Chicago Bears: Rounding Up Latest Buzz from Training Camp

The Chicago Bears haven't had a hard time living up to the hype as training camp gets underway. 

Granted, one might argue there is only so much hype a three-win team can generate ahead of a scorching summer of practices and exhibitions and a season that doesn't appear to be offering much of a bump in the win column. 

But one could take the argument in the other direction—the Bears were one of the NFL's most active teams in free agency, overhauled several premium areas and have two new quarterbacks, one of whom is a top-two pick from the draft. 

The hype around the Bears right now speaks for itself and settles any such argument. Those quarterbacks are performing, new faces continue to make big plays and battles keep popping up left and right, hinting at the cut-down process being the toughest it has been on the coaching staff in years. 

With the action underway, let's step back and look at the most notable buzz coming from Bears camp.

Markus Wheaton Joins the Sidelined

Nam Huh/Associated Press

Wideout Markus Wheaton was one of the bigger points of emphasis this offseason for the Bears when it comes to new faces. 

The 26-year-old seemed like a bargain in free agency because of his ability to line up all over the field. He only showed up in three games last year and was a bit lost on the depth chart with the Pittsburgh Steelers, but he seemed like one of those players who could blow up relative to his price when given more of a chance with a team like the Bears. 

Now he's sidelined. 

According to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, Wheaton wound up needing an appendectomy this week. While it doesn't sound like a major ideal, this isn't the time for a player such as this to miss time.

Wheaton could fall behind and never realize his potential if he doesn't get back at it soon. Cameron Meredith isn't easing his grip on the depth chart's top spot. Kevin White is still around, while fellow new faces such as Kendall Wright and Victor Cruz will fight for playing time.

In short, any missed time is a big issue for a wideout right now. Wheaton watch has officially started.

Kevin White Struggles out of the Gates

Nam Huh/Associated Press

To say it's slow going with Kevin White so far would be a gross understatement. 

White, the seventh pick in the 2015 draft who has appeared in all of four games so far over the course of his career, hasn't made the headlines one would expect from a former top-10 pick running wild in shorts during the summer. 

In fact, he's doing quite the opposite. 

"He's not where I want him to be or where we need him to be," receivers coach Zach Azzanni said, per WGN Radio's Adam Hoge. "He's a work in progress. He's had a good three days. Good first day, OK second day, much better today."

We've known for a while White amounts to little more than a rookie when actually on the field right now thanks to injuries. We also know he's a superb cautionary tale about how important age is when teams make decisions during the draft, as he's already 25 years old and has those four games under his belt. 

It sounds like White continues to slowly get his confidence back, but a slow journey back isn't what fans want to hear from a guy with so much expectation placed on his shoulders. 

Tarik Cohen Seizes the Spotlight

Nam Y. Huh/Associated Press

It shouldn't come as much of a surprise to hear a guy nicknamed "The Human Joystick" continues to put on a show in shorts during camp. 

Said guy is fourth-round rookie Tarik Cohen, the 5'6" back who will remind many of Darren Sproles and other low-pad-level backs with shifty moves capable of leaving defenders grasping at air. 

Cohen has been a touchdown machine so far in camp, with his play even getting him praise from offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains, according to Hoge. 

Head coach John Fox, of course, provided the counterweight to the hype, as captured by Zach Zaidman of CBS 2 Chicago: "5'6" Tarik Cohen has drawn a lot of oohs and aahs from crowd for his acrobatic moves, but John Fox points out there's no live tackling yet."

Fair enough, but the expected performance means Cohen is well on his way to having a solid role in the offense as a rookie, where he'll take part in the screen game and likely act as the primary spell to starter Jordan Howard.

Dion Sims Makes the Right Impression

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If one had to pick the most underrated signing by Chicago this offseason, it would be an honor easily given to tight end Dion Sims. 

Sims was a bit of a project with the Miami Dolphins over the four seasons he spent there, a blocking-first tight end who the coaching staff helped develop as a weapon through the air, resulting in a career-high four receiving touchdowns last year. 

The Bears stole him for a reason, and as the Chicago Tribune's Rich Campbell pointed out, it looks like he's continuing this encouraging developmental track. 

"He's not as athletic as, say, Martellus Bennett, but there are some similarities," Campbell wrote. "Sims adjusts to balls in the air and can gain yards after the catch. He can be part of the Bears' screen game (as Bennett was), which will help the offensive establish some unpredictability with him in the game." 

Thanks to the arrival of rookie Adam Shaheen, Sims might spend more time as a blocker helping chip around up-and-down offensive tackles from a year ago.

But it's clear what Sims flashed a year ago wasn't a fluke, and he'll be ready if the huddle calls his number when it matters. 

Leonard Floyd Tackles His Biggest Issue

Nam Huh/Associated Press

Sometimes camp is all about the little things. 

This notion certainly applies to second-year edge presence Leonard Floyd, who put up seven sacks over 12 appearances a year ago, exceeding expectations and leaving fans wanting more, if not wondering what his ceiling really was after missing four games with injuries. 

And those injuries were a direct result of poor tackling form, which isn't exactly what one would expect from a top-10 selection. 

"I've been doing a real, real good job of working on keeping my head up," Floyd said, per Campbell. "I really have no worries at all about it. I've been watching myself on film, really studying the way I tackle. It's really second nature now."

Like his putting on more weight, it's nothing but a good thing to hear Floyd, 24, has ironed out the issues with his tackling form. It's a more common issue among young linebackers than most would think (look at say, some Vontaze Burfict tape), but the sooner it gets ironed out, the better. 

So while hype will point to Floyd's continued disruption of pockets this summer, it's worth watching to see if the newfound form continues.

Quarterbacks Continue to Impress

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Not that fans should've expected otherwise, but it has been nothing but positives when it comes to Bears quarterbacks so far. 

Granted, rookie Mitchell Trubisky had a few snap issues in the early goings, but the booming arm putting zip on passes and ability to get out of pockets with his feet has a way of overriding a few blips we knew would pop up right out of the gates. 

On the other side of the coin is veteran Mike Glennon, who hasn't had much in the way of negative things written about him so far. The quiet summer so far is both a good and a bad thing, though it's still a good sign after what the Bears suffered through under center a year ago.  

As such, the coaching staff has come heavy with the praise so far. 

Here's what quarterbacks coach Dave Ragone told Pro Football Weekly's Kevin Fishbain: 

"It's one of those things I think has carried over from the spring. The first four or five days of practice what these guys have shown is every day they're in the meetings early, they stay late when they have to and they get on the practice field locked-in. They're competing against themselves and each other."

Anything other than praise right now would rightfully sound some alarm bells. But this is a continuation of the "Glennon's team" theme from the spring.

The guys involved are competing, but the understanding remains the same as before, no matter how the ups and downs will seemingly alter the outlook in the coming weeks. 

All contract information courtesy of Spotrac unless otherwise specified. Stats courtesy of NFL.com. All advanced metrics courtesy of Pro Football Focus.