NEWSLETTER
The second of the NFL’s preseason cutdown dates has arrived, and the Bears are slimming down ahead of Saturday’s exhibition finale against the Titans.
Rosters around the league needed to be down to 80 by 3 p.m. CT on Tuesday (that’s today!), and the Bears were successful in doing so with the following moves:
#Bears also placed DL Mike Pennel and S Jordan Lucas on injured reserve. That brings them to 80-man roster limit.
— Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) August 24, 2021
#Bears have waived OT Badara Traore. That brings them to 84. Four more moves must be made to get to roster limit of 80 by 3 pm.
— Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) August 24, 2021
Placing offensive linemen Badara Traore and Daurean Parker, as well as running back CJ Marable on waivers, then placing defensive lineman Mike Pennel and safety Jordan Lucas on Injured Reserve gets the Bears to 80 players.
The linemen cuts were sensible, as the Bears are starting to get healthy with that position group. As for Marable, he was fighting an up-hill battle with Chicago’s running back depth being what it is right now.
What really stings are the two players landing on IR. Pennel was nose tackle depth behind Eddie Goldman and Khyiris Tonga. Losing Lucas means the team’s safety depth takes a hit, while also dinging an already much-maligned special teams unit. All in all, there are no shockers to be found here.
The next cutdown date will come at 3 p.m. CT on August 31. Once it happens, teams will be down to 53. In other words, whomever is suiting up for the final preseason tilt could be playing their way on (or off) the roster.
Here’s what the Bears’ roster looks like right now (bold players are projected starters)
Offense
QB Andy Dalton
Justin Fields, Nick Foles
RB David Montgomery
Damien Williams, Khalil Herbert, Ryan Nall, Artavis Pierce, Tarik Cohen (PUP List)
WR Allen Robinson II, Darnell Mooney, Marquise Goodwin
Chris Lacy, Dazz Newsome, Damiere Byrd, Rodney Adams, Jon’Vea Johnson, Riley Ridley, Javon Wims, Isaiah Coulter
TE Cole Kmet
Jimmy Graham, Jesse James, J.P. Holtz, Jesper Horsted, Scooter Harrington
LT Jason Peters
LG Cody Whitehair
C Sam Mustipher
RG James Daniels
RT Germain Ifedi
Reserves: Elijah Wilkinson, Lachavious Simmons, Larry Borom, Arlington Hambright, Alex Bars, Tyrone Wheatley Jr., Teven Jenkins (out for a while)
Defense
DL Akiem Hicks, Eddie Goldman, Bilal Nichols
Angelo Blackson, LaCale London, Mario Edwards Jr., Daniel Archibong, Khyiris Tonga, Mike Pennel (IR)
OLB Khalil Mack, Robert Quinn
Trevis Gipson, James Vaughters, Charles Snowden, Jeremiah Attaochu, Sam Kamara
ILB Danny Trevathan, Roquan Smith
Joel Iyiegbuniwe, Alec Ogletree, Austin Calitro, Christian Jones, Josh Woods, Caleb Johnson
CB Jaylon Johnson, Kindle Vildor
Artie Burns, Thomas Graham Jr., Tre Robeson, Desmond Trufant, Duke Shelley, Xavier Crawford
S Eddie Jackson, Tashaun Gipson Sr.
Deon Bush, Marqui Christian, DeAndre Houston-Carson, Teez Tabor, Jordan Lucas (IR)
Special Teams
Place kicker: Cairo Santos, Brian Johnson
Punter: Pat O’Donnell
Long snapper: Patrick Scales
Return specialists: Khalil Herbert, Chris Lacy, Jon’Vea Johnson (kicks); Damiere Byrd, Darnell Mooney, Dazz Newsome, CJ Marable (punts)
