Wide receiver Dazz Newsome is trying to make up for lost time. The sixth-round draft pick broke his left collarbone during organized team activities in June and is still ramping up after returning to training camp this week.
Learning alignments and mastering the playbook come easier when it’s not a theoretical exercise.
“You’ve got to really be on the field for it to click a lot,” said Newsome, who had 188 catches for 2,435 yards in four years at North Carolina. “Obviously, that’s the toughest part.”
Newsome leaned on teammates Tarik Cohen, Teez Tabor and Marquise Goodwin during his rehab. They told him to stay patient and keep studying. He hopes to show what he has learned in preseason games. A natural slot receiver, he’s studying all the receiver positions.
“The only thing I would say is the biggest challenge is just knowing what to do at every position and where to be at every position,” he said. “But other than that, I’ve just got to ball.”
Newsome has been limited to running routes without defenders to try to improve his timing with the Bears’ quarterbacks.
“It’ll be interesting to get him out there and really get going and see what he can do,” coach Matt Nagy said. “He’s got an infectious personality as you all see. It’s very authentic and real. It’s also neat to see him want to learn from these older receivers, too. He’s just taking it all in.”
Tackle questions
Nagy understands the Bears’ offensive-tackle situation doesn’t look good. Projected starters Teven Jenkins (back) and Germain Ifedi (hip) have yet to practice, while Larry Borom (concussion) and Elijah Wilkinson (reserve/COVID-19 list) are out.
“I think it’s stating the obvious that when you have a competition at a big position like that at left tackle, you want to make sure you have a lot of guys out there being able to show what they can do,” he said.
Nagy has said throughout camp that the situation will “work itself out.” The Bears have five weeks until the season opener.
“I think what happens, if you start getting into a panic mode — there’s a lot of other teams that are going through some similar situations,” Nagy said.
This and that
Four veterans who got “load management” days Saturday returned Sunday. Otherwise, the same 17 players — and seven starters — did not participate in practice for a second straight day. Among the starters out: linebacker Roquan Smith (groin), safety Tashaun Gipson (groin) and guard James Daniels (quadriceps).
† Inside linebacker Alec Ogletree, who signed and practiced for the first time Thursday, had an interception for the fourth straight day. He has six total.
† Nagy congratulated former Bears offensive tackle Jimbo Covert on his enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday night in Canton, Ohio.
“I know this [election was in] 2020, and it was pretty cool to see him get inducted last night,” he said. “And to see [Virginia] McCaskey there, it’s good stuff.”
† After being down to nine healthy offensive linemen Saturday, the Bears signed guard Gage Cervenka.
