Wright on Williams’ progress in training camp, center competition |
LAKE FOREST, I.L. - It can be difficult for a rookie to get thrown into a starting role in the NFL right out the gate, but right tackle Darnell Wright handled the pressure well and was one of Chicago’s best offensive linemen last season.
Still after his rookie season, Wright understood there was a lot he needed to learn, especially with a new offensive coordinator. “Personally, I was just improving on understanding just the general understanding of football but also, the new coaches coming in, some of the new schemes that we’ll have, just get a jump on that, kind of treating it like another first year,” Wright said. “Some of the terms are the same, but some things are different. So, just taking that approach.” Chicago made numerous offensive line additions in the offseason, including centers Ryan Bates and Coleman Shelton. Bates played more as a guard during his first five seasons in the NFL with the Buffalo Bills, while Shelton specifically played center during his five years in the league, all with the Los Angeles Rams where Chicago’s new offensive coordinator, Shane Waldron, was the passing game coordinator. Wright did not provide any insight into who may have the advantage in this center battle, but said they are both helping each other develop as players. “They’re going at it and they’re doing good. It’s funny, they’re going at it, but they’re helping each other still and helping everybody else,” Wright said. “So, center is a totally different beast. So, I think both those guys are doing great.” The Bears also added an offensive lineman in the draft, selecting Kiran Amegadjie out of Yale in the third round. Amegadjie’s collegiate playing time was affected by COVID-19 as the Ivy League did not have a 2020 season in his rookie year, but he still managed to become one of the best offensive linemen in the Ivy League as he was a two-time first-team All-Ivy selection. Given Chicago’s depth at offensive line, Amegadjie is going to be using this season more to learn the offense and adjust mentally to the NFL as opposed to how Wright was in his rookie season. “He can’t do a lot of things right now. So, I think for him, it’ll be big to just be mentally prepared when he’s ready and just because that’s all you can really do right now,” Wright said. “So, just being really mentally prepared, locked in, kind of taking mental reps as we go on. That’ll be good for him.” In his second year in the league, Wright is working with his second starting quarterback in rookie Caleb Williams. Naturally, he has struggled and had some ups-and-downs already in training camp. But overall, Wright says he is doing a good job adjusting to the league and continues to make progress, even during the short time period from the beginning of training camp to now. “He’s doing a really good job. It’s always hard. I remember my first year, just getting the cadence. I know I’m not the one saying it, but just keying into it, it’s a totally different thing from college, from what you did in college. So, it does take a while to get that. But, I think he’s done a good job just because he’s controlling the huddle. He’s getting everybody … on the same page. So, I think he’s doing a great job. He’s definitely improved a lot, even since when we came back,” Wright said. “You can see him getting better and better and better, more confident and getting everybody on the same page.” Given the offensive struggles in training camp on Saturday July 27, including pre-snap penalties and excessive pressure on Williams, it would not be surprising to see Wright and the rest of the starting offensive line in Chicago’s first preseason game against the Houston Texans on Thurs. Aug. 1 (7 p.m./ABC) to allow them to go against another defense. News of whether or not Williams will be playing in that game will be coming on Tuesday July 30.
