The Chicago Bears play a game this week and have revealed their first official depth chart.
There are relatively few surprises given how things have progressed so far in training camp. Rookie Roschon Johnson leaped from fifth on the depth chart to third behind starter Khalil Herbert and backup D’Onta Foreman. The latter two figure to split the lion’s share of the carries. It was pretty much status quo, though some things were made certain.
Veteran DeMarcus Walker manning the other EDGE spot opposite recent signing Yannick Ngakoue. But we will have to wait until Saturday’s preseason opener against the Tennessee Titans to see who gets the first crack at the other outside spot when Kyler Gordon slides inside in nickel looks.
Bears’ Roster Gets Shakeup Amid Depth Chart Release
New Faces in the Building
Tuesday’s practice featured several players returning from injury, and several other still nursing ailments. But it was preceded by the announcement of a couple of roster moves. Both moves should only affect the back end of the Bears’ revamped roster. The team announced the additions of young linebacker Barrington Wade and even younger tight end Lachlan Pitts.
Wade, 25, is a former undrafted free agent who last played for the Denver Broncos. The 6-foot-1, 235-pounder made four appearances in 2021, recording just one tackle. He is in the mold of starter T.J. Edwards but linebacker is one of the deeper positions on the roster.
They added Dylan Cole and Buddy Johnson earlier this offseason.
Pitts is a 6-foot-6, 250-pound rookie out of William & Mary College. He went undrafted this year after recording 28 grabs for 543 yards and five touchdowns as a senior in 2022.
As is the case with Wade, Edwards enters a crowded tight end room that added Robert Tonyan to incumbent Cole Kmet earlier in the offseason and brought in veteran blocking specialist Marcedes Lewis just last week.
Despite both positions being deeper than others, there are still three more weeks of training camp. Healthy bodies can quickly come at a premium. This also helps the Bears fill spots on their practice squad if a player impresses during the preseason but is still far enough down the depth chart. There is no reason to fault either signing. The cost was backup kicker Andre Szmyt and reserve tight end Jake Tonges who was waived with an injury designation.
Titans HC Passing Torch for Preseason Opener
Three Bears – Cole, Walker, and guard Nate Davis – will be facing their old team, the Titans, on August 12 in the preseason opener. But there will be a rather unfamiliar figure – at least to those on the outside – roaming the sidelines with the master headset. Head coach Mike Vrabel has decided to let assistant head coach Terrell Williams run the show.
Mike Vrabel announces that assistant HC and DL coach Terrell Williams will serve as Titans’ HC vs Bears on Saturday. Vrabel will be assisting. Great exposure for Williams down the road for potential HC candidacy: pic.twitter.com/lQXfDXEL7J
— Teresa Walker 👑 (@TeresaMWalker) August 7, 2023
Williams is likely very familiar with and to Walker, serving as the Titans’ defensive line coach on top of his assistant head coaching duties.
It’s a similar opportunity to what Bears offensive coordinator Luke Getsy enjoyed this spring. Getsy was the head coach of the American Team at the 2023 Reese’s Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama, heading the operation for an entire week.