One preseason game isn’t necessarily enough to make or break players who might be on the roster bubble. Two though have proven decisive more than a few times in the past. The Chicago Bears know they need to start making their big decisions on the depth chart with less than three weeks before the Green Bay Packers arrive for the opening kickoff. Unlike years past, there are several positions that are secure for the most part.
No hard decision loom at them. However, there are certain red-light areas that need clarification. The upcoming game against the Giants could be the time to get it. So who among the 90 players on the roster should be considered on the hot seat? Here are five to watch carefully.
Chicago Bears bubble names with Giants game looming
Ryan Nall (RB)
The second-year running back couldn’t have been happy when the Bears added no fewer than three new faces to the depth chart. This included free agent Mike Davis, 3rd round pick David Montgomery, and 7th round pick Kerrith Whyte. Montgomery and Davis are expected to be primary contributors alongside Tarik Cohen this year so they’re obvious locks. That means if Nall wants to make the roster, he has to outperform Whyte.
The Panthers game did not further than ambition. While Nall did make four catches for 21 yards, he managed just eight yards on five carries. Whyte had six carries for 35 yards and a catch for another seven. His much-hyped speed was on full display. Nall is a big back with solid ability but he has to make a bigger impression because it’s unlikely the Bears will carry five backs on their roster.
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Marvin Hall (WR)
Judging by everything that’s been gathered to date, the Bears wide receiver depth chart seems fairly set in stone. Allen Robinson, Taylor Gabriel, and Anthony Miller will remain starters. They’ll be joined by specialist Cordarrelle Patterson, 4th round rookie Riley Ridley, and ascending second-year man Javon Wims. That is six slots all secure with three weeks still to go. For Marvin Hall, his best hope is if the Bears are willing to open up a seventh.
His first preseason appearance was uneventful, failing to register a catch. That was almost not the case. On one play he clearly had a Panthers cornerback beat but Tyler Bray underthrew the ball, resulting in an incompletion. Hall has outstanding speed. It’s a question of whether he can be more than just a one-trick pony. The Giants came may be the last opportunity he’ll have to prove it.
Jonathan Bullard (DE)
The Bears defense is loaded along the defensive line. This means they could end up cutting somebody talented. As of now, their depth chart has four spots locked in place. They are Akiem Hicks, Eddie Goldman, Bilal Nichols, and Roy Robertson-Harris. What’s uncertain is whether they will carry five or six this season. Last year it was the latter, but with Chuck Pagano as the new defensive coordinator, priorities could shift.
Jonathan Bullard certainly hopes not. If the Bears do carry five, his spot is in jeopardy. Nick Williams, who signed with the team last season has continued to look good. One of the more pleasant surprises joining the mix is undrafted rookie Daryle Banfield who flashed late in the Panthers game. Bullard is who he is by now. He’s a solid rotational player who is best defending the run. If the Bears feel Williams or Banfield can replace that and give them some juice in the pass rush, he could be in trouble.
Nick Kwiatkoski (ILB)
Kwiatkoski has established himself as both a steady backup and a good special teams player. However, that first part is becoming a bigger concern of late. Time and again over the past two years it has become apparent that Kwiatkoski is a liability in coverage. A major one. He wasn’t on the field for long against Carolina but they still managed to exploit him via the past for two big gains. His lack of speed and instinct play backward is hard to ignore.
Another factor in his seat growing hotter is Josh Woods. The former undrafted free agent looked pretty good in his preseason debut, making six tackles and also forcing a fumble. He seems to have more athletic upside as well. If he can show some sort of capability on special teams, the Bears may feel compelled to cut ties with Kwiatkoski. He’ll be a free agent next season anyway so it’s unlikely to feel like a huge loss.
Eddy Pineiro (K)
He may put a brave face on things, but Eddy Pineiro isn’t dumb. He knows what that missed kick in the opener against Carolina signified. It was his first big moment in the competition with the cameras on and over 40,000 fans watching. He yanked it left. There were no excuses for it. The wind was minimal. It was a warm night and the distance was 48 yards. Well within his normal range. The guy simply missed it.
Elliott Fry was perfect on the night including a 43-yarder. Nagy may have called the competition even publicly, but anybody with common sense knows that miss last week was a big one for Pineiro. If he can’t handle preseason pressure, then why should the Bears believe he can deal with actual meaningful games? He better pray he gets another opportunity against the Giants.
