Roster cut week in the NFL is brutal. Dreams get crushed, fan favorites get axed, and every GM in the league is circling like vultures waiting to poach the guys who don’t make it past Tuesday’s deadline (4 PM ET, for those keeping receipts).
And for the Chicago Bears, this year’s cutdown is extra juicy. Why? Because this isn’t your usual “just scrape together a 53-man roster and hope for six wins” Bears team. This is the first real Ben Johnson squad. A mix of Caleb Williams hype, shiny new draft picks, and actual depth (yes, depth, in Chicago—what a concept).
So let’s break it down: who makes it, who gets cut, and why some of Ryan Poles’ old draft mistakes are about to get exposed.
Offense (25 Players)
Quarterbacks (3)
- Caleb Williams
- Tyson Bagent
- Case Keenum
Caleb Williams is the face of the franchise, the rookie QB1, and the walking, talking “please save us” prayer Bears fans have been chanting since Jay Cutler’s cigarette memes went viral.
Bagent is locked in as QB2 after flexing his preseason muscles with a comeback win against the Chiefs. The undrafted kid turned contract-extension QB2 is a hell of a story — and honestly, he’s better than half the clipboard holders in the league.
Case Keenum’s on the roster because… well, somebody’s gotta be the old guy in the room. The leg injury is concerning, but if he can’t go, the Bears will scour the veteran scrap heap.
Running Backs (4)
- D’Andre Swift
- Roschon Johnson
- Kyle Monangai
- Travis Homer
Swift’s the lead back, but don’t be shocked if Roschon eats into those carries when Swift inevitably misses time. Monangai is the rookie surprise who flashed enough juice to keep a jersey on Sundays. Homer? He’s here for one reason: special teams. If the Bears cut him, Richard Hightower (ST coach) would riot.
Wide Receivers (6)
DJ Moore is still WR1 and still criminally underrated. Odunze slides in as WR2, already showing flashes of a future stud. Zaccheaus is Williams’ security blanket in the slot.
Burden’s was earlier banged up, but his upside is ridiculous. Duvernay sticks because of his return skills, while Jahdae Walker earned his spot the hard way: catching a game-winning plays in the preseason. Sorry Tyler Scott, you just got “Wally Pipp’d.”
Tight Ends (3)
Kmet is still the chain-mover. Loveland? The rookie looks like a damn cheat code already. Carlson’s here because somebody has to do the dirty blocking work.
Offensive Line (9)
- Braxton Jones
- Joe Thuney
- Drew Dalman
- Jonah Jackson
- Darnell Wright
- Ozzy Trapilo
- Theo Benedet
- Ryan Bates
- Luke Newman
Jones beating out Trapilo at LT after ankle surgery is one of the bigger storylines of camp. The Bears’ OL has been a constant punchline for years, but this unit? Not bad.
Thuney and Jackson give Williams legit veteran guards, Wright is a future Pro Bowler, and Dalman stabilizes the middle. Trapilo and Benedet give them depth on the outside. Bates and Newman are versatile plug-ins.
Defense (25 Players)
Defensive Line (11)
- Montez Sweat
- Dayo Odeyingbo
- Grady Jarrett
- Gervon Dexter
- Andrew Billings
- Austin Booker
- Tanoh Kpassagnon
- Shemar Turner
- Chris Williams
- Dominique Robinson
- Daniel Hardy
This group is still the biggest question mark of the team. They’ve gotten better this offseason and added real talent, but I’m still concerned. Sweat is the star, Odeyingbo hopefully gives him a real running mate, Jarrett brings veteran toughness, and Dexter continues to develop as a legit interior piece.
Billings is your run stuffer. Turner’s been dinged up, but he’ll stick. Booker’s injury makes his Week 1 status shaky, but his upside is too good to risk cutting.
Linebackers (5)
The top three are set. Edmunds and Edwards are one of the most underrated duos in football. Sewell is coming along as a bruiser. Hyppolite II is a rookie special teams hammer, while Ogbongbemiga fills out depth with his own ST chops.
Cornerbacks (5)
Jaylon Johnson is still CB1 and still the Bears’ defensive heartbeat. The CB2 battle between Stevenson and Wright has been messy thanks to injuries and poor pre-season performances, but Stevenson gets the edge. Gordon slides into nickel duties, while Blackwell is here for special teams and depth.
Safeties (4)
- Kevin Byard
- Jaquan Brisker
- Jonathan Owens
- Elijah Hicks
Byard brings experience. Brisker brings violence. Owens brings special teams. Hicks brings depth. Simple math.
Special Teams (3)
Santos remains reliable. Tory Taylor is the Aussie punting weapon. Daly’s the long snapper because no one notices long snappers until they screw up.
Key Position Battles
- Left Tackle: Braxton Jones beats Trapilo/Theo Benedit.
- Backup QB: Tyson Bagent seals QB2 with preseason heroics.
- WR6: Jahdae Walker steals the spot from Tyler Scott.
- CB2: Stevenson edges Wright, after his poor preseason.
Notable Cuts & Surprises
- Kiran Amegadjie (OT): 2024 third-rounder squeezed out.
- Zacch Pickens (DT): Buried under new blood.
- Tyler Scott (WR): Never developed, outplayed by an undrafted rookie.
This is the cost of progress — guys who were once “future starters” are now afterthoughts.
Practice Squad Watch
Names to remember: Austin Reed (QB), Ian Wheeler (RB), JP Richardson (WR), Joel Wilson (TE), Bill Murray (OL), Dominique Robinson (EDGE).
Final Verdict
Ben Johnson’s first Bears roster feels like a reset button finally got hit. It’s not perfect — there are holes at OL depth and injury questions everywhere — but it’s young, it’s hungry, and it’s balanced.
And honestly? That’s new for Chicago. For once, the Bears aren’t walking into Week 1 with duct tape rosters and prayer offense.
Mark it down: when the Bears host the Vikings on September 8th, they’ll be rolling out a team that finally looks like it belongs in 2025.
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