The Chicago Bears have the best roster they've had in years entering their first preseason game against the Miami Dolphins this Sunday. This will be new head coach Ben Johnson's inaugural contest running the show, and he'll undoubtedly use this time to evaluate the team's depth in preparation for initial cuts.
Fans will be closely watching the backup quarterback battle, as well as second-string running back and the wide receiver room, to say nothing of a defense that expects to take a leap.
Outside of those areas, the tight end position provides intrigue. Cole Kmet is trying to hold onto his starting job over No. 10 pick Colston Loveland, though the organization expects to keep at least three players in the group. Unfortunately for one veteran tight end, he's on the outside looking in, and his roster spot is in serious jeopardy.
Right on the money to Stephen Carlson. pic.twitter.com/yuOrct9tGQ
— CHGO Bears (@CHGO_Bears) June 5, 2024
Bears TE Stephen Carlson Facing His Final Days in Chicago
Stephen Carlson, who entered the league back in 2019 as an undrafted free agent for the Cleveland Browns, is at the end of the depth chart. He's battling Durham Smythe for the theoretical final spot, but Smythe is more proven as a pass-catcher and seems to have a firm hold on the third spot.
Unless Chicago keeps four tight ends, which is possible, Carlson's days are numbered. He joined the Bears in 2023 and has been repeatedly waived and re-signed, spending most of his time on the practice squad. Carlson did suit up for one game in 2023, though appeared in only a handful of special teams snaps and didn't record a statistic.
With a mere six catches for 62 yards and two TDs in his career, the former Princeton standout is nothing to write home about. Unless Kmet's training camp injury is more serious than expected, there's little reason to keep four tight ends. You don't spend a top-10 pick on the position when you already have the seventh-highest paid player at the position (Kmet) just to retain a journeyman who has no chance at seeing the field.
In all likelihood, Carlson will be waived in the coming weeks. Perhaps he'll land on the practice squad again to stick around the organization, though it may be best for both parties at this point to find a fresh start. There are other tight-end needy teams who didn't recently use so much draft capital, suggesting that the grass could be greener on the other side for Carlson if he can find some interest.
For now, Sunday may represent his last chance to prove to Johnson that he needs to remain with the franchise.