Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears want more after surprising playoff run last season

Sport

Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears want more after surprising playoff run last season

2026-09-03 00:31 Last Updated At：00:40

CHICAGO BEARS (12-7)

Ben Johnson established high standards for Chicago shortly after he was hired as coach in January 2025. Coming off the organization's first NFC North title since 2018, he is looking for even more in his second season with the Bears. One of the biggest reasons for optimism is Johnson's relationship with Caleb Williams going into the quarterback's third year in the NFL. With Johnson calling the plays, Williams passed for 3,942 yards and 27 touchdowns last season. Led by the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 draft, Chicago posted an NFL-record seven wins when trailing in last two minutes of regulation, including a thriller against Green Bay in the wild-card round. It's hard to imagine the Bears duplicating that late-game success this time around, especially against a first-place schedule. But they might not be in that position as much, either, not with Williams' increased familiarity with Johnson's offense and his array of potential playmakers. Rome Odunze and Luther Burden are back at wide receiver, and Colston Loveland and Cole Kmet form one of the NFL's best tandems at tight end.

S Coby Bryant, OL Garrett Bradbury, LB Devin Bush, WR Kalif Raymond, DB Cam Lewis, DL Kentavius Street, DL Neville Gallimore, S Dillon Thieneman, C Logan Jones, TE Sam Roush, WR Zavion Thomas, CB Malik Muhammad, LB Keyshaun Elliott, DT Jordan van den Berg.

C Drew Dalman, S Kevin Byard, WR DJ Moore, S Jaquan Brisker, LB Tremaine Edmunds, DB Nahshon Wright, WR Devin Duvernay, WR Olamide Zaccheaus, S Jonathan Owens, TE Durham Smythe.

Look for Johnson to make the most of Chicago's impressive group of tight ends. The 6-foot-6 Loveland got off to a slow start in his rookie year after he was the No. 10 overall selection in the draft. But he was terrific at the end of the season, finishing with 58 catches for 713 yards and six touchdowns. The 27-year-old Kmet is going into his seventh year in the NFL. He combined with Williams on one of Chicago's most memorable plays last season, hauling in a dramatic 14-yard TD reception in a 20-17 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the divisional round of the playoffs. Roush joins the mix after he was taken by the Bears in the third round of this year's draft out of Stanford.

The secondary and defensive line are major concerns. Bryant, who signed a $40 million, three-year contract with Chicago in free agency, could miss the entire season after he hurt his left knee during training camp. Cornerback Kyler Gordon is out with a calf issue after he was hampered by groin and hamstring injuries last season. Thieneman steps in at strong safety after he was the No. 25 pick in the draft, but he is likely headed for some growing pains as a rookie. The Bears had trouble rushing the passer last year, finishing with 35 sacks, and they made no major additions to their defensive line in the offseason. Shemar Turner, a second-round pick in the 2025 draft, could provide a lift at some point with a successful comeback from a torn ACL.

The Bears liked van den Berg when they drafted the 310-pound defensive tackle in the sixth round in April, and they like him even more now. Van den Berg, 24, showed off a promising mix of power and athleticism during training camp. “He’s a beast," Johnson said. “This guy, he’s an incredible athlete, and he’s still learning the game of football to a degree, and yet it’s amazing what he brings to the table. He’s been the same guy every single day, smile on his face. He loves football. He loves the process.”

D’Andre Swift rushed for a career-high 1,087 yards and nine touchdowns last season. He also caught 34 passes for 299 yards and a TD. The 27-year-old Swift looked good in training camp while Kyle Monangai was sidelined by a leg injury. Swift is the lead back, but he likely takes on a more significant role if Monangai is slowed at the start of the season. Barring an extension, Swift also is going into the final year of his contract with Chicago.

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

After more than 9 months at sea, the USS Abraham Lincoln arrives in Thailand

LAEM CHABANG, Thailand (AP) — The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier docked at a port in eastern Thailand on Wednesday after its grueling deployment in the Middle East that kept the ship at sea for more than 250 days.

Associated Press journalists watched the Lincoln, which is carrying about 5,000 service members, as it made its way into the Laem Chabang port in Chonburi province shortly after the destroyer USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. sailed past the area.

The Lincoln has been supporting the U.S. war against Iran. Its deployment included a record-setting uninterrupted time at sea. Concerns have grown about the Lincoln’s lengthy deployment following reports of deteriorating mental health among the crew and shortages of supplies including food and hygiene products.

Crew members were not immediately accessible to media, but the ship itself looked due for at least a new paint job, with large blotches of what appeared to be rust on the hull, especially just above the waterline and at the edge of the flight desk, where fighter aircraft and helicopters were parked.

When asked about the aircraft carrier’s appearance, Capt. Dan Keeler, the Lincoln’s commanding officer, replied that “it is normal for a long deployment and we’re not going to make further comments.”

Asked for his thoughts about U.S. President Donald Trump’s comment that the Lincoln’s record-setting deployment was “not nearly long enough,” he was similarly terse.

“So, the president speaks for himself,” he said. “That is what I think about that.”

A U.S. Embassy statement said the Lincoln's strike group arrived in Laem Chabang, while the Petersen Jr. docked at the nearby port of Sriracha, and the guided-missile cruiser USS Robert Smalls is in Map Ta Phut in neighboring Rayong province.

The visit marked the Lincoln’s first full port stop after 286 days, or more than nine months, at sea from the start of the deployment in 2025, the statement said.

“Abraham Lincoln’s visit to Laem Chabang is a clear demonstration of our enduring commitment to our allies and partners in Thailand, and we are all very excited to make Thailand the first port visit on our historic deployment,” Keeler said earlier in a prepared statement.

The usually Asia-based USS George Washington relieved the long-deployed Lincoln in the Middle East in August.

Many of the service members are expected to make a visit to Pattaya, a popular beach town nearby. Thai officials have said the Lincoln’s stop would be for rest and recovery before returning to its U.S. base.

Pattaya officials said they welcomed the visit and the potential boost to the local economy. Authorities said they are stepping up security to ensure a smooth visit.

Shakeira Fairfax traveled to Thailand to meet her daughter Jada, a crew member on the Lincoln.

“I’m excited. I’m so full of emotion. I can’t wait to hold her. I can’t wait to snuggle up next to her,” said the mom, who hails from Paterson, New Jersey. She spoke to The Associated Press outside a hotel in Pattaya where crew members are set to spend their leaves.

Shakeira said her daughter, an entry-level seaman, finished basic training in October and shipped out for the Lincoln's deployment in mid-November, later celebrating her 25th birthday on board.

Shakeira said she worried most just after the U.S. launched its initial attack on Iran at the end of February and she was unable to connect with Jada for awhile.

“It was an uncertain time. It was a scary time. It was difficult — definitely difficult. But she has a support system. Her friends reached out to me. In fact, one of her good childhood friends is here as well. It was a time for us to stick together and trust and believe that she would be OK.”

She also recalled how her daughter sought her support when morale aboard the ship was reportedly low.

“I asked, “What can I do? What can I do?” She said, “Just tell me old stories.” Being able to share stories, laugh and look at photographs — to take that walk down memory lane — was really nice. It was really nice.”