Projecting the Bears final 53-man roster after the preseason
By Todd Welter
The Chicago Bears preseason is in the books.
The Bears lost 24-21 to the Buffalo Bills on Saturday at Soldier Field. Chicago went 1-2 in the games that do not count.
There is no need to panic.
The Chicago Bears went 3-0 last year during the exhibition slate and then went on to win just three games during the regular season.
Now general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus must decide who makes the final 53-man roster to start the season by August 29th.
However, it is the first version of the 53-man roster of the season as injuries and performance will dictate who is on it during each week. Anyway, here is how it could look.
Please note starters will be in bold. Also, the Chicago Bears have the first waiver claim spot so they could cut some of the players who make the initial final roster to make room for their waiver claims.
The Chicago Bears quarterback room may look exactly how it should.
3 roster spots: Justin Fields, Tyson Bagent, Nathan Peterman
Fields did not look crisp in the final preseason tune-up. He completed just two passes and left the game during the middle of a drive after taking a shot.
It was undrafted rookie free agent Tyson Bagent who came off the bench to relieve him.
Bagent completed 7 of 14 passes for 43 yards while he ran for a touchdown and was picked off. Although, if Stephen Carlson had come down with a possible touchdown catch, that interception would not have happened.
Bagent has become a preseason sensation. He has thrown for 156 yards and ran for two scores in the exhibition season. Not bad for a guy leaping from Division II football.
Bears QB Tyson Bagent ‘proved' he belongs after putting ‘best foot forward' in impressive preseason https://t.co/ISkVgne2ot
— Bears Talk (@NBCSBears) August 27, 2023
Since he is making a giant step up in competition, listing him as QB2 might be risky. It would still probably be best to waive him and then put him on the practice squad if he clears.
When he entered the game as the second quarterback, you got the feeling his on the roster.
That means the Chicago Bears will cut a veteran passer. P.J. Walker had a terrible preseason and camp is reportedly being cut. That means Nathan Peterman should stay on the roster.