Chicago Bears rookie third-round wide receiver Zavion Thomas could emerge as "a valuable gadget player on offense" in Chicago in his first year in the NFL while also contributing his 4.28-second 40-yard-dash speed as a returner on special teams, according to Courtney Cronin of ESPN. Cronin questions whether head coach Ben Johnson has his next Jahmyr Gibbs, especially after the versatile speedster made plays during the offseason program and was labeled "electric" by teammates as he enters his first year in the league. The 21-year-old out of LSU obviously has big-play abilities because of his high-end speed, but in terms of playing time in his rookie season, that's going to be hard to come by with Rome Odunze, Luther Burden III and Kalif Raymond, and tight end Colston Loveland ahead of him on the depth chart. But if Thomas impresses as a gadget player early on, Johnson will surely manufacture more touches for him. For now, Thomas is merely a deep dynasty/keeper stash who will see most of his playing time on special teams
We have a few more training camp battles to look at as the Bears are getting close to reporting to camp. This next battle, if I had to guess, will be the one that Chicago Bears fans will be most interested in throughout July and August. It’s the battle to see who emerges as the team’s WR3 between Jahdae Walker and Kalif Raymond . Walker emerged as a fan favorite after a stellar training camp and preseason. As a UDFA, he had a steep hill to climb to make the 53-man roster. But climb it he did. The Bears thought so highly of Walker that they didn’t want to risk putting him on the practice squad. They kept him on the 53 and for good reason. Walker was inactive for 7 of the first 12 Bears games, and when he played, he only saw six offensive snaps total. But as the season shifted into December, Walker earned opportunities on the offense, and he made it count. Walker had six catches, including 2 touchdowns (and a critical game-tying touchdown against the Green Bay Packers ), while earning 78 snaps. Olamide Zaccheaus had 61 snaps over those last three games, and Walker started pushing OZ for snaps for the WR4 spot. Come playoff time, Ben Johnson went with the veteran, and Zaccheaus was active, and Walker was not. But Walker made it clear that he was going to be pushing for more playoff time in 2026. The Bears let OZ walk after the season and traded DJ Moore , which opened up the door for Walker to potentially be WR3, but the Bears went out and signed someone who has familiarity with Ben Johnson and his offense, former Detroit Lion Kalif Raymond. Raymond’s production has definitely dipped over the last two seasons in Detroit . Raymond had 500 yards receiving over the last two seasons after averaging over 500 yards per season from 2021 to 2023. Raymond, whether he’s WR3 or WR4, will have a role on this team because he will also contribute on special teams, but he and Walker are going to vie for that WR3 role. Now, to be fair, that role will not be as prominent in Chicago as it is on other teams. The Bears will feature a lot of 12 personnel with Cole Kmet and Colston Loveland , but not only that, you can expect 13 personnel with rookie Sam Roush as well. For some teams that sit in 11 personnel, that WR3 will be on the field for 75 or 80% of the snaps. For the Bears, the WR3 this season may only be on the field for 40% of the snaps, but that’s still going to be plenty of opportunities in this offense. You would have to think that the Bears would want Walker to take this job and run with it. Teams would always prefer their young players to earn jobs away from veterans, but they never want to hand the jobs to them; they want them to earn them. Walker definitely has places to improve. He needs to add muscle; he needs better blocking technique, but he’s already made significant progress in one year. Can he make more significant progress this year? I would expect that to happen. What do I think happens here? I think this situation plays out like Luther Burden and Zaccheaus did last year. In 2025, Rome Odunze and DJ Moore were the WR1 and WR2 on the team, OZ was the team’s WR3, and eventually Burden took over as he got more comfortable in the offense. This year, I expect Odunze and Burden to be the team’s top two WRs, and I expect Raymond to be the team’s WR3 out of the gate in September, but I think Walker will continue to improve and he will take over for Raymond at some point in the season and secure the WR3 status in Chicago. Fans might get frustrated when they don’t see Walker getting significant snaps in September, but be patient; Walker’s time certainly feels like it’s coming
