Bears rookie wide receiver Dazz Newsome returned to practice Monday after breaking his collarbone two months ago. Newsome was a partial participant as he came off the Physically Unable to Perform list.
The landscape at his position changed significantly, though, while he was out and it will be difficult for him to secure a role. The Bears opened up a spot by trading Anthony Miller, but veterans Marquise Goodwin and Damiere Byrd have been playing well and are on track to lock up roles behind top options Allen Robinson and Darnell Mooney.
The Bears drafted Newsome in the sixth round, No. 221, out of North Carolina and hope they can develop him the way they did with Mooney as a fifth-round rookie. Newsome caught 126 passes for 1,702 yards and 16 touchdowns in 24 games over his junior and senior seasons and has experience as a punt returner.
He impressed coach Matt Nagy with his route running at rookie minicamp, but got hurt on the first day of Organized Team Activities.
Running back Tarik Cohen (knee) and offensive lineman Germain Ifedi (hip) are still on PUP, and left tackle Teven Jenkins (back) remained out but Nagy said he is “trending in the right direction.”
