LAKE FOREST, Ill — The Chicago Bears completed their first set of organized team activities last week, pushing for growth and development to create momentum before the team takes its summer break in less than two weeks.Coach Ben Johnson can sense his group jelling in terms of understanding expectations and how the coaching staff expects players to attack their business.“(It’s) what we want our body language to be like,” Johnson said, “what we want our finish to be like, the communication, our daily habits, the discipline, the consistency with which we want to approach each and every day.”Coming off a successful 2025 season, Johnson is encouraged by the foundation that seems to be in place. Thursday’s practice at Halas Hall was open to reporters, offering an opportunity to put the magnifying glass over a handful of key topics.Player in the spotlight: Caleb WilliamsPredictably, the Bears quarterback had several impressive completions Thursday that showcased his arm talent and overall athleticism, including two seven-on-seven completions down the sideline to receiver Zavion Thomas and running back D’Andre Swift, respectively.However, arguably Williams’ best ball was an extended-play bomb to receiver Rome Odunze during a full-team period. The quarterback launched as he scrambled right and hit Odunze in stride for a huge gain. Fellow receiver Luther Burden III sensed Williams had a big play coming before he even released the football. “Already knew it was money,” Burden said with a smile.With Williams’ natural gifts in extending plays, the Bears have prioritized their efforts to improve their scramble drill production in 2026.“The coaches are harping on it,” Burden said. “It was great to see it happen in practice. So, let’s continue to do that.”File that pass to Odunze away as the latest evidence of Williams’ talents in creating as a playmaker, a skill that must continue to show up as his development grows. Johnson and the offensive coaches also want to enhance Williams’ efficiency, hoping he can become more consistent with some of the more methodical nuances of the position.Among the Bears’ biggest goals: boosting Williams’ completion percentage and keeping his ball security strong.Said Johnson: “I think you get what you emphasize. That’s what I’ve learned in this industry.”The Bears are also emphasizing ball placement with all of their quarterbacks, striving for pinpoint precision on throws as often as possible.“Our first objective is just drawing more attention to it,” Johnson said. “Those guys are really critical of themselves in drill settings (and during) routes on air with where the ball placement is. We want to give these pass catchers — we have so many talented ones — opportunities to run after the catch. So we’re being very critical with them on where we’re putting that football. And that’s something we’ll grade every day.”Pressing questionWhat’s next for starting cornerbacks Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon?On the plus side, both were in attendance at Thursday’s practice, looking to again become top-tier defenders for the Bears in 2026. Johnson and Gordon combined to miss 24 games last season because of injuries, leaving Ben Johnson, at season’s end, still uncertain as to what exactly he was working with.“It’s almost like we’re starting over completely this spring, in terms of relationship building and starting off on the right track so that we can have them out on the field,” the Bears coach said at the NFL owners’ meetings in Phoenix in March.The coach has made it very clear that he wants to fill his roster with players who are obsessed with football and fully invested in the group’s pursuit of a championship. That makes Jaylon Johnson’s attendance record for OTAs notable after the veteran defensive back, as he has done throughout his career, missed big chunks of the earlier stages of the offseason program.“Everyone has different ways they want to go about their business,” Ben Johnson said Thursday. “But I appreciate him being here now with his teammates and getting to know them. We have a lot of new faces in the building, so you can’t overstate the importance of that.”Gordon, meanwhile, was sidelined early last season with a hamstring issue, then had two stints on injured reserve — Weeks 8-12 with calf and groin injuries and Weeks 15-18 after aggravating his groin. He returned in the playoffs and made a strong impression in the team’s final game against the Rams, a 20-17 overtime loss in which he contributed seven tackles, a sack and a quarterback hit.Said Bears nickelbacks coach Cannon Matthews: “You truly saw the potential of what he can do in this system and the type of player he can be when healthy. So that was really good to see. We wish the season didn’t end that day. Would have liked to have seen that the next week (too). But it was encouraging, going into the offseason, understanding his true potential in this defense.”Bears running back D’Andre Swift scores one of his team-leading 10 touchdowns in 2025. What can he do for an encore? (Michael Reaves / Getty Images)Keep an eye on …Coming off a season in which he totaled 1,386 yards from scrimmage with a team-best 10 touchdowns, Swift is certain he left more production on the table.“Just little stuff,” Swift said. “Detailed stuff as far as (my) tracks, aiming points and just being consistent with those types of things.”Swift’s improvement in those areas was noticeable last season and has continued this spring, this time under new running backs coach Eric Studesville, who was hired in February to replace Eric Bieniemy.Swift also feels confident that the 1-2 punch of him and Kyle Monangai can again establish the Bears as one of the most dangerous running teams in the NFL.“There’s no drop-off at all,” Swift said. “He’s able to do everything, I’m able to do everything. It’s tough on defenses when I make something happen, then his number gets called and he makes something happen. Like, what you gonna do, you know what I mean? Especially with the O-line we have and how those guys are coached and the way Ben’s system is, it’s a lot for a defense to account for four quarters.”Quote of note“I’m buying Luther Burden stock right now.”That’s from the mouth of the Bears head coach and offensive play caller, who is optimistic about Burden’s current growth chart.After an impressive close to his rookie season in which Burden totaled 34 catches, 481 yards and one touchdown over the final eight regular-season games, the second-year playmaker has come back this spring with noticeable hunger, plus a sharper attention to detail.Johnson is not one to throw insincere flattery around, so his emphatic endorsement of Burden on Thursday and his praise for the way the young receiver is expanding his route tree and finishing reps felt significant.Notes and nuggets• The date and time of the Bears’ second preseason game have been set — an Aug. 22 affair at Cincinnati with kickoff at 6 p.m. Chicago time. Plans continue to take shape for the Bears and Bengals to potentially hold a crossover practice ahead of that game, a session that would likely take place Aug. 20 in Ohio.• The Bears may also work to puzzle together another joint practice with another opponent. The dates and times of the team’s preseason opener (home versus Cleveland) and finale (at Tennessee) remain in TBD status.• Defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, who turned 33 in April and is entering his 12th NFL season, offered his perspective on why his attendance at voluntary OTAs remains important to him. “One,” Jarrett said, “it’s just enjoying what you do for work. I enjoy working out. I enjoy football. Not really much else I want to be doing right now. I like being here. I like being around the game. And really trying to find the things in my game to where I can continue to be better and to spend this time with each other as a team, I think, is critical.“Our season is made in the offseason. I truly believe that.”