Bears Are Back in Business

Conditioning and strength work for the team begins at Halas Hall as does the Kevin Warren era.

USA Today

The Bears have begun anew.

On Monday, the players reported to Halas Hall to begin 2023 conditioning.

They also have a new team president on the job.

Kevin Warren's time as president began Monday morning as former president and CEO Ted Phillips has officially retired and is only participating in an advisory role.

Apparently it was an early start to the Warren work day as the team put out a tweet of his arrival and it was still dark outside.

First day on the job 💼 pic.twitter.com/kIOfQdRzqd

— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) April 17, 2023

Warren was hired to do more than get a new stadium built in Arlington Heights. His stated goal is to put the franchise in a state of perpetual success.

"So I just think culturally and organizationally, to bring a heightened degree of energy, a focus, to create an environment where people know they can be themselves from a family standpoint, but thrive—make it OK to talk about winning a championship," Warren said upon being announced as the new president. "So many times, people in organizations don't want to talk about winning a championship. I want to talk about it, but not only talk about it, but then put in the work to be able to do what we need to do to win a championship."

There’s different ways a guy like Warren does change the trajectory of the whole franchise, not just the stadium.. @Tylow237 is right it’s a potential game changer imo as well. Warren is both 1. Outside (so needed) and 2. Qualified (have never had that after Halas). Huge.

— Let’s go Bears (@letsgochibears) April 16, 2023

The team assembled for the spring conditioning program currently stands at 67 players after signing wide receiver Dante Pettis to a one-year deal, and looks far from competing for championships, league, conference or divisional.

They can add 23 players through the draft, undrafted free agency and possibly a few veteran free agents before they hit the 90-man training camp roster limit.

Here is where the roster stands as they work now only to get into condition for later drills. They don't start on-field work until May 22.

We back ‼️ pic.twitter.com/hhwhU7DbXA

— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) April 17, 2023

The Roster

(As of April 17, 2023 start to workouts)

Quarterbacks

Projected Starter: Justin Fields

Backups: PJ Walker, Nathan Peterman

Running Backs

Projected Starter: Khalil Herbert

Backups: D'Onta Foreman, Travis Homer, Trestan Ebner, Khari Blasingame (FB).

Wide Receivers

Projected Starters: DJ Moore, Darnell Mooney, Chase Claypool

Backups: Equanimeous St. Brown, Dante Pettis, Velus Jones Jr., Daurice Fountain, Nsimba Webster, Joe Reed.

Tight Ends

Projected Starter: Cole Kmet

Backups: Robert Tonyan Jr., Chase Allen, Jake Tonges.

Offensive Line

Projected Starters: Cody Whitehair (C), Nate Davis (G), Teven Jenkins (G), Braxton Jones (T), Larry Borom (T).

Backups: Lucas Patrick, Alex Leatherwood, Ja'Tyre Carter, Kellen Diesch, Dieter Eiselen, Doug Kramer.

Defensive Line

Projected Starters: Trevis Gipson (DE), Andrew Billings (DT), Justin Jones (DT), DeMarcus Walker (DE).

Backups: Rasheem Green, Andrew Brown, Dominique Robinson, Gerri Green, Jalyn Holmes, Donovan Jeter, Terrell Lewis.

Linebackers

Projected Starters: Tremaine Edmunds (Mike), T.J. Edwards (Will), Jack Sanborn (Sam).

Backups: DeMarquis Gates, Dylan Cole, Sterling Weatherford, Kuony Deng.

Defensive Backs

Projected Starters: Jaylon Johnson (CB), Kyler Gordon (CB), Jaquan Brisker (S), Eddie Jackson (S).

Backups: Kindle Vildor (CB), Josh Blackwell (CB), Adrian Colbert (S), Harrison Hand (CB), Elijah Hicks (S), Jaylon Jones (CB), Michael Ojemudia (CB), Greg Stroman Jr. (CB), A.J. Thomas (S).

Specialists

Long Snapper: Patrick Scales.

Punters: Trenton Gill, Ryan Anderson.

Kicker: Cairo Santos.

Twitter: BearDigest@BearsOnMaven