Minnesota Vikings training camp has been home to plenty of news and position battles. All eyes have, of course, been on quarterback J.J. McCarthy as he heads into his first full year starting. But, the vibes have mostly been good on that front.
Across the division, another NFC North team is busy having themselves an ... interesting ... training camp thus far. Amid Caleb Williams having some early struggles learning Ben Johnson's offense, the Chicago Bears also just came off of what many reporters have called the "toughest" and "most physical" practice they have ever seen.
Bears beat writers talked about more live tackling in this practice than any other they have witnessed and this wasn't just one account. This was quite a few reporters sharing the exact same sentiment, and a good amount of them have covered the team for years. That's notable.
Should the Minnesota Vikings be concerned about the Chicago Bears?
We have long heard much of the offseason hype which the Bears have received over the years, and it's been mostly laughable for Vikings fans. Every year, it seems Bears fans have been clamoring over the idea that they "won the offseason."
We know how this story has typically ended, and it hasn't been favorable to the Bears. But, if Johnson is actually changing the culture in Chicago, then maybe it's time to start paying more attention and taking them more seriously.
The Bears did draft the no. 1 quarterback prospect last year in Williams. They have, on paper, three exciting and talented wide receivers while also drafting a tight end in the first round this year. The Bears finally adjusted things up front, too, as they added a good amount of talent on the offensive line.
Usually, these types of conversations equate to nothing more than offseason hype. Matt Eberflus wasn't exactly a threat as a head coach, and neither was Matt Nagy for that matter.
But, the Vikings know Johnson well. After all, Jared Goff is a career-7-3 against the Vikings and that includes winning his last five in a row, all under Johnson's direction. To say Johnson has the Vikings' number, right now, wouldn't be a stretch.
So, if the Bears are finally experiencing an uptick in coaching and have a decent amount of talent in place, they might just end up being a team to watch.
But, I'd still put my money on the current Vikings under Kevin O'Connell and Brian Flores -- for now.