The Chicago Bears are already devoting a significant portion of their attention towards September 5th. The Green Bay Packers are the central focus of the starters. They want to make sure this season of such high expectations gets off on the right foot. However, the bottom half of the roster isn’t quite there yet. One preseason game still remains and there are jobs on the line. Players who know there is enough time to either cement or rescue their hopes.
That hasn’t stopped Bears insiders from delivering their projections for the final 53-man roster. As with any such things, there are minor differences. Maybe more players will make it in one position while another will have fewer. Then there’s one certain name getting the job at a position over another. This is how it goes. That said sometimes there are predictions that raise eyebrows.
Fans may be shocked by one delivered by Bears ESPN beat reporter Jeff Dickerson. Many of his projections weren’t hard to see happening. That is until he got to the outside linebackers group, a position with serious depth concerns. It was there he included a name that more than a few fans won’t be too excited about seeing.
“LINEBACKERS (9): Khalil Mack, Danny Trevathan, Roquan Smith, Leonard Floyd, Aaron Lynch, Joel Iyiegbuniwe, Nick Kwiatkoski, Isaiah Irving, Kylie Fitts
Lynch has been bothered by a shoulder injury but should be ready for Week 1. At some point, the Bears need to decide whether to extend Trevathan, who turns 30 next offseason. James Vaughters, formerly of the Packers, Patriots and Chargers, has flashed in the preseason and is in contention for one of the last linebacker spots. So is Josh Woods.”
Chicago Bears have no incentive to keep Kylie Fitts
There was some hope for Utah standout Kylie Fitts when he was drafted in the 6th round in 2018. Despite health setbacks, he had nice quickness and bend as a pass rusher. If he found a way to improve his strength and array of rush moves, he might become a nice rotation rusher on the edge. Sadly it doesn’t appear that has happened. Fitts did nothing in his brief foray on the main roster last season and it appears he hasn’t improved based on his preseason play in 2019 either.
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He has four total pressures on the quarterback including a hit that should’ve been a penalty. Meanwhile, James Vaughters has five pressures and two strip-sacks despite logging 20 fewer pass rush snaps (37 to 57). If that doesn’t illustrate he’s been the superior football player, nothing will. Fitts has offered no signs that he is on the cusp of a breakout or even ascending. The only reason that could possibly be offered to keep him on the roster is he’s a former draft pick.
That doesn’t hold water though since the Bears didn’t keep other late rounders like Tayo Fabuluje or Jordan Morgan around long either. Sixth round picks get cut all the time. It’s a shame Fitts hasn’t worked out, but it isn’t any sort of surprise.
