On Wednesday, the Bears had their first training camp practice of the 2022 season. While they have their fair share of potential issues with orange helmets and protecting Justin Fields, it seems to be a mostly optimistic time in Bear-dom. Hey, that’s the way camps are!
Of course, it’s all orange and navy blue roses save for the absence of arguably their best player, Roquan Smith. You see, Smith reported to camp just like the other Bears. However, because the two-time Second-Team All-Pro (2020-2021) is seeking a contract extension that would likely make him the NFL’s highest-paid linebacker — he had no intention of actually practicing in the rare “hold-in.”
Knowing that Smith is an integral part of new head coach Matt Eberflus’s defense and a leader all around, the Bears did him a solid.