The commencement of training camps is just around the corner. As teams fine-tune their rosters in the coming weeks in pursuit of their ultimate goal, winning a Super Bowl , which positional needs remain? Although it feels like it was much longer ago, the Packers acquired Micah Parsons from Dallas in exchange for draft compensation and defensive tackle Kenny Clark last August. Although it did not have ramifications on last year's postseason, many expected that it would at the time of the deal. There are several other small-scale moves executed in exchange for draft considerations. The Dolphins claimed cornerback Juju Brents on waivers, and now he is in line to start. Center Luke Fortner was acquired by the Saints from the Jaguars . He spent most of the 2025 season blocking for breakout rookie Tyler Shough and parlayed that into a contract from the rival Panthers this offseason. Negligible transactions in the moment can make both short and long-term impacts. Which positions could be of interest to your respective favorite NFL team ? Here is one perspective on the biggest need for each NFC team ahead of the 2026 NFL regular season: The defensive line is a concern. Chicago allowed the fourth-most yards before contact (1.89) in 2025, per TruMedia. The response has been to sign Neville Gallimore and Kentavius Street . The third wide receiver spot behind Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III comes down to Kalif Raymond , Scotty Miller and rookie Zavion Thomas . The offensive line could suffer a setback with Drew Dalman's abrupt retirement, leading to the acquisition of Garrett Bradbury . An injury to Ozzy Trapilo means that Braxton Jones will have to play extended time once again. The unforeseeable expulsion of Terrion Arnold created a void in Chicago's secondary. Veteran Rock Ya-Sin is slated to start opposite D.J. Reed , and depth is really thin. The Lions may look to acquire help prior to the season. Free agent acquisition Nate Hobbs did not deliver the season Green Bay anticipated, and Keisean Nixon , Carrington Valentine are in line to start again. It is a gamble, as is defensive lineman Javon Hargrave tapping into the fountain of youth. It is worth monitoring how the offensive line comes together with multiple players taking on larger roles. With Harrison Smith not currently in the plans for the 2026 season, safety is a weakness after selecting Florida defensive tackle Caleb Banks in the first round. Joshua Metellus, Jay Ward , Jakobe Thomas and Theo Jackson are competing for those two spots. The interior offensive line needs to stay healthy and Blake Brendel is tasked with filling Ryan Kelly's shoes post-retirement. Linebacker and cornerback are a few other spots to monitor. Linebacker had been high on the priority list for the Buccaneers, but they invested a second-round pick in Josiah Trotter . Zyon McCollum and Benjamin Morrison are slated to start on the boundary. Both are relatively young in their respective careers, so that could be an up-and-down experience. Depth is even thinner. Jacob Parrish is physical in the slot. Wide receiver and defensive tackle are on similar footing. At receiver, the team added a few veterans, Jahan Dotson and Olamide Zaccheaus , but those are the only proven commodities aside from Drake London . Atlanta drafted Zachariah Branch in the third round, but he may not be ready to run the full route tree. The Falcons flipped defensive tackle Ruke Orhorhoro for Maason Smith . The team also has Brandon Dorlus and Da'Shawn Hand at the position. Edge rusher is a wild card with James Pearce Jr.'s situation. The team spent big on defense in free agency, bringing in linebacker Devin Lloyd and edge rusher Jaelan Phillips . Lloyd's presence could have a positive impact on Trevin Wallace , a talented player. The area lacking elite talent is the secondary, where Carolina could use help at cornerback or safety to support Jaycee Horn . Mike Jackson played above expectations, but is that sustainable? [... truncated ...]
