We’ll know how off (or on) I am with my Chicago Bears 53 Man Roster Prediction on Sunday at 5:00 pn (CT), but I had to take a crack at this. Plus, my prediction features a trade!
A few of my WCG colleagues also made their best guess at Chicago’s 53, so let me know who predicted it best!
On Sunday afternoon, shortly after the Bears reveal their first roster for 2026, Jeff Berckes and I will be live on 2nd City Gridiron talking through it all.
Here are my predictions!
OFFENSE (25)
QB (3): Caleb Williams, Tyson Bagent,
Case Keenum
This is the free square on the bingo board.
RB (3): D’Andre Swift, Kyle Monangai, Salvon Ahmed
Ahmed just has more juice than Roschon Johnson.
WR (5): Rome Odunze, Luther Burden III, Kalif Raymond, Jahdae Walker, Zavion Thomas
I think a 6th is possible, but I think it’s more likely they bring two or three back to the practice squad.
TE (4): Colston Loveland, Cole Kmet, Sam Roush, Hayden Large
Large was dinged up at practice earlier this week, but if he’s healthy, I see him sticking around on the 53.
OL (10): Darnell Wright, Braxton Jones, Joe Thuney, Jonah Jackson, Garrett Bradbury, Theo Benedet, Luke Newman, Jordan McFadden, Logan Jones, Ozzy Trapilo
If Trapilo starts on injured reserve, I think they roll with 9.
SPECIAL TEAMS (3)
K: Cairo Santos
P: Tory Taylor
LS: Beau Gardner
If QB was the free bingo square, then this is the stone-clod lead-pipe lock.
DEFENSE (25)
DE (4): Montez Sweat, Austin Booker, Dayo Odeyingbo, Daniel Hardy
The Bears have been ramping Marcus Davenport up slowly with his conditioning and weight training, so I think he’s cut and brought back to the practice squad while he continues getting ready. Jamree Kromah is on the bubble, but ultimately I think he starts on the practice squad.
DT (5): Grady Jarrett, Neville Gallimore, Jordan van den Berg, Kentavius Street, James Lynch
The Gervon Dexter Sr. trade rumors are interesting, and the more I look at the roster, the more I think he’s moved. He’s the last ‘Flus DT standing in that room, and they want to get Dayo inside reps on passing downs. Lynch played both end and tackle this preseason. If Dexter stays, then Lynch is the odd man out.
LB (6): Devin Bush, T.J. Edwards, D’Marco Jackson, Jack Sanborn, Ruben Hyppolite II, Keyshaun Elliott
Hyppolite and Elliott could be battling for 1 spot if they decide on an extra DB or DL.
CB (6): Jaylon Johnson, Tyrique Stevenson, Malik Muhammad II, Terell Smith, Jaylon Jones, Josh Blackwell
Josh Blackwell and Jaylon Jones are a toss-up for me. Blackwell seems better in the third phase, while Jones is a better DB. Smith has outside size over these two, but he’s been injured. I would not be surprised to see the Bears make a move (trade/waivers) for a corner and let either Smith, Jones, or Blackwell go.
S (4): Dillon Thieneman, Xavier Woods, Cam Lewis, Elijah Hicks
Hicks was getting starter reps a day after coming off the PUP list.
INJURED RESERVE: Coby Bryant S
Unless someone is hurt against the Titans on Saturday night, I don’t think anyone is currently injured enough to warrant missing 4 games.
SEASON-ENDING INJURED RESERVE: Dallis Flowers CB, Jonathan Garvin DE, Nikola Kalinic TE, Nephi Sewell LB
PUP LIST: Kyler Gordon CB, Noah Sewell LB, Shemar Turner DE
Sewell was spotted running at practice, so he may be close, but I think they keep him on PUP to start the season.
PRACTICE SQUAD: Maurice Alexander WR, JP Richardson WR, Kaden Davis WR, Brittain Brown RB, Stephen Carlson TE, Qadir Ismail TE, Kyle Hergel OL, Caden Barnett OL, Kiran Amegadjie OL, Jamree Kromah DE, Jeremiah Martin DE, Jayden Loving DT, Jon Rhattigan LB, Skyler Thomas S, Dontae Manning CB, Marcus Davenport DE
On Sunday afternoon, shortly after the Bears reveal their first roster for 2026, Jeff Berckes and I will be live on 2nd City Gridiron talking through it all.
