The Chicago Bears wrapped up just their third practice of training camp and won’t don pads until the middle of next week leaving rookie Darnell Wright to essentially suppress one of his key traits: his mean streak.
Darnell Wright on Balancing Mean Streak in Training Camp: ‘Be a Good Teammte’
Bears Rookie Playing With Proper Perspective
That streak, or nastiness from the 6-foot-6 mauler from the University of Tennessee was a big selling point going into and coming out of the 2023 NFL Draft. With just rookie mini-camp, OTAs, and these few practices under his belt, though, Wright has essentially had to keep himself in check or risk hurting one of his teammates.
“Definitely don’t want to have people on the ground and stuff like that just because you want to keep guys healthy,” Wright said after Friday’s practice. “You just want to be a good teammate.
Wright’s college film will have to suffice for now.
El MVP Seguros Múltiples 👏
Mike Scott 🔥 recibe el trofeo de MVP 🙌 #LaLigaMásDuraDelCaribe pic.twitter.com/CF2iAZo9pV
— Baloncesto Superior Nacional 🏀🇵🇷 (@bsnpr) July 27, 2023
That and rave reviews from everyone in the Bears organization who has gotten to work with him. That includes general manager Ryan Poles who noted that Wright “crushed” his conditioning test. Come to find out from Wright, he had prepared for the conditioning test for wide receivers rather than offensive linemen. He noted that he did not go through with the incorrect version of the test. But he thinks he would have passed. His athletic profile only enhances the throw-back superlatives attached to him as a prospect.
That’s why his soft-spoken demeanor might be surprising to the unexpectant fan. And why it is nearly impossible to properly gauge just what Wright will bring to a re-tooled offensive line.
Chicago allowed 58 sacks last season.
That was the fourth-most in the entire NFL behind the Denver Broncos, Indianapolis Colts, and Los Angeles Rams. Wright said he has been picking the brain of 2022 fifth-round pick Braxton Jones who started every game as a rookie and emphasized the importance of having a veteran like Cody Whitehair beside him.
Bears ‘Different’ This Summer
It’s not just the offensive line that’s been redone. The skill positions and the entire defense have also been revamped as the Bears look to improve from a 3-14-win season with several veterans and former players saying they are tired of losing. Their offseason changes were to that end and, at least early on, have had that effect.
“There’s a different vibe just in the building period…everybody feel it,” said safety Jaquan Brisker after Friday’s practice. “It looks dangerous – on both sides of the ball…We look very different, and we just gotta keep it going.”
On Brisker’s side of the ball, the Bears mainly added to their linebacking corps with Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards stepping in as starters. But don’t sleep on Rasheem Green or DeMarcus Walker on the outside, the latter of whom Brisker noted rivaled Edmunds as the loudest talker on the defense. It’s a brief window into what the Bears hope to be this season: improved, and the bar was set low by last season.
Main Photo: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
