With two preseason games in the books and one remaining, it is a fair assumption the
Chicago Bears brass has a good idea of what the final roster will look like when cuts begin on August 30th. There could be one or two decisions left to make, but standard procedure dictates a team has most of their depth chart figured out. Now it's a matter of final evaluations and determining if they want to seek outside help via waivers.
Having a new regime arrive meant lots of changes were coming. It also meant there were going to be more than a few surprises. Players that might've been locks under Matt Nagy and Ryan Pace aren't safe anymore. There was also the widespread roster competition, unveiling some potential gems. With three weeks until the regular season begins, here is how I believe the final 53 shakes out.
Chicago Bears final 53-man roster prediction
Quarterback:
Nothing in the preseason changed the outlook at quarterback, and nobody expected it to. Fields and Siemian were #1 and #2 from the beginning. The only thing that might've convinced the team to carry a third QB on the depth chart was one of them being injured. Nathan Peterman was a nice camp body and someone who will start most of the preseason finale. He could be a practice squad addition if he doesn't sign elsewhere.
Running back:
- David Montgomery
- Khalil Herbert
- Trestan Ebner
- Khari Blasingame
No big surprises here. Montgomery and Herbert look like they will handle the workload on the ground, while Ebner has emerged as their best pass-catching option. It is a nice mix of options they didn't have last year. Blasingame also has receiving prowess at fullback. The question is whether he's healthy. Cameras caught him in a sling during the Seattle game, so it isn't clear if he will recover in time for the opener against San Francisco.
Wide receiver:
- Darnell Mooney
- Byron Pringle
- Velus Jones
- Equanimeous St. Brown
- Tajae Sharpe
- Dazz Newsome
The top three were locks from the beginning. St. Brown appears to have carved out a role for himself during training camp despite no preseason catches. Sharpe took advantage of injuries to others to build some chemistry with Fields and made some nice plays in practice and the opener against Kansas City. The big shock is Newsome. He's had a rough go of it in the return game with two muffed punts. He also dropped a pass on offense. So why does he still make the cut? He still managed to stand out in positive ways, particularly on special teams. Don't be surprised if he ends up cut anyway as the Chicago Bears seek outside help on the waiver wire.
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Tight end:
- Cole Kmet
- Ryan Griffin
- James O'Shaughnessy
- Jake Tonges
Kmet seems poised for a big year in 2022. Griffin and O'Shaughnessy aren't flashy but they're capable backups that provide versatility. Tonges stood out from the rest of the pack thanks to his ability to play traditional tight end while doubling as a fullback. It makes sense to keep him around, given Blasingame's rather dubious health status.
Offensive line:
The Bears drafted four offensive linemen this year. Two end up making the team. Doug Kramer suffered an unfortunate injury, while fellow 6th round pick Zachary Thomas has failed to distinguish himself. Carter, on the other hand, has looked surprisingly good. Borom will be the team's primary swing tackle. Simmon might be a surprise to many reading this. Understandably so. Still, it's worth pointing out that the former 7th rounder hasn't allowed a single pressure on the QB since moving to guard this preseason.
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Defensive line:
- Robert Quinn
- Al-Quadin Muhammad
- Trevis Gipson
- Dominique Robinson
- Sam Kamara
- Justin Jones
- Angelo Blackson
- Khyiris Tonga
- Mario Edwards Jr.
The Bears seem to have some nice depth at defensive end despite lacking star power outside of Quinn. Nobody is a better story than Kamara. He's been the forgotten one all training camp, and yet he leads the team with nine pressures in two preseason games, including a sack. Nobody else has reached even half that productivity. Jones and Blackson look like the starters at defensive tackle. Tonga has stood out in the preseason. Edwards Jr. should be a nice rotational piece on both the inside and outside.
Linebacker:
- Roquan Smith
- Nicholas Morrow
- Matthew Adams
- Jack Sanborn
- Demarquis Gates
There is a very real chance the Chicago Bears will go hunting for linebacker help during final cuts. Injuries have struck the position hard, and Smith remains out due to his contract issues. That is not a slight to Sanborn or Gates. Both have looked very good in the preseason, especially Sanborn. Both deserve to hold roster spots. It just feels like Poles and Eberflus will desire another veteran presence in the mix.
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Cornerback:
The top of the depth chart looks strong with Johnson and Gordon. After that, it's a guessing game. Vildor was terrible last season but seems to have coaches' confidence now. Young is dependable on the field but hasn't been healthy most of camp. Jones and Keyes played well during their preseason opportunities and offer some special teams value. Thomas Graham Jr. being absent here is unfortunate. The hamstring injury he suffered couldn't have had worse timing.
Safety:
Brisker already looks like a stud after one preseason game. He and Jackson could make a formidable combination. Cruikshank brings coverage ability while Houston-Carson is a special teams ace. Hicks has looked strong in the third phase too, and brings plenty of upside with his range and athleticism. It is a surprisingly deep group compared to last year.
Special teams:
Santos and Scales remain utterly dependable at their respective positions. It is something this team hasn't had a lot of in recent years. The most pleasant surprise is Gill. People were surprised when the Bears drafted a punter. After watching him for two preseason games, it isn't surprising anymore. His accuracy and directional prowess are beyond impressive for a rookie. He could be a fixture for Chicago for years to come.
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