The Chicago Bears have had plenty of winners and losers from the first couple of weeks of training camp. While Jerry Markarian of Bears on SI had a long list of winners and losers from his observations, two stood out with legitimate chances to cement roster spots.
Linebacker Ruben Hyppolite was listed as a loser despite competing to make the team at linebacker. Meanwhile, running back Salvon Ahmed is a winner of camp as he makes a push to make the team at running back.
Chicago Bears Winners and Losers Features Two Players Fighting For Roster Spots
Hyppolite entered the offseason in danger of being cut despite entering his second NFL season. The former fourth-round pick was supposed to have a high floor on special teams. However, he only played 82 special teams snaps in his rookie season, and he was inactive from Week 11 through the end of the year.
Entering training camp, he had a chance to climb the depth chart with Noah Sewell and Keyshaun Elliott hurt as well as TJ Edwards on the PUP. However, reports are that Nephi Sewell and Wayne Matthews have been getting just as much work with the second-team as he has. So, even the lesser Sewell has a chance to make the team over Hyppolite. It appears his time with the Bears is going to end quickly, even without strong competition.
At running back, the team is weak beyond their top two. D’Andre Swift is locked into his spot, and while Kyle Monanagai is a trusted back, he has been banged up recently. This has opened chances for the veteran runner.
He was expected to push Roschon Johnson, Brittan Brown, and Coleman Bennett for a roster spot. Johnson had been with the team and is a former draft pick. Brown was on the roster last year when Johnson was hurt. Lastly, Bennett is a rookie UDFA. All three are more tied to the team. However, none of those three have looked as explosive or competent as Ahmed. None of them have earned a roster spot, either.
So, Ahmed is a couple of good preseason rushes away from making it hard to push him off the roster. They will likely only keep three running backs, but nothing is stopping him from holding down the third spot. He will be a notable name to watch through the rest of the offseason.
He could go from camp body to roster lock.
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