Ryan Poles, Matt Eberflus discuss Chicago Bears training camp expectations, Roquan Smith & more

Training camp expectations

Beginning in the first practice Wednesday and continuing throughout training camp, it’s vital for Bears players to push each other at every position.

“We want to see guys compete,” Eberflus said. “We have a lot of spots on the roster that are in flux right now and we’re just trying to find the best combination of players.”

As part of the quest, the Bears will continue to experiment like they did during offseason practices.

“Offensive line moving guys from outside to inside, and if it’s defensive line, moving a guy around for pass rush purposes, inside or outside, we’re going to do that all across the roster,” Eberflus said. “Moving a corner from outside to inside, moving a receiver from outside to inside, we’re going to do all those different things to find out the best combination for the Chicago Bears going forward.”

Poles believes that fierce competition brings out the best in players.

“That is when you become a really good team is guys are pressing to be the absolute [best] version of themselves possible,” he said.

The Bears general manager also wants to see players show resiliency.

“In camp, every camp, every offseason and that goes into the season, there’s ups and downs,” Poles said. “A resilient team is absolutely important to be successful. And to see that stability, see guys go through those ups and downs, have short memories on bad days and come back and have good days, that is really a very important characteristic of any team, so I am looking forward to that.

“The other thing is when you have so many new faces, it’s units starting to gel together and play together, communicate together and be as one. If we can do that, we can be successful.”

Present and accounted for

Poles informed reporters that both defensive end Robert Quinn and linebacker Roquan Smith were at Halas Hall Tuesday.

Quinn, who set a Bears’ single-season record with 18.5 sacks in 2021, skipped the entire offseason program, including an unexcused absence at the club’s…