Chicago Bears Mandatory Minicamp Storylines: Monitoring Kyler Gordon

The Chicago Bears will enter an important three-day stretch for mandatory minicamp from June 9-11. 

This will be the last time the team is together at Halas Hall for organized team activities (OTAs) until late July, when training camp. So, coach Ben Johnson will want to maximize the time and opportunities he has with his players on the field and in the classroom before the teams break for summer. 

Here are three storylines to pay attention to over the next three days. 

Health & Availability 

By the time the Bears finish practicing on June 11 and leave Halas Hall, the worst thing Bears fans should be discussing with friends and families is how they’re going to cope with no Bears football until July. 

The last thing the Bears or any team wants to deal with at this point in the football calendar is injuries. Nickelback Kyler Gordon has been reportedly dealing with another soft-tissue injury throughout OTAs, after having a series of them last season, so his status will be important to monitor. 

According to reports, defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo and linebacker T.J. Edwards were back at practice on June 3rd, but Montez Sweat and Gordon were not. 

Daily attendance reports and injury updates will be details I focus on during mandatory minicamp. 

Rookie Depth Chart

The Bears’ top two draft picks in the 2026 NFL draft weren’t with the respective first-team units the last time the Bears were on the practice fields. First-round draft pick Dillon Thieneman opened Bears OTAs with the backups, and veteran center Garrett Bradbury played with the first-team offense while second-round pick Logan Jones served as Tyson Bagent’s center. 

It shouldn’t take long for Thieneman to cement himself as the starter opposite of safety Coby Bryant, but Johnson won’t hand any of the rookies a starting job simply because of a player’s draft status. 

There might be opportunities in mandatory minicamp for both the rookies to get a rep, series or two with the starters, but training camp will provide a much clearer vision for the two rookies. 

Clean Operation

Since these will be the final three days before the Bears head out for the summer, all eyes will naturally go to Caleb Williams and the offense. 

Williams’ teammates have praised the third-year quarterback for how smooth the operation in the huddle has been so far, and that should be the expectation over the next three days. 

There have been some mixed results through the first two weeks of OTAs, so let’s see if Williams can lead his unit to end on a positive before heading off for summer break.