After eight long months, the Bears return to game action Thursday night when they open the preseason by hosting the Denver Broncos at Soldier Field. Here are four storylines to watch:
(1) The debut of an improved front seven on defense.
General manager Ryan Pace's top priority during the offseason was bolstering the defensive line and linebacking corps, and he did just that by signing inside linebackers Danny Trevathan and Jerrell Freeman and end Akiem Hicks in free agency and selecting outside linebacker Leonard Floyd and end Jonathan Bullard in the first and third rounds of the draft, respectively.