Do not miss the Chicago Bears versus Miami Dolphins in preseason Week 1. Key storylines include coaching debuts and player battles.
May 10, 2025; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson talks with offensive lineman (75) Ozzy Trapilo during rookie minicamp at Halas Hall.
Photo Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
After wrapping up their joint practice earlier this week, the Chicago Bears kick off their preseason schedule against the Miami Dolphins. While it was already announced that Caleb Williams will not play, there’s no shortage of storylines to track. From the debut of Ben Johnson as head coach to heated position battles and the first live-action look at a promising rookie class, here’s what Bears fans should keep their eyes on.
Ben Johnson’s First Game as Head Coach
This marks Ben Johnson’s first game running the show after making his name as an offensive coordinator with the Detroit Lions. We know Johnson as a creative play-designer, but how will that translate to game-day decision-making?
Fourth Down Aggressiveness: Will Johnson take a page from former boss Dan Campbell and keep the offense on the field in high-leverage spots?
Offensive Identity: Is this going to be a run-first team, or will Johnson lean on Caleb Williams’ arm when the regular season arrives? How much flexibility does Tyson Bagent seem to have at the line of scrimmage?
Playbook Creativity: Preseason isn’t typically the time for trick plays, but Johnson has never been afraid to stretch the playbook. Even a small sample could hint at his in-season philosophy.
Chicago Bears Left Tackle Braxton Jones
Position Battles Heating Up
Training camp has provided plenty of competition, and now we see how those battles look under the lights.
Running Back Rotation
With Roschon Johnson likely sidelined and D’Andre Swift held out, Saturday’s snap counts should be centralized around Kyle Monangai. However, I don’t think they would ask him to play the whole game. Who takes the first second-team reps? Which backs are brought in different situations—short yardage, red zone, two-minute drill? The Bears recently brought in Jamaal Williams for a workout. Johnson knows him well from Detroit. They also just signed Brittain Brown, formerly of the Las Vegas Raiders. Can Monangai take advantage of what should be a heavy workload and supplant Johnson?
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Left Tackle
Expect a rotation between Braxton Jones and rookie Ozzy Trapilo at left tackle throughout this game. Jones’ experience should give him a steadier performance, but significant snaps for Trapilo might indicate the staff is fast-tracking him to compete for the Week 1 job.
Cornerback
With Jaylon Johnson sidelined, Tyrique Stevenson, Terrell Smith, and Nahshon Wright should all get extended run. Keep an eye on rookie Zah Frazier, who has been quiet in camp but has a chance to make a statement here.
Rookie Spotlight
This will be the first real game environment for the Bears’ 2025 rookie class.
Colston Loveland (TE): How will Johnson deploy him in the passing game? Will he be used on seam routes, in-line blocking, or as a move tight end?
Luther Burden III (WR): Burden’s camp has been a mix of flashes and adjustments. Watch for his chemistry with backup quarterbacks and whether he’s featured on gadget plays.
Ruben Hyppolite (LB): Expect him to pop on special teams and bring high energy in defensive snaps. His speed and aggression could stand out quickly.
Dennis Allen’s Defense: A New Look
Gone is Matt Eberflus’ conservative, zone-heavy approach that rarely blitzed. In comes Dennis Allen, known for mixing coverages, sending extra rushers, and dictating tempo to opposing offenses. Allen’s philosophy was on display during the intense Friday joint practice with Miami, when the Bears’ defense harassed the Dolphins’ offense all day. This will be the first chance to see how Allen’s concepts translate against another team’s protection schemes under game conditions.
The preseason opener won’t define the Bears’ season, but it’s a critical first data point for coaches and fans alike. From Ben Johnson’s sideline demeanor to rookie playmaking and the tone set by Dennis Allen’s defense, Sunday’s game offers plenty to evaluate.
Wins and losses may not matter right now, but first impressions do, and the Bears have a lot of them to make.
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