The Chicago Bears will host the Buffalo Bills for a joint practice on Friday, August 15, at Halas Hall in Lake Forest, Illinois. This practice takes place two days before their preseason matchup at Soldier Field on Sunday, August 17.
Joint practices have long been a common trend during the NFL preseason, and this year is no exception. This scheduled practice will give both teams an opportunity to see how their players stack up against another team before the regular season kicks off.
To provide some insight into what to watch going into the joint practice, here are five battles between the Bears and Bills worth monitoring.
Bears EDGE Montez Sweat vs. Bills LT Dion Dawkins
Dion Dawkins has been a Pro Bowler for the Bills in each of his last four seasons, going into his 2025 campaign. At this stage of his career, he’s about as reliable as they come as far as blindside protectors are concerned. In joint practice, he’ll be going up against Montez Sweat, another Pro Bowler, but one who has some concerns heading into the new year.
Though he made the Pro Bowl with 12.5 sacks in 2023, Sweat’s production dropped down to 5.5 sacks with the Bears in 2024. Dawkins is battling a minor injury, but he’s still one of the best tackles in the league. This battle is more of a barometer for Sweat to prove he can still be one of the better pass rushers the NFL has to offer.
Bears DC Dennis Allen vs. Bills OC Joe Brady
After being fired as head coach of the New Orleans Saints, Dennis Allen returns to his defensive coordinator roots on the Bears’ coaching staff. His defense was chippy in its joint practice against the Miami Dolphins, which could be a sign of increased physicality from a Chicago unit that was pretty conservative under former head coach Matt Eberflus.
They face a tough task going against Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady. A potential head-coaching candidate in 2026, Brady is one of the top coordinators in the game currently. His creativity in scheming players open will be interesting to watch against an aggressive, more man-heavy defense that Allen runs.
Joe Brady is the new king of Mesh in the NFL pic.twitter.com/Ebz273uY3q
— Honest NFL (@TheHonestNFL) November 18, 2024
Bears WR Rome Odunze vs. Bills CB Maxwell Hairston
The Bills have a rock-solid CB1 on their roster in Christian Benford, but they’re looking for an answer at CB2 alongside him on the perimeter. The hope is that first-round pick Maxwell Hairston can take over the starting job in his rookie year, though he has Tre’Davious White to fend off.
In his quest to secure a starting job, Hairston will likely have to face Rome Odunze often in Buffalo’s joint practice with the Bears. Odunze didn’t put up elite numbers like other rookie receivers last year, but he figures to play a bigger role in Chicago’s offense with Keenan Allen gone. Both Odunze and Hairston are young players with something to prove.
Bears WR Luther Burden III vs. Bills CB Taron Johnson
At an average annual salary of $10.25 million, the Bills’ Taron Johnson is one of the highest-paid nickel cornerbacks in the NFL. His play has been reflective of that, as he was a second-team All-Pro defender in 2023. He’s coming off a 2024 campaign with two interceptions and a defensive touchdown, as well.
Johnson will likely go up against Bears rookie wide receiver Luther Burden III often in the slot. The second-round pick showed encouraging flashes in his preseason debut against the Dolphins, but he’s still battling with Olamide Zaccheaus for a starting role. Doing well against a top nickel like Johnson would help his case.
Thought Luther Burden had a good chance of scoring a touchdown on this play.
Good play design with the play action and Burden runs a nice corner route towards the back left corner of the end zone. pic.twitter.com/ZvWfkAAnRc
— Nicholas Moreano (@NicholasMoreano) August 11, 2025
Bears CB Tyrique Stevenson vs. Bills WR Keon Coleman
Tyrique Stevenson showed intriguing flashes for the Bears as a rookie in 2023, but his sophomore year didn’t live up to the hype. After a rocky season known best for giving up a game-winning Hail Mary in Washington, he finds himself battling for first-team defensive reps against veteran cornerback Nahshon Wright in training camp.
A second-round pick in 2024, Keon Coleman arguably fell short of expectations last year, too. Outside of Khalil Shakir, the Bills’ starting wide receiver group is still pretty wide open. Coleman battles with the likes of Joshua Palmer, Elijah Moore, and Curtis Samuel for snaps. A good joint practice outing could add some more momentum in his favor.
