Bears training camp practice update: Montez Sweat comes off NFI, Braxton Jones works with the starters as Caleb Williams’ workload changes

The Chicago Bears returned to Halas Hall for another training camp practice on Wednesday, and the session produced a few items that stood out for players competing for key roles. Coverage from the team’s day on the field pointed to a sequence of practice-day developments rather than any formal announcement, including a change involving defensive end Montez Sweat and another involving offensive lineman Braxton Jones.

Sweat’s status was described in connection with the Bears’ non-football illness (NFI) list. In NFL usage, NFI designations generally track a player’s availability when the issue is not tied to football activities. Wednesday’s camp notes indicated Sweat was no longer on that NFI label heading into practice work, a practical update for a pass-rushing unit still sorting out its day-to-day rotation.

At the same time, Jones was reported to have worked with the starting group during the practice window. For an offensive line, early and consistent first-team reps carry weight in camp because they affect timing, protection calls, and how quickly the unit can form cohesive movement during shells and situational periods.

At quarterback, the reports coming out of the session suggested a different picture of how Caleb Williams was used across practice segments. Instead of treating the session as a simple full workload day for every position group, the camp coverage framed it as “shrinking” his workload compared with typical full-team activity. In training-camp terms, workload changes can reflect reps management, pacing through install, or adjustments to how the staff wants a quarterback to practice within the broader weekly plan.

Beyond those headline items, the practice itself was described as a crisp, roughly 75-minute session that featured multiple briefings. The workout was not characterized as open to the public, which can limit direct observation, but it still generated information through the Bears’ media availability process and post-practice reporting circulated by beat accounts afterward.

For Bears fans, the immediate takeaway is less about a single practice moment and more about momentum. When a veteran edge defender comes off an NFI designation, and when an offensive lineman is seen working with the starters, those are the kinds of shifts that can influence how the staff approaches the next set of practices. The evolving camp usage of Williams, meanwhile, will be worth tracking as Chicago continues to balance reps, timing, and decision-making periods that shape the quarterback’s comfort with the offense.