The Chicago Bears set their preliminary 53-man roster Tuesday afternoon, making a wave of cuts and remaining open-minded to persevering with to mould the group within the days and weeks forward.
The roster undoubtedly will endure a sequence of adjustments earlier than the season opener Sept. 11 towards the San Francisco 49ers at Soldier Field. The Bears have till 11 a.m. Wednesday to make waiver claims on gamers launched by the opposite 31 groups. At that time, in addition they will start to assemble their 16-player follow squad.
In the meantime, right here’s a position-by-position breakdown of how the roster got here collectively Tuesday.
(*-rookie)
Quarterbacks (2)
Justin Fields, Trevor Siemian
Waiving QB3 Nathan Peterman was an apparent transfer, however the Bears determine to convey him again on the follow squad Wednesday, giving Fields one other veteran set of eyes and ears within the quarterbacks room. The Bears are driving the momentum Fields generated in Saturday’s three-touchdown outburst within the preseason finale in Cleveland.
Running backs (4)
David Montgomery, Khalil Herbert, Khari Blasingame, Trestan Ebner*
Of all of the positions, this may be probably the most steady heading into the season. Montgomery is getting into the ultimate yr of his rookie contract and might be relied on to determine a punishing working sport that opens play-action alternatives.
Herbert stepped up when referred to as on as a rookie in 2021. Blasingame, a fullback, can have a major function proper out of the gates. And Ebner, a dual-threat weapon out of the backfield, has intriguing upside.
Darrynton Evans, whom the Bears claimed off waivers within the spring, had an outdoor probability to make the group as a particular groups contributor however acquired caught in a numbers crunch.
Wide receivers (7)
Darnell Mooney, Equanimeous St. Brown, Byron Pringle, Velus Jones*, Dante Pettis, Tajae Sharpe, N’Keal Harry
Perhaps no place group might be in additional flux over the subsequent week. Only three of the seven receivers have been wholesome sufficient to follow Tuesday night. The prolonged absences of Pringle, Jones and Sharpe stay a priority and can power coach Matt Eberflus and offensive coordinator Luke Getsy to work by way of contingency plans for Week 1 — and maybe past.
Harry doubtless might be positioned on injured reserve this week, releasing a roster spot whereas making him eligible to return when he’s absolutely recovered from this month’s ankle surgical procedure.
Tight ends (3)
Cole Kmet, Ryan Griffin, Jake Tonges*
Keep an eye fixed on the waiver wire, the place the Bears would possibly take into account a declare or two to pad their depth. Griffin is valued as a tone-setting run blocker. Tonges, listed on the roster as a fullback, has the flexibility to play tight finish and had a 2-yard landing catch within the preseason win over the Seattle Seahawks.
Internally, there’s optimism that Kmet is positioned to take pleasure in a major Year 3 breakthrough. As Griffin famous earlier this month, Kmet’s mixture of versatility and give-a-damn are opening his potential.
“He’s got all the tools in the bag,” Griffin mentioned. “I’m excited to see what he can do. The sky is the limit for him.”
Offensive linemen (9)
Braxton Jones*, Cody Whitehair, Lucas Patrick, Sam Mustipher, Teven Jenkins, Larry Borom, Riley Reiff, Ja’Tyre Carter*, Zach Thomas*
Michael Schofield’s feel-good homecoming got here to an abrupt finish Tuesday. The Bears’ choice to waive the 31-year-old guard was notable however not all that shocking after Schofield slipped down the depth chart this month.
Now the group will proceed its youth motion up entrance. Of the 9 linemen on the preliminary roster, three are rookies whereas Jenkins and Borom are getting into their second seasons.
The impending return of Patrick, who has been out since early August after proper thumb surgical procedure, might be price monitoring. When he’s cleared to play, there might be a ripple impact on the inside of the road.
Defensive linemen (8)
Robert Quinn, Al-Quadin Muhammad, Trevis Gipson, Dominique Robinson*, Justin Jones, Angelo Blackson, Khyiris Tonga, Mike Pennel
The Bears defensive ends have been set all summer season, with Quinn main the go rush, Muhammad bringing expertise in Eberflus’ protection, Gipson in search of extra in his third season and Robinson a rookie with intriguing upside.
Jones was one of many Bears’ greatest free-agent signings, and Blackson brings seven years of NFL expertise. Tonga, a seventh-round decide in 2021, additionally was anticipated to return at nostril sort out after enjoying in 15 video games as a rookie. Pennel, getting into his ninth season, is one other veteran in an skilled group.
There have been some notable cuts, together with holdovers Mario Edwards Jr., Charles Snowden and Sam Kamara. Also minimize have been undrafted rookie Micah Dew-Treadway, a Bolingbrook native, and Trevon Coley, who was among the many most profitable go rushers within the preseason.
Linebackers (6)
Roquan Smith, Nicholas Morrow, Matt Adams, Joe Thomas, Caleb Johnson, Jack Sanborn*
Sanborn’s inclusion is the large information able group that had its prime 4 locations set with veterans Smith, Morrow, Adams and Thomas.
Sanborn, a Lake Zurich graduate, signed as an undrafted free agent out of Wisconsin and led all gamers with 13 tackles in preseason video games. He made a splash in his preseason debut with an interception and a fumble restoration, and linebackers coach Dave Borgonzi mentioned Sanborn is sensible, powerful, instinctive and capable of right errors.
Johnson, an undrafted free agent in 2021, doubtless secured his spot along with his particular groups talents. DeMarquis Gates, whose wild soccer journey has included stops within the AAF, XFL, CFL and USFL, was the lone minimize.
Cornerbacks (6)
Jaylon Johnson, Kindle Vildor, Kyler Gordon*, Duke Shelley, Lamar Jackson, Jaylon Jones*
The Bears appeared settled on starters Johnson, Vildor and Gordon — with Gordon capable of play outdoors or at nickel — so the actual query was which backups would make the minimize.
Waiving Thomas Graham Jr. was among the many most notable strikes of the day. Graham was a 2021 sixth-round decide who performed in 4 video games final season with 4 passes defended. But he missed most of coaching camp with a hamstring damage. The Bears positioned Tavon Young, one other nickel possibility, on injured reserve with a decrease leg damage.
Shelley returns for his fourth Bears season as one other nickel possibility. The Bears went with Jackson, who performed 14 video games for the New York Jets the final two seasons, and Jones, an undrafted free agent, over Greg Stroman Jr., who had an interception within the preseason finale.
Safeties (5)
Eddie Jackson, Jaquan Brisker*, DeAndre Houston-Carson, Elijah Hicks*, Dane Cruikshank
There have been no surprises right here, and the most important query is when Brisker — one in every of two second-round picks — might be again from proper thumb surgical procedure to start out alongside Jackson.
In the meantime, the Bears are in good arms with Houston-Carson, who enters his seventh season as a key backup and particular groups participant. Cruikshank is a veteran particular groups contributor, and Hicks is an lively seventh-round decide desperate to make an impression. He had a landing on a muffed punt restoration towards the Seahawks.
Special groups (3)
Ok Cairo Santos, P Trenton Gill*, LS Patrick Scales
The Bears felt strongly sufficient about their specialists that they didn’t herald competitors for them at coaching camp.
Santos returns after making 56 of 62 field-goal makes an attempt the final two seasons. Scales has been a mainstay at lengthy snapper. Gill, a seventh-round decide, had a stable preseason, averaging 45.2 yards per punt with a internet of 39.8 and eight punts contained in the 20.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com
