes him interesting. Thomas has done work in the special teams return game during his collegiate career but with the door open in the receiver room for others to step up, the rookie may have an opportunity to really show out if he earns reps on the field, especially after a standout offseason.
Jahdae Walker
Jahdae Walker is a fan-favorite for what he did during the preseason and in very limited opportunities last season, including his game-tying touchdown against the Green Bay Packers to force overtime in Week 16. Walker, similar to Thomas, is an intriguing option, more so because he flashed signs of his potential last year and could be worth monitoring if there is an injury or he simply out performs others ahead of him.
Scotty Miller
A veteran who is now on his fourth team since entering the league as a sixth-round pick in 2019, Scotty Miller is a crafty and shifty receiver, mainly out of the slot, with capability to contribute on special teams as well. Miller has a good chance to make the roster through special teams and a depth addition in the wide receiver room.
Maurice Alexander
A former quarterback turned wide receiver who spent time with the Detroit Lions before coming to Chicago prior to the 2025 season, Maurice Alexander has some familiarity with Ben Johnson. He spent all of last season on the team's practice squad, and should be considered to wind up there this season as well, unless opportunities open up ahead of him.
Omari Kelly
Omari Kelly was signed as an undrafted free agent this offseason following the 2026 NFL Draft, after splitting his college career between Auburn, Middle Tennessee State, and Michigan State. He's got tremendous athleticism and the ability to go find the ball when it's in the air, but is more likely to land on the practice squad.
JP Richardson
After spending his first two collegiate seasons at Oklahoma State, JP Richardson transferred to TCU where he played two seasons, elevated his game, and signed with the Bears as an undrafted free agent prior to last year. Richardson is a practice squad candidate.
Kyron Hudson
An undrafted free agent signing who stands 6'1" and weighs 212 pounds, Kyron Hudson saw increased productivity throughout his college career between USC and Penn State. He's a practice squad candidate on a deep wide receiver depth chart.
Kaden Davis
Kaden Davis has bounced around the professional football world, having spent time in the NFL, USFL, and UFL, which is where the Bears signed him from this offseason. A veteran who entered the league in 2022, Davis will likely have a bigger opportunity to make a case for a roster spot throughout training camp and preseason due to experience, but should still be considered a practice squad candidate.
Big Question: Will the youth be ready to take on the challenge?
DJ Moore's absence will loom large around the wide receivers this year, so can Odunze and Burden carry the weight of the receiver room on their own? Odunze struggled with a foot injury last year that still has left some question marks about how he'll be when he's fully recovered, while Burden is a player that many analysts are picking as one to watch across the NFL this season. The young stars will have to grow up quickly in order to make sure fans don't miss the veteran leadership of Moore, and for Odunze especially, entering his third year having had plenty of success as a rookie, he can make a leap to being a leader in his own right this year.
Follow Bears Wire on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears 2026 training camp preview: Plenty of youth at wide receiver
Continue reading...
