The Latest Breaking News from Alan Williams

If Roquan Smith wants to get the record-setting contract extension he so badly desires, he’ll have to cross off items on a list longer than Matt Nagy’s old play-call sheet.

The Bears have released their first unofficial depth chart ahead of their preseason opener vs. the Chiefs, and there was plenty to unpack.

The Bears aren’t panicking as the All-Pro linebacker’s “hold-in” reached 13 days and 10 practices, and they probably don’t have to in the midst of a rebuild.

The Bears held their 10th practice of training camp on Sunday. Here's what we learned from Day 10:

Only one team in the NFL blitzed less often than the Bears in every one of the previous four seasons: Matt Eberflus’ Colts. While the head coach won’t be calling the Bears’ defense, you can bet new Bears coordinator Alan Williams, who followed him from Indianapolis, is strategically similar to…

The Bears are installing new schemes on both sides of the ball, but the defense already looks like it has a solid foundation that could be an anchor. ‘‘We have the right guys that want to buy in and want to do it,’’ defensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad said.

Will Justin Fields be better in Luke Getsy’s offense than he was in Matt Nagy’s? How much are the Bears missing Roquan Smith? A player of intrigue, a key red flag and the best newcomer. Mark Potash analyzes the first week of training camp under Matt Eberflus.

The All-Pro defensive end is in a “ramp-up” phase after sitting out the offseason program. But it won’t take him long to get back in the swing of things. “I kind of think I’m pretty much caught up,” he said.

Even in early practices, the Bears look like they’ll push the limits of aggressiveness and physicality under Matt Eberflus and defensive coordinator Alan Williams, “Play like your hair’s on fire,” Williams said.