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Kalif Raymond had high praise for Bears rookie WR Zavion Thomas
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- Kalif Raymond had high praise for Bears rookie WR Zavion Thomas
WR Zavion Thomas
(Steve Roberts, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
Not many receivers are as fast as Chicago Bears rookie Zavion Thomas, who posted a 4.28 40-yard dash time at the NFL Combine. That speed was on display during his 97-yard touchdown in Chicago's preseason finale against the Tennessee Titans as well as other plays throughout the game.
Besides his speed, Thomas also has an elite work ethic. Fellow receiver Kalif Raymond , who is going into his 10th season in the NFL, has already taken note of how Thomas is going about things in practice and is really excited for the type of player Chicago's third round pick out of LSU could be.
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"He's not a guy you have to push to want it," Raymond said. "After practice, I'm catching jugs and he's right there getting extra work, doing his ankle exercises every day. When you combine that work ethic with 4.28 speed, great hands and route setup, I'm so excited for him."
QB Caleb Williams
QB Tyson Bagent
QB Case Keenum
RB D'Andre Swift
RB Kyle Monangai
RB Roschon Johnson
WR Rome Odunze
WR Luther Burden III
WR Kalif Raymond
WR Zavion Thomas
WR Jahdae Walker
TE Colston Loveland
TE Cole Kmet
TE Sam Roush
TE Hayden Large
OL Joe Thuney
OL Darnell Wright
OL Jonah Jackson
OL Garrett Bradbury
OL Ozzy Trapilo
OL Braxton Jones
OL Logan Jones
OL Jordan McFadden
OL Luke Newman
OL Theo Benedet
DL Montez Sweat
DL Grady Jarrett
DL Austin Booker
DL Dayo Odeyingbo
DL Jordan van den Berg
DL Neville Gallimore
DL Kentavius Street
DL Jayden Loving
DL Daniel Hardy
DL Jamree Kromah
LB T.J. Edwards
LB Devin Bush
LB D'Marco Jackson
LB Keyshaun Elliott
CB Jaylon Johnson
CB Tyrique Stevenson
CB Malik Muhammad
CB Clark Phillips III
CB Josh Blackwell
S Coby Bryant
S Dillon Thieneman
S Xavier Woods
S Cam Lewis
S Elijah Hicks
S Skyler Thomas
K Cairo Santos
P Tory Taylor
LS Beau Gardner
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Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
QB Caleb Williams
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Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
QB Caleb Williams
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Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
QB Tyson Bagent
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Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
QB Case Keenum
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Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
RB D'Andre Swift
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Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
RB Kyle Monangai
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RB Roschon Johnson
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Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
WR Rome Odunze
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Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
WR Luther Burden III
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Chicago Bears training camp photos
WR Kalif Raymond
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Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
WR Zavion Thomas
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Bears vs. Bengals: Photos from Chicago's Week 2 preseason loss
WR Jahdae Walker
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Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
TE Colston Loveland
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Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
TE Cole Kmet
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Bears vs. Bengals: Photos from Chicago's Week 2 preseason loss
TE Sam Roush
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Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
TE Hayden Large
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Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
OL Joe Thuney
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Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
OL Darnell Wright
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Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
OL Jonah Jackson
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Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
OL Garrett Bradbury
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Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
OL Ozzy Trapilo
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Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
OL Braxton Jones
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Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
OL Logan Jones
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Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
OL Jordan McFadden
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Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
OL Luke Newman
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Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
OL Theo Benedet
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Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
DL Montez Sweat
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Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
DL Grady Jarrett
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Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
DL Austin Booker
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Bears vs. Bengals: Photos from Chicago's Week 2 preseason loss
DL Dayo Odeyingbo
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Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
DL Jordan van den Berg
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Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
DL Neville Gallimore
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Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
DL Kentavius Street
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Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
DL Jayden Loving
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Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
DL Daniel Hardy
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Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
DL Jamree Kromah
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Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
LB T.J. Edwards
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Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
LB Devin Bush
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Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
LB D'Marco Jackson
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Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
LB Keyshaun Elliott
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Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
CB Jaylon Johnson
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Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
CB Tyrique Stevenson
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Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
CB Malik Muhammad
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Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
CB Clark Phillips III
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Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
CB Josh Blackwell
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Ben Johnson provides injury rehab update on Bears S Coby Bryant
S Coby Bryant
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Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
S Dillon Thieneman
47
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Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
S Xavier Woods
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Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
S Cam Lewis
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Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
S Elijah Hicks
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Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
S Skyler Thomas
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Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
K Cairo Santos
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Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
P Tory Taylor
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Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
LS Beau Gardner
Thomas played a total of four years in college, the first two with Mississippi State and the final two with LSU. During his final season with the Tigers, Thomas put up nearly 600 scrimmage yards between his receiving and rushing yards as well as serving as LSU's punt returner.
In 2024, he also excelled as a kick returner with the most returns (24) and return yards (633) out of anyone in the SEC. He also had a kick return for a touchdown that season and a punt return for a touchdown his freshman year with Mississippi State.
With Thomas' impressive special teams background, it was not surprising when he got snaps at kick returner and punt returner during the preseason. His performance during training camp and the preseason should ultimately earn him time as a punt returner and kick returner during the 2026 season.
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Kalif Raymond had high praise for Bears rookie WR Zavion Thomas
