As we have done the last few years, shortly after the NFL Draft, we project the Chicago Bears’ 53-man roster. If you want to see this year’s attempt, you can check it out here.
But with the Bears’ final cut-down day being less than a week away, let’s take another attempt at the 53-man roster. Many of the choices from May remain, but there’s certainly going to be some changes.
Quarterbacks (3): Caleb Williams, Tyson Bagent, Case Keenum
It seems pretty straightforward here. Perhaps Keenum can unseat Bagent as QB2, but Bagent had a strong performance against the
Buffalo Bills, and I think this room is locked and Bagent is almost certainly QB2. I would expect Austin Reed to remain on the practice squad.
Running Backs (4): D’Andre Swift, Roschon Johnson, Kyle Monangai, Travis Homer
This is another room that seems pretty set. Roschon Johnson has struggled to get on the field, and nobody seems to have a straight answer as to what his situation is. Could Johnson end up on IR to start the season? Is his job safe, or could he end up being released?
If Johnson is released, I know many Bears fans would point to Ian Wheeler to take his spot. Wheeler has looked good in the preseason, but I haven’t seen anything elite from Wheeler playing against Miami and Buffalo’s 3s to make me think he can translate to a key contributor on Sundays. I think Wheeler spends another season on the practice squad, and the Bears may look to bring in a veteran into the mix here, depending on who is available.
Wide Receivers (5): DJ Moore, Rome Odunze, Olamide Zaccheaus, Luther Burden, Devin Duvernay
This room is loaded. The Bears have four players who are good enough to be key contributors on the offense on Sundays, and Duvernay will be a nice addition on special teams as a return man. Tyler Scott had a couple of nice catches against Buffalo, but his botched kick return to start the game is exactly why Scott just can’t be on this roster anymore- he isn’t good enough to be an offense-only contributor, and he just is not a good special teams player.
I think the Bears have multiple players they could consider on the practice squad from this group, including Samori Toure, Miles Boykin, Maurice Alexander, Jahade Walker, and JP Richardson. I could see the Bears keeping as many as three from this room on the practice squad.
Tight Ends (3): Cole Kmet, Colston Loveland, Durham Smythe
This is another room that feels pretty straightforward to me. There is a possibility being the Bears will utilize a lot of 12 personnel, that the Bears may keep a fourth tight end here, but I think they just keep the three, and if Kmet or Loveland gets dinged up, the Bears will just shift to 11 personnel and drop the heavy usage of 12.
If someone like Joel Wilson had a dominant preseason, perhaps he could have found a spot on the 53, but I just don’t think any of these players earned spots on the 53. I would expect Wilson and Stephen Carlson to find themselves on the practice squad.
Offensive Line (10): Darnell Wright, Jonah Jackson, Drew Dalman, Joe Thuney, Braxton Jones, Ozzy Trapilo, Theo Benedet, Kiran Amegadjie, Ryan Bates, Luke Newman
I think the starting four is set, and I think Braxton Jones, at this point, is almost certainly going to land the starting LT job week one. I think the Bears keep Ozzy Trapilo and Kiran Amegadjie and start working Theo Benedet more at guard during the fall and see if he has a legitimate future there. Ryan Bates has been healthy and has been operating as the team’s primary backup center, and in the spring, I expected Luke Newman to be a practice squad player, but he has played well in his preseason opportunities, and I think he keeps his spot on the 53.
I have a soft spot for Bill Murray, but he just hasn’t been healthy this summer, and I think he doesn’t have a spot on the 53. I think the Bears will try to bring him to the practice squad, and being he hasn’t played much this summer, I think there’s a strong chance that will happen.
With the Bears being heavy at tackle on the 53, I don’t think they need to keep another tackle on the practice squad. I think they can keep Doug Kramer (or Ricky Stromberg) as an additional player who’s capable of playing center along with Murray.
Special Teams (3): Cairo Santos, Tory Taylor, Scott Daly
Is there anything to say about this group? No? I agree. As straightforward as it can be.
Defensive Ends (5): Montez Sweat, Dayo Odeyingbo, Austin Booker, Dominque Robinson, Tanoh Kpassagnon
This is not a phenomenal group. Sweat and Odeyingbo are capable starters, and Booker could grow into the DE3 role, but there’s no reason to trust Robinson coming off another good preseason, which he does each year until he fails to contribute in the regular season. Kpassagnon makes the roster thanks to his familiarity with Dennis Allen.
The Bears should have a handful of guys on the practice squad from the defensive line. Jameree Kromah makes the practice squad, as does Daniel Hardy.
Defensive Tackles (5): Grady Jarrett, Gervon Dexter, Andrew Billings, Shemar Turner, Chris Williams
I think this room is pretty set. There’s no argument on the top four, and Chris Williams seems pretty set to be a part of this group as well. I think we see Zacch Pickens sent packing, and the Bears don’t even choose to keep him on the practice squad. I do think Jonathan Ford returns to the practice squad.
Linebackers (5): Tremaine Edmunds, TJ Edwards, Noah Sewell, Ruben Hyppolite, Amen Ogbongbemiga
The only room clearer than this on defense is safety, which we will address next. The Bears will have Edmunds and Edwards start, with Sewell coming in when the Bears shift out of nickel. Hyppolite will see plenty of action on special teams and maybe a sprinkle of defensive snaps. Ogbongbemiga makes the roster based on his special teams ability. I expect the Bears to keep Power Echols and Swayne Bozeman on the practice squad.
Safeties (4): Jaquan Brisker, Kevin Byard, Jonathan Owens, Elijah Hicks
This group is probably the most straightforward on the defense. Most teams like to keep four safeties, and the Bears have four safeties that are ahead of everyone else, and it would be pretty shocking if these four aren’t the safeties that are on the roster against the Minnesota Vikings in week one. Alex Cook projects to the practice squad.
Cornerbacks (6): Jaylon Johnson, Tyrique Stevenson, Kyler Gordon, Josh Blackwell, Nashon Wright, Nick McCloud
IR: Terell Smith, Zah Frazier
The first four names listed are all no-brainers, and I think Nashon Wright has played himself into no-brainer territory as well. There hasn’t been an official update for Smith, but it feels like his injury will be significant enough to keep him out multiple weeks, possibly for the year.
Rookie Zah Frazier has yet to report due to a personal matter. There hasn’t been any further news about this. The Bears could put him on the Did Not Report list, but if they do that, Frazier doesn’t receive a paycheck. Assuming Frazier is having some sort of serious family issue, I think the Bears put him on IR with some sort of “injury” and we don’t see him this year.
With both Smith and Frazier not on the 53, I think the versatility of Nick McCloud, who can play inside and out, ends up on the final 53-man roster. Tre Flowers heads to the practice squad.
Practice Squad:
QB Austin Reed, RB Ian Wheeler, TE Stephen Carlson, TE Joel Wilson, OL Doug Kramer, OL Bill Murray, WR Samori Toure, WR Jahdae Walker, DT Jonathan Ford, DE Daniel Hardy, DE Jamree Kromah, LB Swayze Bozeman, LB Power Echols, S Alex Cook, CB Tre Flowers
