RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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With the final weekend of the NFL preseason upon us, teams across the league will make roster cuts throughout the weekend getting their 53-man roster set by Sunday night's deadline. For the Chicago Bears , there have been some preseason darlings that have stood out and others who may find themselves with an opportunity to make the roster due to injuries across the board on both sides of the ball.
There are a few names that stood out with Chicago resting a lot of their offensive starters, but with their biggest areas of concern coming on defense and the offensive line, it is more likely than not that they'll carry more players in those position groups.
Injuries that create holes at certain positions may lead to surprising names being left off the roster, but there are some names that stand out above the rest who have earned their roster spot this season. Here's a look at five players who deserve a spot on the Bears ' initial 53-man roster.
RB Roschon Johnson
Salvon Ahmed has not played bad, but the comments from head coach Ben Johnson after the loss to the Cincinnati Bengals about Roschon Johnson is why he makes this list. Johnson has been consistent while also improving at the same time. An injury to Kyle Monangai during camp has opened the door for Johnson to get more run with the offense, and he's shown consistent production in that time. He may not find himself getting many opportunities once the regular season begins, but Johnson will certainly be seen as a special teams contributor, a big boost for him after his spot was certainly in question coming into the preseason.
WR Kaden Davis
A fan favorite during the preseason, Kaden Davis cracks the roster because, similar to Johnson, he has been consistent when he's been on the field thus far. Chicago is loaded at the wide receiver position, but Davis has the same vibe that Jahdae Walker had in last year's preseason. While he may not be active most game days, if someone were to suffer an injury, it would most certainly open up an opportunity for Davis to get on the field. He led the team in receiving yards in their Week 1 blowout of the Cleveland Browns and would do himself some good with another week of production against the Tennessee Titans this weekend.
OL Caden Barnett
It's very hard to imagine the Bears allowing "The Vanilla Gorilla" to head to another team, simply because the fanbase embraces a tough-nose lineman with a nickname that Caden Barnett has. On a more serious note, the team should be expected to be keep as many offensive linemen as possible where they make sense. Barnett playing more on the interior of the offensive line should bode well in his chances to make the roster, while the team still has to figure out their left tackle position.
CB Terell Smith
The health of Kyler Gordon could be the deciding factor in this one, and if Gordon is not ready to step on the field then Terell Smith should make the roster. The irony is the lack of availability that Smith has had himself to start the preseason, and he'll have to rely on his previous body of work to really state his case against the likes of Dontae Manning, who could also be contention to make the roster.
DL Kentavius Street
This will also likely come down to another veteran's place on the roster if Kentavius Street wants to make the roster, Gervon Dexter's role will play a part of it. Dexter has been the subject of potential rumored trade talks ahead of the roster cut downs, and if he is indeed moved before the deadline, Street's spot on the roster could be secured. His play in the preseason has shown him thrive in run defense, a major area of concern for the team's defense coming into this season.
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: 5 players who deserve a spot on Bears' 53-man roster
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