Ben Johnson raises concerns for Bears after a winless beginning to the season

Challenges at Halas Hall

The atmosphere at Halas Hall is heating up.

In his first season as coach, Ben Johnson had some strong words for his team after they lost two straight games, including a frustrating one against his old team, the Lions. He pointed out that their practice habits weren’t at a “championship caliber” level.

“I don’t believe our practice habits reflect the team we need to be,” Johnson mentioned, according to reports.

Johnson, who previously served as the offensive coordinator for the Lions, didn’t dwell on the positives after being pressed for more details.

“We need to focus on finishing strong,” he stated. “Our offensive players must come through on the fundamentals, finishes, techniques, walkthroughs—showing up in practices matters come game day.”

There’s a lot riding on Johnson’s shoulders, especially given the expectations after three tough seasons under the previous coach, Matt Evals, who was let go midway through last season.

With quarterback Caleb Williams, the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Johnson had a solid start against the Vikings. But things soured quickly. Near the end of the game, Williams missed a crucial connection with star receiver DJ Moore, which could have led to a touchdown.

Johnson faced criticism for a controversial decision in the fourth quarter. A kick by Cairo Santos was meant to run out the clock but inadvertently gave the Vikings more time.

After the week one setback, the Bears had to shift their focus to an upcoming game against the Lions, who opened their season as NFC North champions with a commanding victory over the Packers.

The team stands at 0-2 to start the season.

Injury concerns have also emerged; star cornerback Jaylon Johnson is facing an indefinite absence due to a groin issue.

There have been rumblings as well. Safety Jaquan Brisker openly expressed frustration regarding his role under the current defensive scheme, indicating he wants to be more involved. He recently retweeted a message highlighting the need for him to contribute more on the field.