With roster cuts in the rearview and practice squads across the league all but finalized for opening day, we ask the following question:
Which current practice squad player will make the biggest impact?
You can take a look at Chicago’s practice squad in depth here, but for me, this answer boils down to three players.
Salvon Ahmed – Running Back
Ahmed was having a strong camp and explosive preseason before finally being cut and landing on the PS. Averaging 6 yards per carry and taking a screen pass 49 yards for a TD highlighted his training camp experience, but Ahmed routinely made plays in camp and looked
every bit deserving of a roster spot.
Kaden Davis – Wide Receiver
Kaden Davis was my surprise of camp. Undrafted in the 2022 NFL Draft, Davis, AKA “White Lightning,” never recorded a single catch in the regular season and only returned four kickoffs – all with the Browns, according to Pro Football Reference. After spending time with the Lions practice squad, Davis showed up in Chicago and made more plays than arguably anyone else. I was actually expecting him to make the final 53, but not surprised to see him at least land on the PS.
Marcus Davenport – DE
Drafted in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints, Davenport joined Dennis Allen’s defense and notched 4.5 sacks as a rookie. Standing 6’6” and weighing 265lb (though I am guessing it’s much closer to 300 these days), Davenport is a prototypical Dennis Allen 4-3 DE. How much he has left in the tank, however, is another question. Especially after struggling through injuries his entire career and only once starting more than 9 games in a season. Added to a thin DE rotation, Davenport could be leaned upon heavily.
My pick? Salvon Ahmed.
The running back brought a burst that only starter D’Andre Swift possesses in both the run and pass game and comes in knowing new RB coach Eric Studesville’s run scheme, as he formerly played for Studesville in Miami. Weather it’s in the return game or spelling Swift and Monangai on offense, I expect Ahmed to have more of an impact than any other practice squad player in 2026.
