Chicago Bears security Jonathan Owens, who can be recognized for being married to Olympic gymnastics icon Simone Biles, was concerned in a heated on-field incident with teammate Roschon Johnson throughout the workforce’s coaching camp on Tuesday.
The scuffle got here after tensions flared in the course of a extremely aggressive apply session, a state of affairs that is changing into more and more widespread throughout NFL coaching camps this summer season.
Simone Biles reveals Owens’ persistence earlier than massive night time!
Based on a number of stories, the confrontation started after Owens tried what was described as a “late peanut punch”, a transfer in soccer the place a defender tries to knock the ball out of an opponent’s fingers.
Johnson, seemingly irked by the late play, responded by throwing the soccer at Owens. The security then tackled Johnson to the bottom, escalating the scenario right into a full-blown skirmish earlier than coaches and teammates shortly intervened to revive order.
Johnson, when requested in regards to the altercation later within the day, brushed it off as a product of aggressive depth.
“That is simply camp. Getting aggressive, that is all it was,” Johnson informed reporters. “Like I mentioned, it is soccer. While you compete at a excessive stage, stuff like that’s certain to occur.”
A sample of preseason tensions throughout the NFL
Coaching camp dust-ups aren’t unusual within the NFL. The high-pressure setting, coupled with intense bodily calls for and the combat for beginning positions, usually results in tempers flaring.
Related incidents have already been reported this preseason from different camps, together with groups just like the Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots.
For Owens, who joined the Bears in 2024 following stints with the Inexperienced Bay Packers and Houston Texans, this confrontation might have been an indication of his assertiveness on protection, however it additionally brings added scrutiny attributable to his rising public profile.
Off the sector, Owens and Biles have been making headlines as effectively. The couple, who tied the knot in 2023, lately introduced they’re settling into a brand new custom-built mansion in Texas.
In April, Biles shared pictures of their canine exploring the expansive house, exhibiting a extra tranquil aspect of their life outdoors the highlight of sports activities.
Nonetheless, Biles herself confronted her personal controversy in latest weeks, after clashing with conservative commentator and former swimmer Riley Gaines over the participation of transgender athletes in girls’s sports activities.
Biles initially lashed out at Gaines in a tweet calling her views “actually sick” and mocking her look, however later issued a public apology after backlash.
“The present system does not adequately stability these essential rules, which frequently results in frustration and heated exchanges,” Biles posted on X (previously Twitter). “And it did not assist for me to get private with Riley, which I apologize for.”
Gaines accepted the apology and responded graciously: “I settle for Simone’s apology for the private assaults together with those the place she body-shamed me. I do know she is aware of what this seems like. She’s nonetheless the best feminine gymnast of all time.”
As for Owens, the coaching camp conflict seems to be behind him now, and each he and Johnson are anticipated to proceed making ready for what’s shaping as much as be a high-stakes NFL season.
With Owens striving to solidify his function within the Bears’ secondary, all eyes can be on how he performs, not simply in camp, however when the common season begins.