The Detroit Lions have established themselves as an All-Pro factory since 2021. While established stars like Penei Sewell and Amon-Ra St. Brown have earned honors, the team looks to add new names in 2026. Jahmyr Gibbs and Sione Vaki are highlighted as strong candidates, with Gibbs being a potential bell cow and compared to top-tier running backs. Other players like Jared Goff, Alim McNeill, Brian Branch, and Jake Bates are also discussed as possibilities, though some face injury concerns
The Detroit Lions are adding another wide receiver from the UFL, their fourth signing of this week. According to UFL insider James Larsen, the Lions are adding Lawrence Keys III, former Houston Gambler, to their roster. He fills the roster spot vacant by Detroit’s waiving of receiver Kyre Duplessis on Wednesday night. Keys has been with the Gamblers for the last two seasons, and he broke out in 2026. He finished second in the UFL in all-purpose yards, thanks to his success as a kick and punt returner. He finished the seasons with 518 kick return yards (27.3 average), 134 punt return yards (12.2 average), and 349 receiving yards. Prior to his time in the UFL, Keys had a brief opportunity with the Buffalo Bills after going undrafted out of Tulane in 2024. But after suffering a leg injury in training camp, he was cut. That stint included one preseason appearance where he logged 15 snaps and caught a single pass for 13 yards. In college, Keys originally committed to Notre Dame and spent three years there and received his degree with the Fighting Irish. But after catching just 18 passes in three seasons, he transferred to Tulane. In two seasons there, he managed a total of 59 catches for 858 yards and nine touchdowns. Most recently listed at 5-foot-9, 175 pounds , Keys is certainly of the slot receiver profile that brings some explosiveness in the return game. He reportedly ran a 4.54 at his pro day, but that doesn’t accurately describe his burst on the field. Keys joins the following other UFL signings the Lions made this week: Former Columbu Aviators WR Tay Martin Former Louisville Kings WR Tarik Black Former Louisville Kings WR Lucky Jackson Like the previous three, Keys will have a tough time climbing the depth chart in a competitive wide receiver room. But with the Lions’ returner spots still very much open after losing Kalif Raymond this offseason, Keys may have a leg up, especially since he’s well-versed in the new kickoff style that was established in the UFL several years ago
Raymond spent the last five seasons with the Lions, contributing as a depth wideout and returner, and he heads into his age-32 season having inked a one-year deal with the division-rival Bears. A reunion with head coach Ben Johnson in Chicago could position him as the Bears' No. 3 WR behind Rome Odunze and Luther Burden, though rookie third-round pick Zavion Thomas and second-year pro Jahdae Walker provide legitimate competition. Raymond's experience may make him the favorite to pace Thomas and Walker in snaps, but his offensive ceiling is limited. Raymond has surpassed 500 receiving yards just twice in his career and finished with less than 310 yards on offense in back-to-back years
Detroit Lions rookie wide receiver Kendrick Law has suffered a torn ACL during Organized Team Activities and is likely out for the season. Coach Dan Campbell expressed regret over the injury, while GM Brad Holmes had been impressed with Law's versatility on offense and special teams. The Lions' receiver depth remains strong with Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, and Isaac TeSlaa, but Law's absence will create opportunities for other reserve players
SeatGeek is the official NFL Ticketing Partner of the New York Post. We may receive revenue from this partnership for sharing this content and/or when you make a purchase. Featured pricing is subject to change. The Chicago Bears have spent the offseason dealing with a lot of “what if’s.” Yet, even after their crushing 20-17 overtime loss at the hands of the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Divisional Round, head coach Ben Johnson’s club isn’t letting heartbreak define them. “This will be, hopefully, a feeling in the locker room we won’t forget, and we will be able to use it as fuel,” Johnson, 39, said in a press conference after the game. Now, three months later, Caleb “Ice Man” Williams and co. will finally get to see who they’ll be using that “fuel” against now that the 2026 NFL schedule has