The Bears wrapped up their minicamp this week before sending coaches and players on vacation until they converge in Bourbonnais to start training camp [practices](https://www-nbcsports-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.nbcsports.com/chicago/chicago-bears/bears-announce-training-camp-schedule) July 27. The Bears are currently 14/1 to win Super Bowl 54 at most Las Vegas sportsbooks. Late last month, our Chris Mascaro, [looked at why the Bears are public Super Bowl darlings](https://www.betchicago.com/bears-public-super-bowl-futures-market). The Bears, whose 2019 win total is 9 at most Las Vegas sportsbooks, will be closely watched early this season by bettors who want to see if their 12-4 2018 season was a fluke. As the Bears finished their offseason program with their mandatory minicamp this week, here are some thoughts from the session: __Kicking issues still linger__ Yes, the biggest albatross of the Bears’ 2018 season has yet to be cleared up. And it should scare the Cody Parkey out of bettors who choose to back the Bears. Of course, the Bears’ 2018 dreams died on Parkey’s ‘[double doink’](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y87uP3exFjc) miss in the NFC divisional playoffs. The Bears have yet to find an established replacement. They have had a long line of candidates, and the results haven’t always been pretty. The struggles continued into this week and Chicago [cut](https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/bears/why-bears-cut-chris-blewitt-middle-veteran-minicamp) one of the candidates, Chris Blewitt, during minicamp. Current Bears kickers, Elliott Fry and Eddie Pineiro, ended minicamp on a [high note](https://www-espn-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/26965851/bears-kickers-convert-high-stakes-team?). Still, the kickers will be a focal point in training camp and in the preseason until the situation is resolved. __Rookie skill-position players shine__ The Bears had a small draft class, but they did well by adding running back David Montgomery in the third round and receiver Riley Ridley in the fourth round. Both players performed well during the offseason. Montgomery, out of Iowa State, showed [prowess](https://withthefirstpick.com/2019/06/13/chicago-bears-matt-nagy-david-montgomery-receiving/) as a receiver out of the backfield in minicamp, which would be an interesting element for this offense this season. [We previously looked at how the Bears’ running back committee may break down this season.](https://www.betchicago.com/bears-running-back-committee-breakdown) If Montgomery and Ridley, a Georgia product, can have early success, it will be a huge boost for quarterback Mitchell Trubisky and the offense. __Key competitions emerge__ In addition to the mess at kicker, some other competitions [developed](https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/bears/ct-spt-bears-depth-questions-swing-tackle-cornerback-20190615-story.html) at the minicamp. One was at swing tackle between former defensive lineman Rashard Coward and veteran journeyman backup T.J. Clemmings. The Bears are also looking for a third cornerback with Bryce Callahan joining former Chicago defensive coordinator Vic Fangio in Denver this offseason as a free agent. Kevin Toliver and rookie Duke Shelley are the top candidates to emerge as the nickel this season. __Health status__ The Bears were fairly healthy during the offseason. Coach Matt Nagy told [reporters](https://chicago-suntimes-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/chicago.suntimes.com/platform/amp/bears/2019/6/13/18678047/bears-matt-nagy-trey-burton-anthony-miller-hopeful-training-camp-injuries?amp_js_v=0.1&usqp=mq331AQCKAE%3D#origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&prerenderSize=1&visibilityState=visible&paddingTop=32&p2r=0&horizontalScrolling=0&csi=1&aoh=15606281556124&viewerUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Famp%2Fs%2Fchicago.suntimes.com%2Fplatform%2Famp%2Fbears%2F2019%2F6%2F13%2F18678047%2Fbears-matt-nagy-trey-burton-anthony-miller-hopeful-training-camp-injuries&history=1&storage=1&cid=1&cap=navigateTo%2Ccid%2CfullReplaceHistory%2Cfragment%2CreplaceUrl) that he is hopeful tight end Trey Burton and receiver Anthony Miller will be ready when training camp practices begin in exactly six weeks. Burton is returning from a sports hernia and Miller had shoulder surgery after the season. Barring a setback by those players, the Bears will begin their 2019 Super Bowl quest in fine shape. __More coverage:__ [Check out our complete NFL coverage. ](https://www.betchicago.com/nfl-betting)