Chicago rolled to a 38-0 win over Buffalo in a dominant preseason showing. Caleb Williams sparked the offense with a seven-play, 92-yard drive that ended in a 36-yard TD to Olamide Zaccheaus, signaling comfort in Ben Johnson’s system. Tyson Bagent followed with three straight scoring drives across two quarters, flashing accuracy (13-of-22, 196 yards, 1 TD) and leadership. Ian Wheeler carved out a prominent role with 80 rushing yards on 19 carries and two scores, while Colston Loveland, Luther Burden III and Zaccheaus supplied reliable targets. The defense stifled Buffalo, forcing sacks and takeaways behind Chicago’s aggressive front.

Terell Smith exited Chicago’s preseason game with a left-leg injury, wiping out a key early-season depth piece. The Bears already wrestle with Jaylon Johnson’s lingering absence and Kyler Gordon’s hamstring, leaving the outside cornerback rotation thinner than anticipated. Smith had surged in camp, pushing for the second outside cornerback job against Tyrique Stevenson and Nahshon Wright. With Smith’s health uncertain, Stevenson and Wright could gain real opportunities to claim outside snaps, while Johnson’s Week 1 status looms large. Fantasy implications center on defensive back rotations and opportunistic streaming options if Smith misses time, especially once Johnson returns and Stevenson/Wright press for roles. Stay tuned to practice reports for confirmation on Week 1 corner assignments against the Vikings.

Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson returned to the field with a noticeable stride, buoying optimism for Week 1 after a leg injury kept him out through training camp and the preseason. A Sunday night session at Soldier Field showed Johnson moving with improved mobility, fueling hope that his presence could anchor a top secondary alongside Kyler Gordon, who is dealing with a hamstring issue and remains week-to-week.

The Bears’ defensive backfield looks poised to be among the league’s most talented if Johnson and Gordon are healthy. Johnson’s Pro Bowl pedigree and recent All-Pro recognition anchor a unit that has to prove itself early, especially in a season-opening bout vs Minnesota. His status could shift Chicago’s defensive ceiling and directly impact fantasy outlooks for Bears’ corners and the pass defense as a whole.

With Gordon also in the mix, Chicago fans and fantasy managers are watching how quickly Johnson can rejoin a revamped secondary that faces a demanding schedule. If Johnson plays Week 1, expect a tighter perimeter and more aggressive coverage, which could translate into fewer big plays for opposing receivers and more opportunities for Chicago to generate turnovers and pass deflections. Even if limited, Johnson’s presence alone changes the Bears’ defensive dynamic early in the season.

Chicago Bears Day 17 at Halas Hall showcased Caleb Williams taking charge of the offense in shells, threading passes and leading a disciplined two-minute drill. His command and decisiveness signal growth as the team installs a new system under Ben Johnson, a baseline for early fantasy upside in a fast-paced attack.

Rome Odunze blossomed as Williams’ top connection, combining with the former 2024 first-round pick on a 20-yard middle route and a follow-up completion that nudged the team toward a potential field-goal moment. The duo’s growing chemistry could mean steady target volume this season, pushing Odunze into a reliable fantasy floor behind Moore.

On defense, Josh Blackwell earned more starting reps with Kyler Gordon nursing a hamstring, flashing playmaking value that’s hard to ignore in deep leagues. Darnell Wright’s non-padded highlight underlined Chicago’s improving line play, while Loveland, Burden III and Trapilo offered early depth-chart intrigue as roster battles heat up around the starters.

rostering depth pieces like Doug Kramer, Dominique Robinson and Jonathan Owens also drew attention and could influence late-round fantasy stashes or taxi-squad upside as the Bears refine personnel for 2025.

Lions rookie tight end Sam LaPorta will miss a little time with an undisclosed injury, potentially nudging Detroit’s early-week plans toward more depth at the position and forcing a short-term shift in targets behind him. Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel is on track to start Cleveland’s Week 2 preseason game, signaling a clear path for a rookie QB battle to begin taking shape. Tampa Bay's Chris Godwin is a strong candidate to begin the year on the PUP list after ankle issues, which could suppress early-season receiving volume. Bears corners Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon are nursing hamstring issues, a situation that could push opposing WRs into more favorable fantasy matchups early in the season. Meanwhile, Dillon Gabriel was listed as full go in Thursday practice, a boon for Browns’ offense, with Shedeur Sanders sidelined and Gabriel set to take the majority of practice reps ahead of Week 1 excitement.