Chicago Bears Head Coach Ben Johnson was not kidding when he told reporters that he expected Tuesday’s practice to be a physical one.
The Athletic’s Kevin Fishbain shares more:
Oh, boy…[image or embed]
— Bleacher Nation Bears (@bn-bears.bsky.social) August 5, 2025 at 1:59 PMAs for what else the first-year Bears head coach had to say on Tuesday, we’ll continue below.
Will the Bears’ starters play in Preseason Week 1?
It is “to be determined” (Ben Johnson’s words, not mine) whether starters will play (and if so, for how long) in the team’s Preseason Week 1 matchup against the Miami Dolphins. Johnson said he was still ironing out plans with Dolphins Head Coach Mike McDaniel ahead of the team’s Friday joint practice session and Sunday’s exhibition game. It sounds like the two head coaches will engage in a collaborative effort when it comes to how things will shake out this weekend. Listening to Johnson’s comments has me feeling like these preseason games are more like highly organized scrimmages and less like competitive showdowns. But maybe that is what preseason should be about these days.
If the Bears (and Dolphins) use preseason games for development and to help settle positional battles throughout the roster in a way that makes the team better and more prepared for the regular season, then so be it. After all, isn’t that what practice is for?
Jul 23, 2025; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson looks on during training camp at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn ImagesBen Johnson sounds off on Tyrique Stevenson
One of the most eye-opening segments of Ben Johnson’s Tuesday press conference came when he was discussing Tyrique Stevenson. Johnson said the third year tends to be a make-or-break season for players. Fittingly, Stevenson is a Year 3 player with a lot on the line going into the 2025 season.
“I think he is an awesome person. I think that’s what stands out first and foremost. He’s got quite a personality. He’s good to talk to. I think he works hard. Sometimes he talks a little bit too much, and you’ve got to tell him to be a little bit quiet, but he is a guy you want on your side. He understands this is a big year for him. It really is. Going into Year 3 is kind of make it or break it for a lot of guys, and he understands that. I think he is approaching this the right way.”
My initial takeaway after hearing Ben Johnson talk about Tyrique Stevenson is that it reminded me of how my friends who are parents talk about their children every once in a while. Before you roll your eyes, let me explain.
Yes, children are full of energy, and you want them to push the boundaries of their development. Let ’em live a little. But sometimes, as a parent, you have to reel them in when things are going sideways. It sounds like the first-year Bears head coach is trying to let Stevenson be himself, while also trying to keep him on the right path. That makes for a delicate balance to strike, and I am not envious of the coaches who are responsible for making that happen. Then again, that is why those coaches get paid the big bucks.
© Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin / USA TODAY NETWORKMORE TYRIQUE STEVENSON: 2024 Exit Interview | How He Is Moving On From the Fail Mary
It also sounds like the cornerback competition to start opposite Jaylon Johnson has been good, not only for Tyrique Stevenson, but also the other players putting in work in that position group. Ben Johnson says he is excited about the current direction of things. I’m more curious than excited, but we’ll see how I feel after the first preseason game kicks off.
Tyson Bagent catches the coach’s eye
One of the minor things I find myself looking forward to when Ben Johnson speaks is listening to what he has to say about the quarterbacks. Not just starter Caleb Williams, mind you. But also what he thinks about backups like Tyson Bagent. This is what the Bears’ head coach had to say about a quarterback battling for the QB2 role that he does not want to relinquish in 2025:
“He has been phenomenal. I mean, he is smart as a whip. I appreciate the seriousness and intent tht he brings every time into a room. A meeting room, walk-through, it doesn’t matter. He’s locked in, he’s focused. I think his teammates feel that from him. Love the fact that he’ll throw the ball and he’ll keep working through his progressions, so it goes home with exactly where everyone is gonna be in case he has to move on. I think he’s taking this seriously, he’s preparing the right way, and I couldn’t be more thrilled that he’s here with us.”
What it looks like for Tyson Bagent in the preseason is something that Ben Johnson said he still needs to hash out with the coaching staff. The last two years, Bagent has been a preseason highlight factory and has given fans something to watch in games that have no meaning in the standings. We will see how much time he gets on the playing field on Sunday.
Ben Johnson Press Conference — August 5, 2025
For more from Bears Head Coach Ben Johnson, you can watch the video below:
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