The Chicago Bears roster is going to remain fluid for the next month. Preseason action is about to begin and there are plenty of spots that remain wide open from offense to defense and even special teams. Nobody is certain where a lot of guys stand, including the coaches themselves. Everybody knows their job could be on the line this year. That means they have to put together the absolute best 53-man lineup they can.
So we’re going to break it down. Every single player lumped into a category they fit best. Who is a lock to reach opening day? Who’s in the fringe, who is a long shot and who are those that might be traded or slipped onto the practice squad? There might be a few surprises along the way that fans won’t expect.
Don’t worry. All will be explained.
Long Shots
- Connor Shaw
- Benny Cunningham
- Josh Rounds
- Mike Burton
- Titus Davis
- Rueben Randle
- Mycole Pruitt
- Cyril Richardson
- Taylor Boggs
- Mitchell Kirsch
- Kapron Lewis-Moore
- Hendrick Ekpe
- Alex Scearce
- Dan Skuta
- Isaiah Irving
- Johnthan Banks
- Rashaad Reynolds
- Chris Prosinski
Nobody likes to throw out the phrase “camp bodies” too often because it belies the intensive hard work these young men put in to stick on an NFL roster. At the same time, either due to lacking talent or tough competition they just don’t look hopeful. That’s why they’re in the long shot category. These are the players who, barring a glowing preseason performance these men aren’t long for the roster.
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Perhaps the most disappointing occupant is Connor Shaw. He’s become a favorite among fans in the past year, lauded for his tireless work ethic and leadership. Unfortunately his odds of beating out Mark Sanchez for the third spot are slim. The Bears view Sanchez as an ideal mentor to Mitch Trubisky, not to mention valuable experience as a backup.
On the Bubble
- Mark Sanchez
- Jeremy Langford
- Ka’Deem Carey
- Victor Cruz
- Markus Wheaton
- Daniel Braverman
- Tanner Gentry
- Deonte Thompson
- Josh Bellamy
- Zach Miller
- Daniel Brown
- Bradley Sowell
- Tom Compton
- William Poehls
- Jaye Howard
- C.J. Wilson
- John Jenkins
- Lamarr Houston
- Sam Acho
- John Timu
- Jonathan Anderson
- Christian Jones
- Bryce Callahan
- Cre’Von LeBlanc
- Sherrick McManis
- B.W. Webb
- Adrian Amos
- Deon Bush
- DeAndre Houston-Carson
- Harold Jones-Quartey
- Connor Barth
It’s no surprise that this portion of the list is the largest. Put simply the Bears roster is still in a state of volatile flux. That’s what happens coming off a 3-13 season. This means there will be a lot of turnover where guys are on short-term deals who are guaranteed nothing. There are certain names who can be considered fair bets to make the cut like Sanchez, Cruz, Houston, LeBlanc, Amos and Barth.
Can't wait for it to count. pic.twitter.com/HHhlsk9xRm
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) August 6, 2017
Most of that is due to the fact that they each can fill an important role without much competition. Some surprise names on the list include Jeremy Langford who is suffering through another nagging injury. Zach Miller? A respected veteran but also now faced with a loaded depth chart behind him. Meanwhile the wide receiver, cornerback and safety competitions are wide open, thus it’s impossible to predict who sticks.
Practice Squad
- Ben Braunecker
- Dieugot Joseph
- Rashaad Coward
- Deiondre Hall
People might be shocked by some of the names on this list, particularly Deiondre Hall. At the same time it’s easy to forget he’s in his second year so the practice squad is still an option. The Bears are in the midst of switching him to safety and that could take time. Stashing him on the PS might be a good way to do that without using a valuable roster spot.
The same goes for Ben Braunecker. He still has intriguing value at tight end and is progressing steadily. He’s just not quite there yet. He hasn’t found a role. Why not hide him away on the squad for a bit to see how things shake out? It’s a common tactic teams use all the time.
Trade chips
- Kyle Fuller
- Hroniss Grasu
Now being part of this category doesn’t mean it will happen. It’s a reflection of the value each man still has and may draw some attention from other teams. Otherwise both can be considered “bubble” players as well. Fuller is 25-years old with two years of starting experience. He had strong moments during those two years and appears fully recovered from knee surgery. The same goes for Grasu who started at center for them in 2015. He’s still young and athletic with upside worth exploring.
Lock
- Mike Glennon
- Mitch Trubisky
- Jordan Howard
- Tarik Cohen
- Cameron Meredith
- Kevin White
- Kendall Wright
- Adam Shaheen
- Dion Sims
- Charles Leno
- Kyle Long
- Cody Whitehair
- Josh Sitton
- Bobby Massie
- Eric Kush
- Jordan Morgan
- Akiem Hicks
- Eddie Goldman
- Jonathan Bullard
- Leonard Floyd
- Pernell McPhee
- Willie Young
- Danny Trevathan
- Jerrell Freeman
- Nick Kwiatkoski
- Prince Amukamara
- Marcus Cooper
- Quintin Demps
- Eddie Jackson
- Pat O’Donnell
- Patrick Scales
Last but certainly not least are the men who are all but guaranteed a roster spot. In it are included the entire 2017 draft and most of their biggest free agent additions like Glennon, Wright, Sims, Amukamara and Demps. Being in the lock category basically means these are the men that the Bears will be counting on to form the core of the team this year. It’s through them that success or failure will come.
There are of course some surprising additions to the list like Pat O’Donnell and Kendall Wright. It just feels like they haven’t earned such confidence. At the same time there’s plenty of reason for their inclusions. O’Donnell because he has zero competition on the roster. Wright because he has a personal relationship with offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains and plays well in this offense.
Nonetheless it’s a fairly strong group overall. One that could produce some good football if it’s able to stay healthy this year.
