Chicago Bears have two key starters nursing injuries during the first day of training camp

The Chicago Bears held the first training camp practice of the 2024 season on Saturday, but two key starters were limited.

Starting left tackle, Braxton Jones, and starting linebacker, T.J. Edwards, did not participate in practice. Bears head coach Matt Eberflus updated both players' status when he spoke with reporters.

"We have a couple guys that'll be limited to start [training camp]," said Eberflus. "It'll be TJ Edwards [and] it'll be Braxton [Jones] and that's also from the summer training. We'll see where that goes. It's nothing major. I saw them out there, walking through, they're moving around, so they're close. We don't know how long it's going to be. The training staff will decide that."

Those two open camp nursing injuries, along with tight end Gerald Everett and rookie Kiran Amegadije, both of whom are on the NFI list . Everett is considered day-today. He was signed during the offseason and is expected to play a sizable role alongside starter Cole Kmet and veteran Marcedes Lewis.

When healthy, Jones has been the starting left tackle since his first game in the NFL. He's not going to blow anyone way when it comes to his on-field tape, but at the same time, he's dependable and has certainly overachieved as a former fifth-round pick. 2024 is a crucial year, in terms of his development.

Edwards has also made an impact since the moment he arrived in Chicago, as was expected when he signed a three-year, $19.5 million contract with the Bears during the 2023 offseason. All he did was go on to lead the team in total tackles (155), solo tackles (91), and fumble recoveries (2), while also tying for the second-most interceptions (3), fourth-most pass deflections (7), and third-most tackles for loss (8).

The No. 1 priority of training camp is stay healthy, so any negative injury news regarding key players is not something you want to hear on Day 1. However, it sounds like this isn't anything to worry about, whatsoever. Both players, as mentioned, have logged plenty of reps for the Bears, so they don't need to be rushed back, either.

Still, it's certainly something to monitor as camp progresses through the coming weeks and months.