Sean Hammond·
If Thomas can grasp the offense and earn Johnson’s trust, he’ll see the football in his hands this season.
The depth chart ahead of him is crowded, but if Johnson wants to make room for a weapon, he will. On special teams, perhaps the biggest thing for any rookie returner is ball security. If Thomas can prove in the preseason that he can take care of the football, he could earn the kickoff return job as a rookie. Raymond has been primarily a punt returner. While the veteran has returned kickoffs in the past, the door seems open for Thomas to compete for the job. The Bears haven’t had a lot of success drafting returners in recent years. Recent picks Velus Jones Jr. and Tyler Scott didn’t pan out. Thomas is trying to change that narrative. He might not make a huge early impact, but Thomas seems like the type of rookie who could come on strong during the second half of the season if he can win the trust of his coaches.