The Chicago Bears wrapped their 2024 preseason slate with a 34-21 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. It was the final chance for a large swath of players to prove themselves with the August 27 roster cutdown deadline looming. The Bears will have a few practice sessions before then.
That is unlikely to be enough time to sway opinions formed since camp opened on July 19. That makes this as good of an opportunity as any to project the Bears? 2024 53-man roster.
Bears-Chiefs Takeaways: Projecting Bears? 2024 53-Man Roster
1). Velus Jones Jr. Breaks Century Mark on the Ground
Third-year wideout Velus Jones Jr. finished the game with 111 yards and one touchdown on 13 carries. He wrapped the preseason with 25 carries for 158 yards and two touchdowns and two receptions for 11 yards.
Bears head coach Matt Eberflus was not ready to deem Jones a wideout when speaking with the media. His usage says otherwise and could be his ticket to keeping a spot on the Bears’ final roster.
2) Bears 2nd-Year Players Thrive
The Bears QBs all performed well, completing 68.9% of their passes for 226 yards and one touchdown with zero interceptions in the game. They also did not take any sacks. But, notably, second-year QB Tyson Bagent has continued his steady play.
Second-year wideout Tyler Scott had one reception for 17 yards in the preseason finale. But he also showcased his big-play ability even in simply drawing a pass interference call.
3) Rookies Primed to Make an Impact
Rookie fifth-round pick Austin Booker continued to look like he belongs while undrafted free agent Reddy Steward intercepted two passes, taking one all the way back for a touchdown.
They are in different situations but could both make big impacts.
4) Bears? 53-Man Roster Projection
Quarterback (2): Caleb Williams, Tyson Bagent
Caleb Williams is the No. 1 overall pick and the Bears starting quarterback. The only question about him was always who would back him up. In that regard, Bagent has been in control of the job from the outset of camp.
This would mean the Bears cut 2024 free agent signing Brett Rypien and rookie undrafted free agent Austin Reed.
Both could be candidates for the practice squad if they do not latch on elsewhere.
Running Back (5): D?Andre Swift, Khalil Herbert, Roschon Johnson, Travis Homer, Khari Blasingame
D?Andre Swift was signed in free agency to be the Bears? 2024 starter. His spot was always secured. He arrives off a career year with the Philadelphia Eagles, but his injury history could lead the Bears to pivot from popular convection behind him.
Khalil Herbert entered the preseason seemingly on the roster bubble, and he still may be.
But second-year back Roschon Johnson and the rest of the room have done nothing to wrestle the RB2 job away from him.
Travis Homer sticks thanks in large part to his special teams duties. But this would leave rookie UDFA Ian Wheeler as a cut and practice squad candidate. Blasingame?s roster spot is far from secure amid light usage since his arrival and during the 2024 preseason.
Wide Receiver (6): DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, Rome Odunze, Tyler Scott, DeAndre Carter, Velus Jones Jr.
DJ Moore just signed a four-year contract extension. The Bears acquired Keenan Allen via trade from the Los Angeles Chargers over the offseason and drafted Rome Odunze with the No. 9 overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft.
They were instant locks.
Second-year wideout Tyler Scott has flashed as a downfield threat and is still a former draft pick of the current regime.
Jones was also drafted by this regime, and his potential versatility as a slash running back and return man is intriguing enough to keep him around. He also benefits from very few of the other receivers producing or staying healthy enough to force him off the roster.
The Bears signed DeAndre Carter to be their return man and that alone figures to keep him on.
This would mean the likes of Collin Johnson, Dante Pettis, Freddie Swain, Johnson Jackson III, Nsimba Webster, and Peter LeBlanc are all cut/practice squad candidates.
Tight End (3): Cole Kmet, Gerald Everett, Marcedes Lewis
This is another one of the easier projections, with Cole Kmet in the heart of a big extension, Gerald Everett added in free agency, and Marcedes Lewis a valued veteran in the locker room and on the field.
Young players Tommy Sweeney and Brendan Bates flashed in the preseason and could make for a tough decision along with veteran Stephen Carlson for the practice squad.
Tackle (4): Braxton Jones, Darnell Wright, *Larry Borom, Kiran Amegadjie
Braxton Jones and Darnell Wright being (mostly) durable offers the Bears some flexibility here, as they can allocate some depth to other positions. Amegadjie is a project and could begin his career at guard. But the Bears do a good job of cross-training their backups.
Borom is a big question mark following the win over the Chiefs. He was carted off with an apparent knee injury and was already a player who appeared to be on the bubble.
A significant injury could mean his tenure with the Bears ends or shifts to the practice squad.
He has been a valued fill-in at both tackle spots in his time, so losing him to injury or roster constraints could put them in the market for a swing option. They also have 2023 practice squadder Aviante Collins who has experience at both tackle and inside at guard.
Collins or Jake Curhan could find their way onto the roster even if Borom is healthy depending on what the Bears do at other spots.
Guard (5): Teven Jenkins, Nate Davis, Ryan Bates, Ja?Tyre Carter, Matt Pryor
Teven Jenkins is locked in at left guard, though he is in the final year of his contract and could cash in if he stays healthy in 2024.
It looked as though Nate Davis could be in jeopardy of losing his starting job to Ryan Bates, who was initially set to compete for the starting center job. Bates, a leader in the locker room, now becomes the top backup for Davis (and Shelton) in this scenario.
Matt Pryor is another option that has inside-outside versatility.
The Bears do have him listed at guard where he started versus the Houston Texans in the Hall of Fame Game.
