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Setting personal-best marks in two of five events Wednesday, Zach Ziemek of Itasca sits in seventh place after the first day of the men’s decathlon. USA’s Zach Ziemek high jumps during the decathlon, Aug. 4, 2021, at Olympic Stadium. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune) USA’s Zach Ziemek prepares to start the 400-meter race during the decathlon on Aug. 4, 2021. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune) USA’s Zach Ziemek prepares to high jump during the decathlon, Aug. 4, 2021, at Olympic Stadium. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune) USA’s Zach Ziemek finishes the 400-meter race during the decathlon on Aug. 4, 2021. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune) USA’s Zach Ziemek, of Itasca, prepares to start the 400-meter race during the decathlon on Aug. 4, 2021. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)

Germany’s Emma Hinze, Ukraine’s Liubov Basova, Mexico’s Luz Daniela Gaxiola Gonzalez, Russia’s Anastasiia Voinova, Canada’s Kelsey Mitchell and China’s Bao Shanju ride behind a pacer during first round heats of the women’s track cycling keirin event at Izu Velodrome in Izu, Japan, on Aug. 4, 2021. (PETER PARKS / AFP via Getty Images)

The roster has been transformed, but the ceiling is still unclear. They won’t enter the season as favorites in a playoff series against the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks or a healthy Brooklyn Nets team. They might not even be a favorite to host a home playoff series in the first round (the Atlanta Hawks, Miami Heat and Philadelphia 76ers, pending a potential trade for Ben Simmons, will all still be in the mix).

“He’s been checking in, checking in on my family, which you appreciate, and it allows you to form a connection outside of football,” Nichols said. “And that is very important. And then when we come in here, he pushes me. He pushes me past my limits, and I appreciate that. I’m a guy that has high goals for myself, and he wants me to reach those goals, so I appreciate that from him.”

Nagy also has mentioned taking a look at Badara Traore, an undrafted free agent a year ago out of LSU. He worked at left tackle with the second and third teams and had a rough go in the padded practice, especially in one-on-one pass-rush drills. Before the day was over, Alex Bars, who had been playing right guard, was taking snaps at left tackle with the second team. Add it all up and the Bears have rolled four players — Wilkinson, Borom, Traore and Bars — through the first two units at left tackle since camp opened.