Column: Chicago Bears rookies get a crash course in NFL life — including from a crafty veteran receiver

DJ Harris’ welcome-to-the-NFL moment came on the final play of Chicago Bears rookie minicamp Friday morning . Scotty Miller, an eight-year veteran with a Super Bowl ring from his time running routes for Tom Brady with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, ran a go route. Harris grabbed hold of Miller and tried to keep up as quarterback Maverick McIvor — a tryout player from Western Kentucky by way of Abilene Christian and originally Texas Tech — lofted a ball down the right sideline inside the Walter Payton Center.

Harris was all over Miller, and had there been officials at practice, a yellow flag surely would have been tossed. The crafty veteran hauled in the pass as the offensive players erupted in cheers. It’s no knock on Harris, a tryout player who spent the last two years at Youngstown State after starting his college career with three seasons at Division II Tiffin.

He competed throughout the play. There will be more reps Saturday. Miller knows the ins and outs of the league, and the Barrington native has a chance to latch on with his local team as the Bears probably could use a little more depth at wide receiver on their 90-man roster.

The two-day minicamp is a crash course for the seven-man draft class — and other newcomers — on how the team operates on the field and in the weight room. The rookies will be mixed in with the veterans beginning Monday during Phase 2 of the voluntary offseason program. “It’s more about just introducing them to our way of life,” coach Ben Johnson said before practice.