The Chicago Bears are getting ready to take on the Green Bay Packers for the third time this season as the Wild Card Round is set to begin. As great as it is to be back in the postseason, having a rookie head coach and a quarterback who has yet to prove himself as a playoff performer. With this in mind, it is fair to begin to look ahead and wonder what Chicago's roster fallout might look like with a first-round loss.
Many of the Bears' decisions appear already to be made with clear pieces needing new landing spots, no matter how the playoffs might end. Here's a look at three players who will likely be booted out of the Windy City if Chicago comes up short against Green Bay this weekend.
1. Olamide Zaccheaus, WR
Whether the playoffs end in round one for the Bears or with a Super Bowl ring, it appears clear that Olamide Zaccheaus is playing his final downs with the team. With Luther Burden III and Rome Odunze leading the way, along with veteran DJ Moore, Zaccheaus' ceiling has been limited throughout the 2025 campaign.
Just a season ago, Zaccheaus had 506 yards with the Washington Commanders, only to finish this year with a 39-313-2 stat line in 16 games. His role also shrank as the season progressed, proven by his averaging 5.8 targets and 30.4 receiving yards in his first eight games to 2.4 targets and 8.8 yards in the second half of the campaign.
Scheduled to hit free agency whenever the season ends, Saturday may be the final game for Zaccheaus in a Chicago uniform. As solid a depth option as the receiver can be at times, the Bears can easily replace him through the draft or free agency, giving general manager Ryan Poles every reason to turn the page in March.
2. Jaquan Brisker, S
Jaquan Brisker has been a consistent source of frustration throughout the 2025 season, as he has seemingly unable to offer any consistent level of play in coverage. According to Pro Football Focus, the veteran safety has surrendered a putrid 75.6% completion rate on 41 targets this season, allowing 31 catches for 302 yards, four touchdowns, and a career-worst 118.1 passer rating. As a result, his future with the Bears is up in the air.
For the pending free-agent safety, the only way his outlook will improve is if he makes meaningful contributions to a Super Bowl run. Leaving no question that if Chicago's season were to end on Saturday, the Bears will part ways with the defender and attempt to find answers either in the draft or free agency at the position.
Brisker has shown some promise, but the negatives have mostly outweighed the positives this season. And unless he finds a way to do a 180-flip in the playoffs, his time with the Bears is likely running out.
3. Durham Smythe, TE
Durham Smythe has had some productive moments in a reserve role with the Miami Dolphins. Unfortunately, he's been unable to replicate that success in Chicago, largely due to the Bears' tight end depth. A run-heavy offense that also focuses on feeding Cole Kmet and Colston Loveland the ball is obviously going to have very little use for a depth TE.
It is this outlook that leaves no question that the upcoming free agent willfind a new landing spot in the offseason. Smythe only has four catches on the season after previously having as many as 35 with the Dolphins. This isn't to argue that the tight end can be a featured weapon or a huge part of a contending offense, but rather that there are roles with far more upside that the pass catcher is likely to seek out.
Chicago is a rare situation in that it has two tight ends who are both capable of being featured weapons. No matter when the Bears exit in the playoffs, it seems likely that Smythe is headed for a new landing spot in the 2026 offseason.