Take The North

Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote took the podcast on the road to Gurnee Hyundai for a live episode on 104.3 The Score in Chicago! The guys recapped the Bears' preseason loss to the Bengals, took a look at what's up next for the team and had a visit from Chicago running back D'Andre Swift and quarterback Tyson Bagent!

Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote get an update from Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic on some of the injured Bears players who were and weren't in Cincinnati. Nickel cornerback Kyler Gordon was spotted on the sidelines, but he still isn't practicing.

Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote get a report from Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic about how the Bears offense fared during a joint practice with the Bengals in Cincinnati.

Dan Wiederer, Mark Grote and guest Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic discuss what we heard from Bears linebacker T.J. Edwards, who's trying to avoid another season filled with injuries.

It was a bit of an up-and-down day for the Bears as they held a joint practice with the Bengals in Cincinnati. Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote bring in Athletic writer Kevin Fishbain, who was in Cincinnati to witness the practice in person. What was the good and what was the bad for quarterback Caleb Williams and the offense? Can we expect the Bears to play their starters when they face the Bengals in their preseason game Saturday?

Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote update the latest we have figured out about what's happening with Bears nickel cornerback Kyler Gordon.

Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote welcome in Mak Nong, the captain of the GLASA (Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association) Chicago Bears! Nong tells us all about the league and previews the upcoming USA Wheelchair Football League tournament in Rosemont.

Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote discuss the latest developments when it comes to the Bears' left tackle competition. Is Braxton Jones still the frontrunner? Will Ozzy Trapilo factor in at all?

Bears training camp is rolling on, and it still seems like we're constantly updating the status of key injured players. Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote sift through the latest in this one. Running back Kyle Monangai is "week-to-week," according to head coach Ben Johnson, with a knee injury. But on the bright side, left tackle Braxton Jones is back on the practice field. What's the status of the left tackle competition? Also in this episode, we welcome Mak Nong, who's the captain of the GLASA (Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association) Chicago Bears wheelchair football team! Nong discusses the upcoming USA Wheelchair Football League tournament in Rosemont.

Mark Grote explains for Dan Wiederer the exchange he had with Bears nickel cornerback Kyler Gordon in the team's locker room after the preseason opener Saturday. Did Gordon offer any insight as to why he still isn't playing?

Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote discuss Bears left tackle Ozzy Trapilo getting back on the practice field way sooner than any of us expected. Will he be healthy enough to vie for the starting job anytime soon?

Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote discuss Bears backup quarterback Tyson Bagent's performance in the preseason opener Saturday. Bagent clearly wanted to play a little better than he did.

The Bears got positive injury news the day after their first preseason game. Left tackle Ozzy Trapilo was activated off the physically-unable-to-perform list! Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote knew the conversation about Trapilo had been hinting at an earlier return than expected from his knee injury, but will he be able to contribute to the team by the start of the regular season? Also in this episode, the guys check in on the status of the left tackle competition after the team's first preseason game. And what else did we learn from the Bears' blowout win over the Browns in their preseason opener?

Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote react to the latest "news" about the Bears stadium project, which feels stuck where it's been for quite awhile.

Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote preview the Bears' first preseason game, which will be against the Browns at home. Quarterback Caleb Williams and most Bears starters will sit out the game, head coach Ben Johnson said.

Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote hear from Bears president Kevin Warren and chairman George McCaskey regarding the latest on the team's stadium project.

Bears team president Kevin Warren and chairman George McCaskey have provided an update on the stadium project ... and there really isn't much new. Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote sift through what we learned Thursday — or didn't learn. There really doesn't seem to be much progress made at all, despite the team's claims that it's "solely focused" on getting a site ready in Hammond, Indiana. How much longer will this mess drag out? Meanwhile, head coach Ben Johnson told us that quarterback Caleb Williams and most of the other starters won't play against the Browns on Saturday in the Bears' preseason opener. So what will we be looking for during the game?

Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote discuss the latest update on Bears offensive tackle Ozzy Trapilo's knee injury. General manager Ryan Poles suggested it's possible he'll return to practice by the end of training camp. Does this change how we view the left tackle competition?

Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote share their observations from the latest Bears training camp practice at Halas Hall.

Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote react to the news that Bears safety Coby Bryant is going to miss most of the season after getting knee surgery. Why was the original timeline that was reported for his injury so wrong?

