Multiple players agreed that Friday's padded practice at Halas Hall was the Bears' most grueling of training camp to date.
"That was probably the hardest practice I've ever been a part of," said third-year tight end Cole Kmet. "That's not a joke. It was a tough practice. But it's good for us to get in shape and see how good we can execute when we're tired at the end of it. It was a long one."
Kmet said the practice was so difficult due to the tempo, speed and physicality. It's also because there were several unscripted "play-it" periods that better simulate game conditions.
"You have to lock in," said receiver Darnell Mooney. "There was one play that we had run a naked play and I went to the sideline and I came back [to the huddle]. I didn't hear the personnel. Just like a game, some things happen like that. So I had to run out and get out."
"You definitely felt it today," added safety Eddie Jackson. "You can do two things: you can either tap out or stop and cry and complain, or you can just step up. And when you get through stuff like that, that shows what good teams are made of."
Working smart: It was unusual to see so early in training camp, but the Bears on Friday ran some drills pitting their offense against a 3-4 scout-team defense.
Offensive coordinator Luke Getsy explained they did that because two of their NFC North rivals, the Packers and Vikings, both play 3-4 schemes and the Bears don't.
"When you're talking about the big guys up front, everything changes in your rules and assignments when you have three down [linemen]," Getsy said. "So you've got to mix that in. If we had a three-down defense, we'd have to scout team a four-down set."
All in: Getsy revealed that tackle Teven Jenkins, who has been sidelined with an undisclosed injury since participating in the first training camp practice, has been attending meetings.
"Teven's been attentive," Getsy said. "He's all in. Once he gets through this deal, he'll be back out there ready to rock and roll."
Getsy added that once Jenkins is cleared to return, the second-year pro will rejoin the competition for the starting left and right tackle positions.
"He's going to get thrown into the mix of this competition at the tackles," Getsy said. "We're trying to find the best five [offensive linemen], so when he gets back, he's someone who's super talented that should jump in there, and hopefully he takes advantage of the opportunities he's going to get."
Special visitors: A crew from a German television station was at Halas Hall Friday to do a feature on receiver Equanimeous St. Brown. St. Brown's mother is German and he speaks German fluently.
There were also crews from Sky Sports UK and NBC Sports, with reporter Peter King and former NFL coach Jason Garrett on hand. Bears coach Matt Eberflus was linebackers coach under Garrett with the Cowboys from 2011-17.
Not invited: Getsy, who spent the previous three season as Packers quarterbacks coach, was asked about Aaron Rodgers' recent revelation that the Green Bay star consumed ayahuasca, a plant-based psychedelic while visiting South America.
"I was not invited on those trips," Getsy said with a laugh. "I didn't know all that stuff. I haven't watched that yet, but obviously I've been informed by a lot of people about that stuff. Whatever it takes, I guess."
