Column: Chicago Bears rookies get a crash course in NFL life — including from a crafty veteran receiver

“Been waiting for this moment for a while, so to get out there, it’s cool,” Thieneman said.

lt certainly was a little different to see center Logan Jones, a second-round pick from Iowa, wearing No. 54. The number hadn’t been issued since Hall of Fame linebacker Brian Urlacher last wore it in 2012.

Chairman George McCaskey was adamant after Mike Ditka’s No. 89 was retired in 2013 that the Bears were done retiring numbers, a situation they were sort of forced into by being too liberal with retirements decades ago.

And it was different seeing a Kreutz wear No. 57 again as Illinois center Josh Kreutz participated on a tryout basis, more than 15 years after his father, six-time Pro Bowl selection Olin Kreutz, last manned the position for the Bears. If he sticks around, hopefully the team picks a different number for Josh. No pressure, kid.

The newcomers ought to get up to speed pretty quickly with the veterans as organized team activities approach later this month, and then mandatory veteran minicamp comes in June. The Bears had a very productive rookie class a year ago when you consider the statistical output by tight end Colston Loveland, wide receiver Luther Burden III and running back Kyle Monangai. Ozzy Trapilo made six regular-season starts at left tackle, and defensive end Shemar Turner was starting to pitch in before a torn ACL.

They say it takes a couple of years, sometimes as many as three, to fully evaluate a draft class. Loveland is certainly the real deal. Can Burden ascend to become a No. 1 receiver at some point? Is Monangai’s future as a complementary back or more? Time will tell.

The current crop of draft picks will have different timelines. Thieneman might be the only one projected to start right away. That’s not to say Jones and cornerback Malik Muhammad, a fourth-round pick from Texas, won’t have opportunities to push for action.

Johnson reiterated what he has said previously: Once you’re on the roster, he doesn’t care how you arrived, meaning draft status and contract size don’t matter to him as he’s going through evaluations.

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“How can they provide value for this football team?” Johnson said. “Is it special teams? Is it competing for playing time on offense or defense? That’s really up to them.”

Cornerback is a position to keep an eye on. After waiving Zah Frazier on Thursday, the Bears have 11 on the roster if you include free-agent pickup Cam Lewis as a reserve nickel corner and not a safety. That’s probably one light of where the team will be by training camp.

There’s plenty to prove at cornerback. Veteran Jaylon Johnson hasn’t been involved yet in the offseason program, a source said. That’s consistent with how he has operated previously, and the program is voluntary. Johnson surely is fully aware of the stakes on the table for him this season with no guaranteed money remaining in his contract in 2027.

There are opportunities for reps, and the starting job opposite Johnson will have to be won. Tyrique Stevenson, entering a contract year, must prove he can be the consistent performer the Bears have longed for since picking him in the second round in 2023, or else he’ll face a real challenge from someone.

Nahshon Wright, an unknown this time a year ago, emerged to become a starter, and Nick McCloud found meaningful playing time. They were a couple of veterans who forced their way on to the roster, but both are gone now.

Rookie minicamps usually don’t deliver many revelations. There can be some “ooh” and “aah” moments if there’s a highly touted quarterback. The Bears want to get everyone up to speed so they can evaluate their full roster.

Maybe they’ll add a wide receiver or two to the mix, and Miller did have the play of the day. Surely they’re on the lookout for a cornerback. There will be more reps for Harris after a tough one at the end Friday.