Bears training camp update: Jimmy Graham takes exception to COVID-19 testing proposal

LAKE FOREST – Jimmy Graham is wondering why the NFL Players Association wants to change the game plan.

The Bears tight end took to Twitter before practice Thursday at Halas Hall and voiced his frustration with the new COVID-19 testing protocols that the NFLPA has proposed.

Given that there have been some “breakthrough” cases across the NFL among players and staff who are vaccinated, the NFLPA wants to impose daily testing even for players who are fully vaccinated. At this point, it remains only a proposal.

Graham, 34, wrote on Twitter: “Was basically forced into getting the vaccine. Now I’m just confused.”

Graham confirmed Thursday after practice that he is fully vaccinated. He took exception to the idea that vaccinated players could be fined for missing a COVID-19 test.

“If I don’t [get tested], then I’m going to be max-fined because I have to miss days?” Graham said. “It’s ridiculous, especially when I’ve done everything asked of me.”

According to the NFL Network, players can be fined $50,000 for refusing to submit to a COVID-19 test. Graham argued that the penalties shouldn’t be so much more stringent than they were a year ago.

“I understand what was happening last year,” Graham said. “We all made a commitment to try to make [the 2020] season happen, to try to make a run and win the Super Bowl. I understood what that was about. There wasn’t a vaccine available. There was a lot less known about [the virus], so we had to take those measures to do that. And so I thought we also had a game plan going into this season, and now we’re kind of retracting on that. So it’s a bit frustrating for myself.”

Graham said his frustrations with the NFLPA go back a number of years. The testing proposal and the 17th regular-season game are just the latest changes that irk him.

Practice update: Two days after their first practice in full pads Tuesday, the Bears went without pads Thursday but are gearing up for three consecutive fully- padded practices this weekend.

On Thursday, quarterbacks Andy Dalton and Justin Fields were zipping passes during 7-on-7 in the red zone. Fields threw a nice pass up the middle for Javon Wims, who high-pointed the ball for a touchdown.

Later, in two-minute drills, needing only a field goal, Andy Dalton led the first-team offense about 70 yards down field for a chip-shot field goal. The highlight was a long pass down the left sideline for Damiere Byrd, which came on a crucial third down and set up the easy field goal.

The pass to Byrd came two plays after Dalton and receiver Darnell Mooney had a miscommunication. Mooney beat cornerback Kindle Vildor badly and had a wide open path to the end zone. Dalton thought Mooney was going toward the sideline and his pass sailed out of bounds.

When Fields and the second team had their turn, Fields found Riley Ridley for a long pass to get them to midfield, but a “sack” set the drive backward. It stalled near midfield and backup kicker Brian Johnson missed what would’ve been a long field goal.

Vildor studying a vet: Vildor, a second-year pro, grew up in Atlanta following the Falcons. He was a freshman in high school when the team drafted Desmond Trufant in the first round of the 2013 draft. He followed Trufant closely through high school as the Falcons found success.

Now, Vildor is learning from the player he used to root for. Trufant and Vildor are battling for playing time throughout training camp. With Kyle Fuller gone, one of them is likely to fill an open cornerback spot.

“He has a lot of experience in this league, and everything that he knows, I put it into my game,” Vildor said. “Just staying focused. It’s a long process. It’s a marathon. So just staying focused and keep working.”

With eight years of NFL experience, Trufant might have the upper hand on landing the starting cornerback position alongside Jaylon Johnson. But at the very least, Vildor is going to have a role on this defense in sub-packages and as a backup to Trufant and Johnson.

Injury report: The list of players sitting out practice Thursday was long.

Offensive tackle Teven Jenkins (back), safety Tashaun Gipson (groin), offensive lineman James Daniels (quad), defensive back Michael Joseph (hamstring), inside linebacker Josh Woods (quad), defensive back Artie Burns (quad), outside linebacker Robert Quinn (back), offensive lineman Badara Traore (knee) and inside linebacker Joel Iyiegbuniwe (hamstring) did not participate.

Defensive tackle Eddie Goldman, long snapper Patrick Scales, linebacker Christian Jones and offensive tackle Elijah Wilkinson remain on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

[ Bears defensive tackle Eddie Goldman is among several players placed on reserve/COVID-19 list ]

Additionally, safety Eddie Jackson (hamstring), offensive tackle Germain Ifedi (hip flexor) and running back Tarik Cohen (knee) have yet to practice during camp.