RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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Handicapping the Bears ’ 53-man roster before Monday's first padded practice of training camp — and four weeks before cut day:
OFFENSE (25 keepers/44 total)
Quarterback (3/4)
They’re on the team: Caleb Williams , Tyson Bagent, Case Keenum Work to do: Miller Moss The big question: Can they finish each other’s sentences yet? For the second-straight season, the Bears will have the exact same three quarterbacks on the 53-man roster — and the same quarterbacks coach. Number to know: 27 — Snaps taken by Bagent since Williams’ arrival.
Running back (3/6)
They’re on the team: D’Andre Swift, Kyle Monangai, Roschon Johnson Work to do: Salvon Ahmed, Coleman Bennett, Brittain Brown The big question: What exactly does Johnson do? He played 667 offensive snaps in two years under Matt Eberflus — and four snaps last season under Ben Johnson. He helps on special teams, but doesn’t the coach want more juice out of his third running back? Number to know: 34 — Carries by Ahmed in 2022-23 while playing for new Bears running backs coach Eric Studesville as a member of the Dolphins.
Tight end (4/7)
They’re on the team: Cole Kmet, Colston Loveland, Sam Roush, Nikola Kalinic Work to do: Stephen Carlson, Qadir Ismail, Hayden Large The big question: Does Theo Benedet count as a tight end? If his coach uses the Canadian tackle as an extra blocker again, the Bears can probably get by carrying three traditional tight ends. Number to know: 2 — Famous former NFL relatives in Ismail's family: his dad is Qadry ("The Missile") and his uncle is Raghib ("The Rocket").
Wide receiver (5/11)
They’re on the team: Rome Odunze, Luther Burden II, Kalif Raymond, Zavion Thomas, Jahdae Walker Work to do: Maurice Alexander, Kaden Davis, Kyron Hudson, Omari Kelly, JP Richardson, Scotty Miller The big question: Do the Bears value Miller’s experience? He won a Super Bowl with Tom Brady and played alongside Aaron Rodgers last year. He doesn’t play special teams, though, which hurts his case to make the team. Number to know: 4.28 — The rookie Thomas ran a 4.28-second 40-yard dash, the third-fastest of any player at the NFL Scouting Combine.
Offensive line (10/16)
They’re on the team: Braxton Jones, Joe Thuney, Garrett Bradbury, Jonah Jackson, Darnell Wright, Logan Jones, Theo Benedet, Luke Newman, Jordan McFadden, Jedrick Wills Jr. Work to do: Kiran Amegadjie, Caden Bennett, Kyle Hergel, Jaren Kump, Mason Murphy, Ozzy Trapilo. Trapilo will start on the Physically Unable to Perform list and is likely to miss most of the season. The big question: What to do with Amegadjie? The 75 th overall pick in 2024 has been relegated to afterthought status. Asked about left tackles, general manager Ryan Poles praised Jones, Wills and Trapilo. Catching himself, he eventually added “and Kiran as well” — a sign he’s not top-of-mind. Number to know: 105 — Career starts by Bradbury, the presumed starting center, in seven seasons. He’s never come off the bench.
DEFENSE (25/43)
Defensive line (9/15) They’re on the team: Montez Sweat, Austin Booker, Gervon Dexter, Grady Jarrett, Dayo Odeyingbo, Daniel Hardy, Neville Gallimore, Kentavius Street, Shemar Turner. Turner is on the PUP list but is expected to return during training camp. Work to do: James Lynch, Jordan van den Berg, Jonathan Garvin, Jamree Kromah, Jayden Loving, Jeremiah Martin The big question: How much can Odeyingbo contribute? He posted eight sacks in the first 14 games of 2023. In 28 games since, he has four. Number to know: 73 — Pro Football Focus graded Jarrett their 73 rd -best interior lineman last year. The injury-riddled season was his first of a three-year, $42.8 million deal.
Linebacker (6/11) They’re on the team: Devin Bush, T.J. Edwards, D’Marco Jackson, Ruben Hyppolite II, Jack Sanborn, Keyshaun Elliott. Edwards is on the Non-Football Injury list and Elliott is on PUP, with both expected to return soon. Work to do: Tony Fields II, Joe Rhattigan, Nephi Sewell, Wayne Matthews II, Noah Sewell. Noah Sewell is on PUP and isn’t expected to be healthy by the start of the season. The big question: Can Elliott play special teams? The Bears like the rookie’s instinctive tackling but he didn’t play on kicking downs at Arizona State. Number to know: $30 million — What the Bears are paying Bush over the next three years, more than he made in his first seven in the NFL.
Cornerback (6/10) He’s on the team: Jaylon Johnson, Tyrique Stevenson, Kyler Gordon, Josh Blackwell, Malik Muhammad II, Jaylon Jones. Gordon is on PUP without a firm return date. Work to do: KC Eziomume, Dallis Flowers, Dontae Manning. Terell Smith The big question: What will the Bears do if/when Gordon gets hurt again? Jones and safety Cam Lewis have been rotating at the slot corner in camp. Number to know: 8 — The league-high takeaways by cornerback Nahshon Wright last season before the Bears let him leave for the Jets in free agency.
Safety (4/7) He’s on the team: Coby Bryant, Dillon Thieneman, Cam Lewis, Elijah Hicks. Hicks is on PUP but should return soon. Work to do: Anthony Johnson Jr., Skyler Thomas, Gervarrius Owens The big question: How quickly can the starters gel? The Bears spent a first-round pick on one and their largest free-agent deal of the spring on the other. The pressure’s on to make an impact quickly. Number to know: 7 — Interceptions, since moving to safety two years ago, by Bryant. He had none in two years as an NFL cornerback.
SPECIAL TEAMS (3/4)
He’s on the team: K Cairo Santos, P Tory Taylor, LS Luke Elkin Work to do: LS Beau Gardner The big question: Do they grab a veteran long snapper after cut day? There will be one available if Elkin and Gardner — the latter won the Patrick Mannelly Award at Georgia last year — don’t grab the job. Number to know: 100 — Percent of extra points made by Santos last season, the first time since 2014 he went perfect in a complete season. •NOTE: The Bears have 91 players because Taylor, an Australian, has an international player roster ...
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