Off-season schedule in place

The Bears’ off-season schedule is now officially set through June’s organized team activities (OTAs), although the start of training camp won’t be known until the preseason schedule is released.

But for now, we know that the rookie mini-camp, as usual, will be the first weekend after the draft, which this year becomes a three-day affair, with the first round beginning at 6:30 Thursday night, April 22. Rounds 2 and 3 will be Friday, starting at 5 p.m., and Rounds 4-7 are on Saturday beginning at 9 a.m. The Bears currently do not have a pick until the third round (76th overall).

The Bears’ rookie mini-camp is at Halas Hall the following Saturday, May 1-2. The full-team mini-camp is Friday-Sunday, May 21-23, also at Halas Hall.

OTAs commence on June 2 and run through June 24. Practices will be Monday through Thursday most weeks, although there will be two open dates, probably at the end of the sessions, since only 14 OTAs are permitted.

Training camp can begin 14 days before the first scheduled preseason game.

The Bears’ off-season workouts begin on March 29.