Bears head coach Ben Johnson had a bombshell for us Tuesday, revealing that safety Coby Bryant is going to miss four to six months after having knee surgery. That's much different than the previously reported timeline that he'd be out eight to 10 weeks. Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote react to the news. When did the Bears know this was the actual timeline? And why didn't they get the news out sooner? In other injury news, it sounds like tackle Ozzy Trapilo could return sooner from his knee injury than thought. But exactly how soon is yet to be seen. And receiver Luther Burden is going to miss the preseason but is expected to be back for Week 1 of the regular season. Also in this episode, the guys share their latest observations from practice at Halas Hall.

The culture the Bears have built under head coach Ben Johnson continues to be more and more evident. New defensive tackle Neville Gallimore raved about the standard the Bears have and how it's different from other teams he has been on. Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote discuss what this type of talk means for an up-and-coming team. Also in this episode, how is defensive coordinator Dennis Allen handling the injuries the Bears secondary has had? And defensive tackle Gervon Dexter believes he's made improvements as he enters an important contract season.

Our own Dan Wiederer joined Alex Kuhn and our producer Adam Studzinski on 104.3 The Score in Chicago to update the latest news out of Bears training camp. What are the latest injuries the Bears are dealing with in camp?

Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote discuss the latest news out of Bears training camp. Left tackle Braxton Jones and defensive end Montez Sweat each left practice with some sort of injury. How severe are these injuries?

Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote discuss Bears quarterback Caleb Williams' ranking on The Athletic's annual quarterback tiers list with Mike Sando of The Athletic.

Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote look into the rankings of the rest of the NFC North quarterbacks on The Athletic's quarterback tiers list with Mike Sando of The Athletic.

The Athletic has released its annual NFL quarterback tiers list! Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote bring in the man behind the list, The Athletic's Mike Sando, to help break things down. Bears quarterback Caleb Williams jumped into Tier 2 this year. What does he need to do in order to make it into Tier 1? And what's the reasoning for the rankings of the other QBs in the NFC North? Plus, Grote and Wiederer also bring you some of the latest from Bears training camp.

Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote take a look at where Bears quarterback Caleb Williams ranked on The Athletic's annual quarterback tiers list.

Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote examine who has been on the field while the Bears work without safety Coby Bryant.

Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote discuss the importance of the massive contract extension the Bears have agreed to with right tackle Darnell Wright.

Right tackle Darnell Wright and the Bears have inked a four-year, $116-million contract extension! Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote aren't shocked by the news, but that doesn't mean it isn't a huge deal for a lot of people — including general manager Ryan Poles, who took Wright at 10th overall in the 2023 NFL Draft. Also in this episode, the guys bring the latest news and notes from training camp. How is the defense adjusting without safety Coby Bryant? And we have the annual quarterback tiers list from The Athletic!

While sharing their early observations from training camp, Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote note the noticeable impact that tight end Colston Loveland and receiver Luther Burden are having on the field.

Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote discuss the impact of Bears safety Coby Bryant's injury, which will keep him sidelined for eight to 10 weeks.

Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote react to Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson explaining that he views the upcoming season as a "contract year" for himself. Is that a fair attitude to have?

The Bears are going to be without safety Coby Bryant, a key free-agent addition, for roughly two months after he suffered a leg injury during practice Monday. Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote discuss the news to begin this episode. How will the Bears fill Bryant's spot while he's away? Meanwhile, cornerback Jaylon Johnson spoke to the media for the first time at training camp. He views 2026 as a "contract year." Will he be able to regain his form after an injury-riddled 2025 season? The guys also bring their latest news and notes from training camp.

Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote continue to hear ways Bears head coach Ben Johnson's staff and players believe he gives them an edge.

Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote hear Bears receiver Rome Odunze explain what he meant earlier in the offseason when he said he has a "new normal" after last year's foot injury.

Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote discuss how the Bears offense has looked to begin training camp.

The Bears offense has putting on a strong showing during the first week of training camp. Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote aren't used to seeing that from any Bears teams they've covered, so it's certainly refreshing to see! In other news from camp, receiver Rome Odunze clarified a comment he made earlier in the offseason about his "new normal" after recovering from last season's foot injury. And head coach Ben Johnson got a ton of praise from his new offensive coordinator. Plus, Johnson gave us insight on one point of emphasis for the Bears this season.

Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote discuss the way Bears quarterback Caleb Williams described the growing relationship between himself and head coach Ben Johnson.

Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote discuss Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen's appreciation for new safety Coby Bryant, and his play style.

Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote discuss their observations from the Bears early training camp practice. Who is playing the nickel corner spot while Kyler Gordon is hurt?