Chicago Bears: 3 takeaways from first preseason game

Nall Shows off Versatility

Recently, we have been highlighting the situation developing among the Bears’ tight end group. With Adam Shaheen struggling to get on the field, and Trey Burton taking longer to recover from offseason surgery than expected, there are plenty of opportunities for playing time.

Coming into the game, all eyes were on Dax Raymond and Ian Bunting, the two undrafted free agent tight ends. Bunting has outperformed Raymond so far in training camp according to reports and had a bit of a mixed bag kind of night. He had a nice catch for a first down that was called back for a penalty, and another great catch down the middle of the field at the end of the first half. However, he also had a fumble, holding penalty and a missed block on the negative side of the ledger.

However, what was both surprising and very interesting was how Matt Nagy utilized Ryan Nall. Most expected him to be competing for a spot on special teams or as a fullback. But Nagy utilized Nall quite a bit out of the tight end position. He caught all four of his targets in the first half for a total of 21 yards.

For a player looking to make the roster, showcasing the ability to play multiple positions is huge. As of now, Nall is the only potential fullback on the roster, but the way he flashed on Thursday night, he could find himself as a backup tight end. This is one to keep an eye on as the preseason continues.