Bears Xavier Woods signing suddenly looks much bigger than simple camp depth

The Chicago Bears signed veteran safety Xavier Woods. Considering the timing of the Coby Bryant injury, this does not feel like a training-camp body-type addition. Will Woods make the roster, and could he be a Week 1 starter?

Chicago Bears signed Xavier Woods with plans to start him at safety

It is concerning that a safety with potential starter ability is still available this late into the offseason. It speaks to the idea that a lot of teams are concerned about his ability at this stage in his NFL career. However, at this point the Bears cannot be too picky about what they do at the position.

Woods is going to be entering his age-31 season and missed seven games last year due to a hamstring injury. Still, this is a player entering his tenth season in the NFL. He has 121 career starts over that time, and that includes 10 starts for the Titans last season.

He has played for four different teams over his nine NFL years and will be on his third team in as many seasons. This once again speaks to his skills declining. It also speaks to his ability to learn a new playbook, as he has been able to continually hold down starting spots.

Without Woods, the Bears were looking to Cam Lewis. However, Lewis has 14 starts as he enters his seventh NFL season. Lewis is a nice depth piece, but Woods has serious starting experience.

More than that, the team needs Lewis to continue to compete in the slot. There are no signs of Kyler Gordon from the PUP, and the team is thin in that spot.

They are currently testing Jaylon Jones, who they cut last year, Josh Blackwell, who they benched last year, and Malik Muhammad, who is a rookie who is changing positions from the outside to the slot.

Muhammad could start at some point, but is unlikely to be ready for Week 1. Without Lewis pushing that group, they look weak in the slot.

To add to matters, the team just lost Lewis, and he might be out for a couple of practices. So, Woods will likely jump right into a starting role.

Bryant is hurt, Elijah Hicks is on the PUP, and now Lewis might be out of the mix. Those are three of their top four safeties, leaving just rookie Dillon Thieneman. The team needs Woods to step in right away.

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