Bears Camp: Darnell Wright Injury Casts Shadow Over Final Open Practice

As the Chicago Bears closed out their final open training camp practice at Halas Hall on August 26, 2026, the energy was electric, but so was the concern. The team wrapped up a nearly two-hour session in front of the faithful, yet the day was marred by a troubling sight: starting right tackle Darnell Wright departing early with trainers, flexing his right arm—the same arm that sidelined him last season. According to insights gathered by Vulius Sports, this injury could have significant implications for the Bears' offensive line as they prepare for their preseason finale against the Tennessee Titans.

Injury Bug Bites at Halas Hall

Wright wasn't the only Bear to leave practice early. Defensive tackle Gervon Dexter Sr., who has been the subject of trade rumors, also exited with an injury, while tight end Hayden Large and cornerback Dontae Manning were sidelined with various issues. The injury list also included running back Kyle Monangai (week-to-week), defensive end Marcus Davenport (not practicing), and Austin Booker, who missed the game in Cincinnati. However, there was a silver lining: safety Elijah Hicks and rookie linebacker Keyshaun Elliott were activated from the PUP list and participated in drills, while quarterback Tyson Bagent returned from a hamstring issue.

Cornerback Unit Reinforced

The Bears received a boost in the secondary as cornerbacks Tyrique Stevenson, Terell Smith, and Jaylon Jones returned to practice. Stevenson was back in team drills, starting alongside Jaylon Johnson, who earlier rallied the team with a message that practice wasn't good enough—a sentiment that clearly resonated, as tight end Cole Kmet later called it "one of our better practices through camp so far." The defensive backfield also saw Cam Lewis working with the first team at safety next to rookie Dillon Thieneman, as head coach Ben Johnson continues to evaluate that position.

Offensive Line Shuffle

With Wright out, Theo Benedet stepped in with the first team at right tackle, while left tackle Braxton Jones took the majority of reps with the ones. Jones drew praise from Brad Biggs for his performance in 9-on-7 drills, with three of D'Andre Swift's runs going for nice gains behind his blocking. The Bears are still trying to settle the left tackle spot, but Jones appears to be holding the edge. Rookie defensive tackle Jordan van den Berg also saw time with the starters, and Jamree Kromah filled in for Booker with the first unit.

Offense Shows Promise in Red Zone

Quarterback Caleb Williams had a mixed day but flashed his potential in the red zone. He connected with Rome Odunze for a touchdown from the defense's 14-yard line, and Swift added a 14-yard scoring run on the next play. Earlier, Williams found Odunze for a big gain on third down to move the offense from its own 1-yard line. However, he completed just one of six attempts in a 7-on-7 drill, with a drop by Swift. Despite the inconsistency, the first-team offense showed the playmaking ability that has Bears fans excited for the upcoming season.

Special Teams and Defensive Highlights

Kicker Cairo Santos drained a 59-yard field goal, a sign of his leg strength heading into the season. The defense closed practice with a long drive drill, and safety Xavier Woods intercepted Case Keenum to end the session. Defensive tackle Grady Jarrett provided some levity, yelling "Get up!" at Jordan van den Berg and Montez Sweat when both were on a knee during the drill. As the Bears look ahead to a light workout tomorrow and a joint practice with the Titans on Thursday, the focus will be on the health of Wright and Dexter Sr., with updates expected soon.