NEWSLETTER
With NFL rosters around the league cut down to 80, let’s take a closer look at what’s happening with the Chicago Bears ahead of their preseason finale against the Cleveland Browns.
Quarterbacks (3)
Position battle: None. But I do wonder if the Bears will carry three quarterbacks or if they’ll try to slide Peterman onto the practice squad.
Potentially on the cut block: Peterman
Running Backs (4)
Fullbacks (2)
Position battle: Not much to see here outside of wondering if Tonges squeeze his way onto the roster as a fullback/tight end hybrid.
Potentially on the cut block: Tuggle, Tonges
Wide Receivers (11)
Position battle: Assuming Harry lands on IR to start the season, there appears to be a battle between seven active players who could land in the WR4, WR5, and WR6 roles. And it probably boils down to five players (Coulter, Finke, Pettis, Shaa, Webster) jockeying for the WR6 slot. Special teams contributions could be a deciding factor here.
Potentially on the cut block: Coulter, Finke, Pettis, Shaa, Webster, Harry.
Tight Ends (4)
Position battle: N/A.
Potentially on the cut block: Allen was one of the Bears’ UDFA rookie signings who figures to be the next-man-up if there is an injury at the top of the tight end depth chart.
Offensive Line (15)
- Braxton Jones (LT)
- Cody Whitehair (LG)
- Lucas Patrick (C)
- Teven Jenkins (RG)
- Larry Borom (RT)
- Ja’Tyre Carter
- Shon Coleman
- Jean Delance
- Corey Dublin
- Dieter Eiselen
- Sam Mustipher
- Riley Reiff
- Michael Schofield
- Lachavious Simmons
- Zachary Thomas
Position battle: Even after signing Schofield and Reiff as free agent veterans whose experience could bolster the line’s profile, it looks like we’re set to see a youth movement along the Bears’ offensive line. As of now, Chicago looks to be throwing out a rookie left tackle and two second-year players on the right side of the line. If that is how the cookie crumbles, at least the Bears have ample experience behind Jones, Jenkins, and Borom on the depth chart.
Beyond that, we’re looking at a position group the will see notable trimmings to get down from 15.
Potentially on the cutting block: Eiselen, Dublin, Delance, Coleman, Simmons, Thomas, Mustipher, Carter.
The Bears could cut any number of different offensive linemen and it wouldn’t surprise me. It wouldn’t even shock me if this front office went all-in on the youth movement after seeing what the vets brought to the table. If not, then we could see the team try to slide one of its late-round rookies (Carter? Thomas?) through waivers and onto the practice squad.
Defensive Line (13)
- Robert Quinn (DE)
- Angelo Blackson (DT)
- Justin Jones (DT)
- Trevis Gipson (DE)
- Al-Quadin Muhammad
- Mario Edwards Jr.
- Dominique Robinson
- Trevon Coley
- Micah Dew-Treadway
- Sam Kamara
- Mike Pennel Jr.
- Charles Snowden
- Khyiris Tonga
Position battle: A whopping 13 defensive lineman means that there will be some players on the list above who won’t be on that season-opening roster. Although, because the Bears are moving to a 4-3 alignment, there will be more defensive linemen on the roster than we have grown accustomed to in recent years.
It feels as if everyone below Robinson in the grouping above is fighting for reserve roles.
Potentially on the cut block: Coley, Dew-Treadway, Kamara, Pennel, Snowden, Tonga
Linebackers (7)
- Roquan Smith
- Nicholas Morrow
- Matthew Adams
- Jack Sanborn
- DeMarquis Gates
- Joe Thomas
- Caleb Johnson
Position battle: Will Sanborn make a push for a spot as that special teams contributing linebacker? Otherwise, those first three slots seem set.
Potentially on the cut block: Sanborn, Gates, Thomas, Johnson
Cornerbacks (10)
- Jaylon Johnson
- Kyler Gordon
- Thomas Graham Jr.
- Tavon Young
- Lamar Jackson
- Duke Shelley
- Kindle Vildor
- Greg Stroman Jr.
- Jaylon Jones
- Davontae Harris
Safeties (7)
- Eddie Jackson
- Jaquan Brisker
- DeAndre Houston-Carson
- Dane Cruikshank
- Elijah Hicks
- A.J. Thomas
- Jon Alexander
Position battle: So long as Aaron Rodgers is slinging it in this division, your team better have waves upon waves of secondary help. Just as there is no such thing as having too many pitchers in baseball, there is no such thing as having too many defensive backs in football.
That nickel corner position is open, unless it goes to Gordon. If that’s the case, then it means the boundary corner spot is open. Would that mean Kindle Vildor or Duke Shelley is in the running? Or is this an area where the Bears might kick the tires on a free agent or a potential waiver wire cut down option?
Potentially on the cut block: I feel as if anyone who isn’t starting (Johnson, Gordon, Brisker, Jackson) or a top reserve (DHC) is fair game. This is the position where we could see a ton of turnover, as well as players coming in after rosters slim down from 80 to 53.
Specialists (3)
Position battle: N/A.
Potentially on the cut block: The Bears brought in a few long snappers during the offseason, but Scales was never really tested. It would be a real shocker if he got let go. The kicking triumvirate of Santos, Gill, and Scales sounds like one of those TV law firms — but one that gets results in the kicking game.
