Rookie receiver Daniel Braverman ranked second in the nation with 108 receptions for 1,367 yards and 13 TDs last year.





Braverman appeared in 37 games over three seasons at Western Michigan, catching 212 passes for 2,499 yards and 19 touchdowns. As a junior last year, he ranked second in the nation with 108 receptions for 1,367 yards and 13 TDs. Braverman caught at least 10 passes in each of his first four games last season, including 13 for 109 yards against Michigan State and 10 for 123 yards versus Ohio State.

"We love his heart," said offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains. "He works really hard and I think coach [Curtis Johnson] has done a really good job with him. You don't want to take away the best part of him and some of that is that he's got a knack to get open.

"He just has to understand to continue to grow and get open in the timing of the play and not just when the route's at 10 [yards], break it off at six [because] he's open, so the quarterbacks get a better feel for him. As he grows and learns what each play means and the concepts and the timing of each play, he'll continue to grow that way."

Backup plan: An NFL starting quarterback the past two seasons, Hoyer has made a smooth transition since joining the Bears April 30 to back up Jay Cutler.

"I think he's done a great job," Cutler said. "It's hard, coming off being a starter for a couple years and then coming into a situation where they're asking you to do a different role, there's a transition period for that. But since we've gotten into camp, he's really taken to it and done a really good job of helping me, looking at coverage, talking to guys and sometimes being the bad guy. He's really done a good job with that."

After serving primarily as a backup with the Patriots (2009-11) and Cardinals (2012), Hoyer appeared in 14 games with 13 starts for the Browns in 2014. With Loggains serving as his quarterbacks coach, Hoyer completed 55.3 percent of his passes for 3,326 yards with 12 touchdowns, 13 interceptions and a 76.5 passer rating.

Hoyer then had his best season as a pro last year with the Texans, connecting on 60.7 percent of his passes for 2,606 yards with 19 TDs, seven interceptions and a 91.4 passer rating while playing in 11 games with nine starts.