Matt Nagy and Ryan Pace have made it clear from the moment they stood before the media this past week. Competition is going to be the focus of the Chicago Bears 2021 training camp. It doesn’t matter what position it is. They want everybody to feel like they need to battle for their job. This gives the team the best possible chance to build a strong roster going into a critical season.
Nowhere is that clearer than at wide receiver. The only thing people know at this point is that Allen Robinson is the #1 guy and Darnell Mooney is his primary wingman. Beyond that? It’s little more than guesswork as to how the position will shake out. Newcomers like Marquise Goodwin and Damiere Byrd are considered favorites to land spots thanks to their obvious speed advantages. After them, it seems like Javon Wims and Riley Ridley are the most talked-about regarding the final spot.
Could that be changing?
While Ridley has had some drop issues early in camp and Wims remains on thin ice thanks to his struggles last season, another name is quietly stating his case for attention in practice. That is Thomas Ives. Casual fans probably won’t remember him. He was an undrafted free agent out of Colgate in 2019. Despite limited production in college, his mixture of a 6’4 frame and surprising quickness was enough to earn him a contract. Since then he’s spent the past two years on the practice squad.
However, it’s fair to wonder if he might’ve cracked the roster in 2020 had the NFL not canceled the preseason. As a rookie, he had nine catches for 148 yards in August. That lead all Bears receivers. He never had a chance to show any progress last year. Now it seems he’s trying to make up for that missed opportunity. A few practices into 2021 and the 24-year old has been difficult to ignore.
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Thomas Ives with a nice one-handed grab in stride during WR drills. Got some nice compliments from his teammates. #Bears
— Zack Pearson (@Zack_Pearson) July 30, 2021
Justin Fields delivered an absolute dart to Thomas Ives over the middle on 7 on 7. Good strong and accurate throw. #Bears
— Zack Pearson (@Zack_Pearson) July 30, 2021
Justin Fields had two sweet throws in 7-on-7, one a fastball on an intermediate route over the middle to Thomas Ives and later a perfectly placed shot up the seam to Javon Wims. High level QB throws.
— Dan Wiederer (@danwiederer) July 30, 2021
Chicago Bears must keep an open mind with Ives
Having size and good hands are two important things in the NFL for a wide receiver. The big question is whether Ives has enough route running skill to get himself open. Thus far it sounds like he’s been doing just that against the #2 defense in practice. The next step is doing it in pads. Something that will begin this weekend. Then comes the preseason starting on August 14th. The Hinsdale-native has a major opportunity ahead of him.
A major key for him will be showing whether he has any versatility to offer. Can he contribute on special teams? Could he use that big frame to help in the running game? These are two advantages that have allowed Wims to maintain an iron grip on a roster spot despite his minuscule production. Ives must either show something similar or truly deliver an offensive performance that would make cutting him impossible.
This is where he may have one vital advantage.
Justin Fields throwing him the ball. The Chicago Bears’ 11th overall pick is the #2 quarterback going into training camp. That means he will likely run with that unit in the preseason too. A unit Ives is a part of. Having a chance to forge a connection with Fields gives Ives a premium opportunity to get noticed. So far, so good.
