Every Chicago Bears Training Camp Battle And Who Has The Edge

The Chicago Bears have several roster spots up for grabs, with training camp one week away. That means lots of competition. While most starting jobs are already secured, there is no shortage of specialty or backup spots that players will be eager to battle for. The interesting question is who will be involved in the most heated ones and which of them has the edge with things set to kick off.

Let’s look at the positions worth watching, who is involved, and which of them can say they have the pole position with the race about to begin.

The Chicago Bears have several battles to sort out.

Equanimeous St. Brown vs. Dante Pettis

One can make a safe argument the top four spots at wide receiver are locked down with D.J. Moore, Darnell Mooney, Chase Claypool, and Tyler Scott. Velus Jones likely sticks around, too, thanks to his higher draft status from last year and his kick return prowess. That leaves one spot left, with St. Brown and Pettis as the only two obvious options to fill it. Both have a strong case in their favor. Pettis got open more consistently last year and has punt return experience. St. Brown was a better blocker in the run game and is a superior presence on special teams. It’s close, but the leader seems clear at this point.

Advantage: St. Brown

Larry Borom vs. Alex Leatherwood

Braxton Jones and Darnell Wright are the projected starting tackles. That means the Chicago Bears are left to determine who the swing tackle will be. Borom has more starting experience. He’s also a more proven pass protector. Leatherwood is a 1st round talent, though. He’s got all the tools one could hope for and is a better run blocker when he makes his mind up. If we’re going based off results from last season, it isn’t much of a battle at this point. That could change once the pads go on. When in doubt, keep the pass protectors.

Advantage: Borom

Andrew Billings vs. Gervon Dexter

Run defense was a glaring weakness for the Bears last season. Most of the issues came up the middle, where their defensive line failed to control their gaps. Billings is a short but stout defensive tackle with lots of experience with multiple teams. He is a solid player. Dexter was a terrific run defender at Florida. His primary selling point is a much higher athletic ceiling. It will come down to which player grasps the system faster and shows a greater ability to control their gaps. In such circumstances, the experience typically carries the day.

Advantage: Billings

Jack Sanborn vs. Noah Sewell

Sanborn looked terrific last year in his six starts before an unfortunate injury. One would think this gives him the early edge. However, there is a wrinkle in this battle. It’s not at middle linebacker where Sanborn had that success. It’s outside linebacker. That means Sewell has a head start on him, having practiced playing that position throughout the spring and early summer. He looked pretty good doing so. There is no clear leader, with both having much to learn in the coming weeks. Still, roster status matters a lot in these situations. The Bears know Sanborn can play in real games. Sewell is a 5th round rookie.

Advantage: Sanborn

Kindle Vildor vs. Tyrique Stevenson

Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon are locked in as starters at cornerback. Kindle Vildor got most of the snap last year when healthy. He also played his best season to date, even if it still wasn’t overly good. That improvement might be enough to sway coaches on keeping him in the starting lineup. Unfortunately, Stevenson hasn’t made that easy. The 2nd round pick drew lots of positive attention in OTAs and minicamps, showcasing his athleticism, tenacity, and ball skills. If anybody had momentum coming out of those practices, it was him. Was it enough to claim a permanent spot with the first-team defense? Hard to say.

Advantage: Stevenson