After drop-off last season, Bears look for big rebound

CHICAGO BEARS (8-8)

CAMP SITE: Lake Forest, Ill.

LAST YEAR: Bears went from winning NFC rth at 12-4 in coach Matt Nagy's first season to finishing third in division and missing playoffs for eighth time in nine years. QB Mitchell Trubisky took step back in third season. Offense that lacked playmakers besides WR Allen Robinson ranked among worst in league. Defense led by Khalil Mack continued to perform well, though struggled to force turvers. Monsters of Midway had 19 takeaways, down from NFL-best 36 in 2018.

IMPORTANT ADDITIONS: QB Nick Foles, OLB Robert Quinn, TE Jimmy Graham, TE Cole Kmet, CB Jaylon Johnson, WR Ted Ginn Jr., S Tashaun Gipson, DT John Jenkins, RB Germain Ifedi.

IMPORTANT LOSSES: OL Kyle Long, LB Leonard Floyd, S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, CB Prince Amukamara, TE Trey Burton, WR Taylor Gabriel.

PANDEMIC CHALLENGES: Bears declared competition between Trubisky and Foles an open one. w, it really gets underway after pandemic wiped out on-field offseason workouts. Trubisky scheduled to get first reps with starters. But Bears have said y will see even time in camp.

CAMP NEEDS: All eyes figure to be on quarterbacks as Bears try to figure out ir starter. That's t ir only issue. Though Nagy is back, Bears overhauled staff on offense — most tably hiring Bill Lazor as coordinator and Juan Castillo as line coach.

EXPECTATIONS: Bears see mselves as playoff contender despite drop-off last season. y need to fix offense if y're going to bounce back. That starts with quarterback, wher it's Trubisky or Foles. This looks like last chance in Chicago for Trubisky, drafted . 2 overall in 2017 — ahead of Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson. Besides trade with Jacksonville for Foles, Bears declined Trubisky's fifth-year option for 2021.

Im credits: AP