Projecting the Chicago Bears 53-man roster before the final preseason game
By Todd Welter
6 roster spots: Jaylon Johnson, Kyler Gordon, Tyrique Stevenson, Terrell Smith, Jaylon Jones, Michael Ojemudia
Practice squad: Josh Blackwell, Greg Stroman Jr.
Tyrique Stevenson continued to play well in preseason. The problem is he got an unnecessary roughness penalty that could have been worse if the Colts did not commit an offsetting penalty. He got into some shouting fights with some Colts players during the joint practices.
Stevenson needs to be in better control of his emotions to avoid a costly penalty down the road.
#Bears rookie CB Tyrique Stevenson on his late hit penalty and the chat with Matt Eberflus after:
— Josh Schrock (@Schrock_And_Awe) August 20, 2023
“Just be a little bit smarter. I could have been better with my head across the ball, so I could see where I was at on the field. Once I looked up and he was heading to the ground,…
The last couple of roster projections done here has had seven corners, but with the offensive line needing 10 players, this forecast for the cornerback spot has been reduced to six.
Really, you could put Greg Stroman Jr. or Josh Blackwell in the final spot over Michael Ojemudia and the Chicago Bears would be getting the same type of player. Ojemudia has had stronger game tape in the preseason.
Whoever does not make the final spot between those three should be on the practice squad if they make it through waivers.
Blackwell is a proven special teams player so he could jump ahead of Ojemudia. Last year’s starter Kindle Vildor has not really done anything to stand out to keep his roster spot.
4 roster spots: Eddie Jackson, Jaquan Brisker, Elijah Hicks, A.J. Thomas
Practice squad: Kendall Williamson
I have also projected five spots for the safety position in past forecasts. Teven Jenkins’ injury means the Bears will need to go with four safeties.
A.J. Thomas and Adrian Colbert were battling it out for the final roster spot.
It looks like Thomas won as the Bears waived Colbert.
The Bears have placed S Adrian Colbert on the Reserve/Injured list. They have waived TE Jared Pinkney with an injury designation.
— Josh Schrock (@Schrock_And_Awe) August 21, 2023
With Colbert on IR, A.J. Thomas bas a good shot to be the fourth safety on the 53-man roster.
Kendall Williamson was the Bears another seventh-round draft choice who might make a case for the last spot at safety. If Williamson is unable to make a late push, he should make the practice squad.
3 roster spots: Trenton Gill, Cairo Santos, Patrick Scales
Gill is back as the punter. Santos is back as the kicker. Scales is back as the long snapper. This has been the only part of the roster that has been set in stone since the start of training camp.
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