Bears training camp report: Observations, analysis from Tuesday’s practice

The Sun-Times’ Patrick Finley breaks down the Bears’ 14th practice:

So he’s a center?

One day after coach Harry Hiestand said the Bears planned to use James Daniels at center this week, coach Matt Nagy confirmed as much and said he hopes the second-round pick will play Thursday night against the Bengals. Daniels, who the Bears hoped would compete for the starting left guard spot, sat out the Hall of Fame Game.

“He’s growing,” Nagy said. “He’s at a point right now where there’s so many assignments as a center that you have to worry about in the run game and pass game and then you’ve got to snap the ball back to the quarterback, too — we do a lot of (shotgun). We like where he’s at right now and he’s going to continue to get better and better.”

Nagy said Daniels will eventually need to be able to play both guard and center.

Anthony Miller is the real deal

Howard, Gabriel injury updates

There was no reason to push running back Jordan Howard in a light practice, Nagy said, after he banged his knee earlier in the week.

“I think, for, him it’s just more of trying to get that knee right,” he said.

Nagy wouldn’t say if Howard will play Thursday, though he figures to get little usage if he does.

Receiver Taylor Gabriel remains sidelined with a foot injury, Nagy said, and has an “either-way” chance of playing Thursday.

Nagy hints what to expect from Mitch Trubisky

More observations

Nagy’s evaluation of his own passing after looking at Monday’s practice tape: “Disappointed in the endurance there. …” “To let (Kyle Fuller) get me still bothers me.” … “I got decent sleep, but I didn’t get great sleep.”

Up next

The Bears have Wednesday off before playing the Bengals on Thursday night in Cincinnati.

Want your Bears training camp update without delay? Each day of summer practice, Sun-Times Bears’ beat writers Patrick Finley, Adam Jahns and Mark Potash will share exclusive insights on the workout and interviews in a livestream conversation 1 p.m. daily through Aug. 12. Catch their live analysis and ask questions on Twitter using the hashtag “#BearsBeatLive” or send them directly to @suntimes_sports. Also, follow Sun-Times Sports on Periscope to be notified of each live report.