Ja?Tyre Carter started two of his 10 appearances in 2023 and offers the versatility to play both guard spots. That could help him keep a spot on the final roster over Jerome Carvin or Bill Murray.
Center (1): Coleman Shelton
Coleman Shelton has more starts at center than Bates, whose ability to play both center and guard means reserve Doug Kramer Jr. faces another year on the practice squad. Kramer briefly joined the Arizona Cardinals after they claimed him from the practice squad in 2023.
He was back with the Bears less than two weeks after leaving, who have kept him around despite seeking other options ahead of him.
Defensive End: Montez Sweat, DeMarcus Walker, Austin Booker, Daniel Hardy, Dominique Robinson (5)
The Bears locked up Montez Sweat on a monster extension before the 2023 season ended, and DeMarcus Walker figures to have a big role between duties at edge rusher and defensive tackle in pass rushing situations.
Booker has done nothing to disprove his self-given ?sleeper? label, showcasing athleticism and an innate feel for rushing quarterbacks.
Daniel Hardy flashed far more often than Dominique Robinson did during the preseason.
If the final roster decisions come down to the two of them, the Bears could have to put sentimentality aside for their former draft pick (Robinson) in favor of the former Los Angeles Ram (Hardy).
Jacob Martin flashed early in camp but missed much of it with an injury and has not been able to translate that to a game setting.
Khalid Kareem could be the beneficiary of that which could preserve a practice squad spot.
The x-factor is whether the Bears follow through on their designs to add a rusher after cut day after their interest in Matt Judon before he was traded to the Atlanta Falcons. If another option becomes available, the Bears could (and maybe should) kick the tires with Jamree Kromah and Carl Jones showing little in the preseason.
Defensive Tackle (4): Andrew Billings, Gervon Dexter, Zacch Pickens, Byron Cowart
Andrew Billings is the lone proven veteran in the group. Gervon Dexter is in his second season and appears primed to establish himself as a presence at defensive tackle in his sophomore campaign.
There is a lot of uncertainty behind them, though, even with second-year tackle Zacch Pickens in the mix.
He exited practice to start the final week of the preseason and never returned.
Pickens also has not flashed the kind of development that would instill confidence the Bears do not need to explore outside options at defensive tackle even more than they do at edge rusher before the season starts.
Cowart sticks in part due to the uncertainty around Pickens and because none of the other options have proven they should stay over him.
He is a likely cut candidate in the event the Bears add someone to the group.
This scenario would mean Keith Randolph Jr., Michael Dwumfour, and Dashaun Mallory are all cut candidates. Again, this is arguably the biggest need for Bears general manager Ryan Poles and the front office to address entering the regular season.
Linebacker (5): Tremaine Edmunds, T.J. Edwards, Jack Sanborn, Noah Sewell, Amen Ogbongbemiga
Tremaine Edmunds, T.J. Edwards, and part-time fellow starter Jack Sanborn were never in question.
Second-year linebacker Noah Sewell will need to stay on the field to justify keeping him. But he is another prospect who has flashed when he has been available. Heavy nickel use means the Bears do not have to go very deep here. They did sign Ogbongbemiga to be a core member of their special teams, though, so that should keep him in the fold.
Reserves Micah Baskerville, Pual Moala, and Javin White could all find their way onto the practice squad when all is said and done.
Cornerback (4): Jaylon Johnson, Tyrique Stevenson, Terell Smith, Jaylon Jones
2023 Second-Team All-Pro Jaylon Johnson is fresh off inking his monster contract extension and entrenched atop the depth chart. Second-year corner Tyrique Stevenson is looking to establish himself this season.
Terell Smith was mentioned in a similar breath as Stevenson coming into the NFL and provides strong depth.
Jaylon Jones has appeared in 33 of 34 possible career games and is a core special teamer.
Depth options Leon Jones and Ro Torrence have not done enough to shake up the back end of the Bears? depth chart. They could also find landing with the Bears? practice squad a tall order due to the depth at nickelback.
Nickelback (1): Kyler Gordon
Kyler Gordon is a rising star who only needs to stay healthy to continue his upward trajectory. He has missed time in his career, which could lead the Bears to keep some insurance.
Josh Blackwell and especially Steward have made big plays in the preseason and could each make a case to make the final roster. The Bears also have Greg Stroman Jr. listed ahead of both of them on the depth chart.
Steward?s big night against the Chiefs could make getting him to the practice squad tricky.
Safety (4): Jaquan Brisker, Kevin Byard, Elijah Hicks, Jonathan Owens
There is very little mystery at safety, where the Bears have invested draft picks (Jaquan Brisker and Elijah Hicks) and cap dollars (Kevin Byard and Jonathan Owens) to address the position in recent years.
They have always had more bodies there than projected roster spots.
Veteran Adrian Colbert had a big pass breakup in the preseason finale. But it is hard to envision the Bears pushing someone else off the roster for him.
The same goes for Tarvarius Moore, Quindell Johnson, and Douglas Coleman III, the latter of whom had to be hospitalized with an injury suffered versus KC. Eberflus did say that Coleman was able to move his extremities on the sideline.
Special Teams (4): Cairo Santos (Kicker), Tory Taylor (Punter), Cameron Lyons (Long Snapper)*, Pat Scales (Long Snapper)
This is also pretty cut and dry. Cairo Santo and Tory Taylor were as good as locks barring disastrous performances. The Bears never brought competition in for Santos. They did bring in punter Corliss Waitman, but he is a camp leg.
Cameron Lyons sticks due to veteran Patrick Scales’ lingering injury.
When Scales returns, Lyons could be cut or sent to the practice squad if the Bears don?t make another move.