Training camp is finally here, and the Chicago Bears’ veterans are set to report on Wednesday before kicking off the practice festivities later in the week. Coming off an 11-6 season and their first NFC North crown in seven seasons, the “surprise” Bears are no more. Expectations are high, and the “next step” is there for the taking.
Although Super Bowls can’t be won or lost in training camp or the preseason, last year was a prime example of how important the foundation of a team is. Fans should expect
that to be established over the next month and a half. While the team still has clear gaps, coaching will drive further development.
Before enjoying all of the fun that comes with the training camp and preseason, let’s give this roster one final projection before the action begins.
Quarterback (3): Caleb Williams, Tyson Bagent, and Case Keenum
Because of the contracts handed out to Bagent and Keenum, barring an injury, this group is set in stone. The big focus will be on Williams taking another sizable leap forward in Year 3, and keeping the quarterback room the same from a year ago is a good first step to making that happen. The only question is whether or not they’ll keep a quarterback on the practice squad.
Practice Squad: Miller Moss
Running Back (3): D’Andre Swift, Kyle Munangai, and Brittain Brown
The top two spots of the depth chart are good to go, but past that, it’s all a mystery. Chicago is set to open camp with six names at the position. The more pressing question is how many they’ll choose to keep on the final roster. Some view Roschon Johnson as the favorite for the RB3 spot, but considering his injury history, I find it hard to believe that he’s their preference. If they opt to keep four, maybe Johnson’s chances improve, but assuming they keep three, my prediction is that the final spot comes down to a choice between Salvon Ahmed and Brown.
Practice Squad: Salvon Ahmed and Coleman Bennett
Tight End (3): Colston Loveland, Cole Kmet, and Sam Roush
Since taking over as the head coach last offseason, Ben Johnson has put a strong emphasis on reworking his tight end room. It started with last year’s No. 10 overall pick and continued in April with Roush and the undrafted free agent signing of Hayden Large. In addition to the three names projected to make the roster, Large, veteran Stephen Carlson, and Nikola Kalinic will be challenging for a final roster spot if the team keeps four. Worst case, don’t be surprised to see a pair of tight ends on the practice squad.
Practice Squad: Hayden Large and Stephen Carlson
Wide Receiver (5): Rome Odunze, Luther Burden III, Kalif Raymond, Jahdae Walker, and Zavion Thomas
No DJ Moore, no problem? That’s what the Bears are hoping for, and assuming all goes well, that should be exactly the case. Odunze and Burden will be their top two receivers, but the added speed of Raymond and Thomas should not be overlooked. Depth is the bigger question here, which is why they could keep six. That said, Johnson’s value on tight ends in 12 and 13 personnel could lessen the need to keep an extra receiver. If they do, keep an eye on Scotty Miller, Maurice Alexander, and potentially Kaden Davis for that final spot, as all three would provide quality special teams value.
Practice Squad: Scotty Miller and Kyron Hudson
Offensive Line (10): Braxton Jones, Joe Thuney, Garrett Bradbury, Jonah Jackson, Darnell Wright, Logan Jones, Luke Newman, Theo Benedet, Jedrick Wills Jr., and Jordan McFadden
Ideally, Drew Dalman wouldn’t have retired, and Ozzy Trapilo would be fully healthy heading into camp. Unfortunately, neither situation is true, and that’s just something the Bears have needed to deal with. On the plus side, they have a very good group of starters and the best depth we’ve seen in quite some time. No matter who wins the starting left tackle and center competitions, they should be in good hands. How the depth plays out behind the starting five will be interesting, along with how many bodies they choose to keep. There are plenty of rosterable names and simply not enough spots.
Practice Squad: Caden Barnett, Jaren Kump, and Mason Murphy
Defensive End (5): Montez Sweat, Austin Booker, Dayo Odeyingbo, Shemar Turner, and Daniel Hardy
For a second straight season, the team’s front office has left fans wanting more off the edge. Barring a surprise move (or an injury that necessitates one), it feels like the coaching staff is content to roll into the season with what they have. Odeyingbo’s participation in veteran mini-camp was quite the surprise, and the hope is that Turner will be ready for the start of training camp. Sweat is a quality player, but he’ll need someone to step up on the other side of him. This group doesn’t have much upside, but the hope is that with better health, they’ll have a safer floor in 2026.
Practice Squad: Jonathan Garvin
Defensive Tackle (5): Grady Jarrett, Gervon Dexter Sr., Neville Gallimore, Jordan van den Berg, and Kentavius Street
Even if the Bears didn’t spend big resources at the position, it’s clear that the emphasis on tackle was simply to acquire better scheme fits for Dennis Allen’s unit. Jarrett and Dexter project as the team’s starters, but Gallimore should see a valuable role. How the final spot (or two) play out will be interesting to monitor with veterans like James Lynch and Street locked into battles with rookies Jayden Loving and van den Berg. Similar to edge rusher, the hope is that the floor has been raised, even if the ceiling remains concerning.
Practice Squad: Jayden Loving
Linebacker (6): Devin Bush, DeMarco Jackson, T.J. Edwards, Ruben Hyppolite, Keshawn Elliott, and Jack Sanborn
Following Tremaine Edmunds’ release, the focus at linebacker has been on speed and playmaking ability. Bush brings both, and the hope is that with more experience in a starting role, Jackson can continue to ascend. The two big questions in this group are simple:
- Who starts alongside Bush? Jackson fits the physical profile better, but Edwards is regarded as a leader.
- How will the depth spots shake out with Hyppolite, Elliott, Sanborn, and the Sewell brothers all vying for two, maybe three spots?
Overall, it’s easy to see why this group should be better suited than they were a year ago, but as we’ve seen during the offseason program, health will be key to getting the most out of this unit.
Practice Squad: Nephi Sewell
Cornerback (6): Jaylon Johnson, Tyrique Stevenson, Kyler Gordon, Malik Muhammad, Terell Smith, and Josh Blackwell
If healthy, this group has a chance to jump right back into the “very good” category. At their best, both Johson and Gordon are top names at their positions. Stevenson comes into a contract year with plenty to prove, and the competition for starting snaps opposite Johnson should be a healthy one with Muhammad and Smith vying for a role. Smith is not a lock to make this roster, but if he can prove he’s healthy, his upside is far greater than what Jaylon Jones can provide on the field. Finally, barring a surprise, Blackwell projects as the special teams ace and backup nickel to Gordon.
Practice Squad: KC Eziomume and Dallis Flowers
Safety (4): Coby Bryant, Dillon Thieneman, Cam Lewis, and Elijah Hicks
Heading into free agency, the Bears didn’t have any of their four safeties from 2025 under contract. When all was said and done, they parted ways with three of the four, including both starters. While it’s fair to assume that they’ll miss Kevin Byard’s play-making ability and veteran leadership, it’s also easy to see what they are going for with their new starting tandem of Bryant and Thieneman. Versatility is key, and so is speed. Lewis should double as a backup safety and a potential option as a backup nickel. Hicks is back for a fifth year in Chicago. There’s not much mystery here, barring an injury.
Practice Squad: Skyler Thomas
Special Teams (3): K Cairo Santos, P Tory Taylor, and LS Beau Gardner
With the recent release of undrafted free agent kicker Gabriel Plascencia, the first two spots are all but written in pen. The only question remains at long snapper, which is a competition between Luke Elkin and Gardner. Neither has played in an NFL regular-season game, and both came into the league as undrafted free agents. With Scott Daly off to Tampa Bay, their veteran options will be limited, but a better option could present itself closer to cut-down day. For now, I’ll project Gardner to win the job.
