Bears training camp digest for Day 1: Fuller returning punts

Observations from Day 1 of Bears training camp on Thursday in Bourbonnais:

Where is everybody?

The opening day of Bears’ training camp was marked by perfect summer weather and light attendance — officials estimated the crowd at 3,000, but that seemed quite optimistic.

Then again, it’s mid-week and early. With players in shorts for the first two days, training camp is a little more than a glorified OTA full of individual drills.

“We put the pads on Saturday,” coach John Fox said after practice. “Most of the coaches here have not seen these guys in pads yet. We’re all excited.”

Fuller returning punts

Second-year cornerback Kyle Fuller’s work at punt returner continued on the first day of practice.

Fuller, who handled punts at times during the offseason program, didn’t have trouble tracking or catching Pat O’Donnell’s high kicks.

“Growing up I was an athlete,” said Fuller, the 2014 first-round draft pick. “I started as a running back, receiver, things like that. I’m just out there trying to catch the ball. Nothing too serious.”

Practice highlights

It’s early and the Bears are still in shorts, so it wasn’t exactly an eventful day at practice. … Cornerback Tracy Porter had a chance to make the first highlight of camp, but dropped an interception and proceeded to do pushups. … The big play was a bomb from quarterback Jay Cutler to receiver Marquess Wilson, who beat Fuller. Wilson broke his collarbone laying out for a deep ball from Cutler early in camp last year and missed the first nine regular-season games. … Cutler also went deep to receiver Alshon Jeffery, who couldn’t complete the falling catch in the end zone between Fuller and veteran safety Antrel Rolle. … Cutler was not intercepted on Thursday.