Bears and Bills hold second joint practice ahead of Sunday night game

Joint practice recap for Chicago Bears and Buffalo Bills ahead of the preseason game.

Bears and Bills hold second joint practice ahead of Sunday night game

The second Bears Bills joint practice took place Friday as teams prepare for the Sunday night preseason game. Caleb Williams and the starters returned to the field, and the session served as a focused test of depth and readiness with only a few weeks left before the regular season. Bears coach Ben Johnson spoke ahead of practice about needing clarity in the left tackle battle, noting Theo Benedet is in the mix in a three-man rotation. On the field, the left tackle spots showed inconsistency at times, underscoring how unsettled the position remains.

Shermar Stewart made his return to practice for the Bears, practicing for the first time since an ankle injury early in camp. Case Keenum was not present and is listed as day-to-day with a leg injury, leaving the backup quarterback depth in flux as the team inches toward the opener.

The practice captured a larger truth about August football: precision in the roster is built in the trenches. The left tackle competition is a microcosm for how the Bears plan to protect a young quarterback and evaluate depth across the line. The presence of Caleb Williams in the August camp adds buzz but also pressure to produce momentum without overvaluing one session. Injuries like Keenum's remind teams that the margin for error is slim and depth matters more than spotlight. In this environment, the talk around positions can outpace what actually translates to Sunday.

Highlights

More days of August will sharpen the edge before the real games begin