officially been released. Just a few of the most notable biggies Chicago will take on at their home Soldier Field this year include NFC North divisional rivals, Kyler Murray ’s Minnesota Vikings (Sept. 20), Jordan Love ’s Green Bay Packers (Dec. 25) and Jared Goff’s Detroit Lions (Jan. 3, 2027) along with huge matchups against Jalen Hurts ’ Philadelphia Eagles (Sept. 28) and Drake Maye ’s AFC champion New England Patriots (Oct. 22). According to Yahoo! Sports , Da Bears come into ’26 at a bit of a disadvantage, having to deal with the strongest strength of schedule of any team in the league due to their success in 2025. To make sure they’re ready and raring to go, General Manager Ryan Poles addressed major pain points and signed Super Bowl-winning safety Coby Bryant , speedy linebacker Devin Bush , prolific tackle Neville Gallimore , and wideout Kalif Raymond , who played for Detroit when Ben Johnson was its offensive coordinator. This talented group joins the nucleus of Williams, Rome Odunze , and Colston Loveland to form a formidable roster that hopefully won’t have to deal with any “what if’s” after next year’s campaign. All that’s missing now is…you. If you want to be in the stands at Soldier Field and see the Bears run it back live, tickets are available for all nine 2026 home games at Soldier Field as of today on SeatGeek. Not familiar with SeatGeek? SeatGeek is a verified secondary market ticketing platform, and prices may be higher or lower than face value, depending on demand. They offer a 100% buyer guarantee that states your transaction will be safe and secure and your tickets will be delivered prior to the event. For those who prefer to pick and choose which home games make the most sense for you to attend, we’re here for you, too. Below, you’ll find a list of all upcoming Chicago Bears home games at Soldier Field, including opponents, dates, and starting times. Chicago Bears home game dates Vikings vs. Bears Sunday, Sept. 20 at 12 p.m. Eagles vs. Bears Monday, Sept. 28 at 7:15 p.m. Jets vs. Bears Sunday, Oct. 4 at 12 p.m. Patriots vs. Bears Thursday, Oct. 22 at 7:15 p.m. Buccaneers vs. Bears Sunday, Nov. 8 at 7:20 p.m. Saints vs. Bears Sunday, Nov. 22 at 12 p.m. Jaguars vs. Bears Sunday, Dec. 6 at 12 p.m. Packers vs. Bears Friday, Dec. 25 at 12 p.m. Lions vs. Bears Sunday, Jan. 3, 2027 at 3:25 p.m. If you think you might find yourself traveling with the Bears this year, here’s where you can find them on the road once the 2026 season begins. Chicago Bears away game dates Bears vs. Panthers Sunday, Sept. 13 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC Bears vs. Packers Sunday, Oct. 11 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay , WI Bears vs. Falcons Sunday, Oct. 18 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA Bears vs. Seahawks Monday, Nov. 2 at Lumen Field in Seattle , WA Bears vs. Lions Thursday, Nov. 26 at Ford Field in Detroit , MI Bears vs. Dolphins Sunday, Dec. 13 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, FL Bears vs. Bills Saturday, Dec. 19 at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, NY Bears vs. Vikings Jan. 9 or 10 at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, MN There is no shortage of ways to watch Bears games live from the comfort [... truncated ...]
Raymond is set to join the Bears on a one-year contract, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports. Raymond spent the past five years in Detroit returning punts and kickoffs while typically serving as the third or fourth receiver. He'll turn 32 before Week 1 in 2026 but should be able to handle a similar role for the Bears. The move to Chicago reunites Raymond with head coach Ben Johnson, formerly the offensive coordinator for the Lions
Raymond caught 24 of 30 targets for 289 yards and one touchdown while also adding 19 yards on two carries over 15 contests during the regular season. He also added 161 kickoff-return yards and 241 yards and a score as a punt returner. Raymond finished fifth on the team in receiving yards while his one receiving touchdown ranked fourth at his position behind Amon-Ra St. Brown (11), Jameson Williams (seven) and Isaac TeSlaa (six) this season. The wideout was able to reel in seven more passes than he did during the 2024 campaign, but his 24 catches still represented the second fewest of his five seasons in Detroit. Raymond appears to be most valuable as a special-teams asset, and he'll enter the offseason as an unrestricted free agent
