BOURBONNAIS, Ill. — Bears rookies reported to training camp on July 16, with one notable exception. Twenty-three days and 13 practices later, Roquan Smith still isn’t here, and on Thursday he’ll miss the first preseason game in which he likely would’ve played.
For all the positivity permeating Matt Nagy’s first training camp with the Bears, the absence of the team’s eighth overall pick (and only significant offseason addition to Vic Fangio’s defense) is a bit of a reality check. Nagy — who again on Tuesday said there is “no news” on Smith’s holdout — and his coaches have to remain focused on the players who are actually present in Bourbonnais.