Chicago Bears Training Camp Preview: Inside Linebackers
By Usayd Koshul
2. Who’s on the roster bubble?
In terms of depth at the middle linebacker position, the Bears will have some tough decisions to make. Currently, Nick Kwiatkoski, Joel Iyiegbuniwe, Kevin Pierre-Louis, Jameer Thurman, and Josh Woods will compete for the final one or two sports. Here’s why each individual player should be considered for a spot on the Bears 53-man roster.
Nick Kwiatkoski
Entering his fourth season with the Bears, Kwiatkoski has shown flashes of potential whenever he’s been on the field. However, he lacks the speed needed to succeed in today’s NFL. Kwiatkoski will never be an every-down back linebacker in the NFL, but he does have a nose for the football and the toughness to compete. Those two attributes are why he should be a strong candidate to make the Bears roster in 2019.
Joel Iyiegbuniwe
A 2018 fourth-round pick, Iyiegbuniwe brings size and speed to the roster. He played in all 16 games last season but was mostly a contributor on special teams. As of right now, it’s unknown what his ceiling really is. Will he be a guy who is just a depth piece or a guy who’s speed will allow for him to eventually be a starter down the road. If Iyiegbuniwe can’t impress enough in camp, he may not be on the roster for much longer.
Kevin Pierre-Louis
A journeyman who’s on his fourth team in four years, it’s clear that the Bears may have just decided to bring in Pierre-Louis for some extra competition. He’s got just one start in 57 career games but has been to the playoffs three times. He’s likely on his last chance to be in the NFL and will need to prove that he brings something unique to the field if he wants to have a chance at making this team.
Jameer Thurman
A native of Chicago, Illinois, Thurman spent two years in the Canadian Football League before signing with the Bears this offseason. While playing in Canada, he had 163 tackles and three sacks. At this point, if he makes the Bears roster, then it’ll be due to his strong special teams play.
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Josh Woods
A player that was on the Bears practice squad last season, Woods saw no regular season action. The fact that the Bears haven’t moved on from him yet goes to show that the team still believes in him. However, now, he still faces an uphill battle to make the Bears roster and will likely be amongst one of the first names cut.