𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles is in the thick of it now, crunch time inside the front office as he pushes, with heavy input from coach Ben Johnson, to solidify the roster for the regular season.

Poles was in Nashville, Tenn., on Saturday night, watching at Nissan Stadium as his Bears finished the preseason with a 24-15 win over the Tennessee Titans. That victory got its first jolt on the Bears’ opening offensive snap, a 97-yard touchdown toss from Tyson Bagent to Zavion Thomas.

Thomas finished with 140 receiving yards plus a 39-yard punt return. Bagent (16-for-17, 208 yards, two TDs) posted a passer rating of 156.9.

Now, though, Poles has a deadline — 5 p.m. CT Sunday — to submit the Bears’ initial 53-man roster to the league.

To be clear, the first version will likely be revised and massaged before the Bears arrive at their first meaningful practice of Week 1. And with a 16-player practice squad serving as a safety net for many players who will be let go, the angst of roster cuts isn’t quite as intense as it once was.

Still, it’s a demanding duty to work through injury issues and positional concerns to put together the most competitive collection of players possible. As Poles grinds through his Sunday, The Athletic’s Kevin Fishbain and Dan Wiederer offer this roster projection.

Quarterback (3): Caleb Williams, Tyson Bagent, Case Keenum

Fishbain: It’s rare for the Bears to have the same three QBs in back-to-back years, let alone have the same starter-backup combo for three consecutive seasons. It speaks to the value Bagent and Keenum bring. We’ll see if Bagent attracts any outside interest if a starter elsewhere in the league goes down.

Wiederer: Continuity is king right now in the Halas Hall quarterbacks room. Williams, of course, is trying to grab the next elevator to stardom. Keenum, in his 15th season, remains a tremendous resource for both younger quarterbacks. And Bagent? “I just know I sleep well at night,” Ben Johnson told The Athletic earlier this month, “knowing we have an elite backup on this roster.”

Running back (3): D’Andre Swift, Kyle Monangai, Roschon Johnson

Wiederer: Take note of how enthusiastic Johnson has been about Swift since the spring. “I think he’s primed for a big year.” Swift’s workload should reflect that sentiment. Meanwhile, could Monangai’s knee injury and week-to-week status open a door for Salvon Ahmed to land a roster spot?

Fishbain: Johnson got the bulk of the workload in the preseason and totaled 52 yards and a touchdown Saturday. And while he wasn’t as explosive as Ahmed, we can’t ignore his special-teams value and pass-protection skill, giving him the slight edge for another season as the No. 3 running back.

Wide receiver (6): Rome Odunze, Luther Burden III, Kalif Raymond, Zavion Thomas, Jahdae Walker, Kaden Davis

Fishbain: The first five have been pretty much set since the draft, as Walker continues to solidify himself as someone who can make plays on offense and special teams. Davis had an impressive camp, and likely wouldn’t be active on gameday. Did he outperform Scotty Miller, Maurice Alexander and J.P. Richardson?

Wiederer: If the Bears need secondary depth or additional special teams help, don’t be shocked if they only carry five receivers into Week 1. The state of the depth chart, though, is as solid at the position — and as well-rounded — as I can remember.

Tight ends (3): Colston Loveland, Cole Kmet, Sam Roush

Wiederer: This may be the most stable position group in the building. And that’s a good thing with Johnson aiming to lean into two- and three-tight end sets more regularly. Loveland’s ascent feels inevitable. Kmet, meanwhile, remains one of the most admired players in the organization for his selfless approach and dogged work habits. Undrafted rookie Hayden Large seems set up, at minimum, to grab a practice squad job.

Fishbain: After tempering expectations for Roush in one breath this week, Johnson praised the rookie’s potential in the next. In Nashville, he said Roush hasn’t reached the level of consistency the Bears seek, but added, “I think he’s going to be a phenomenal football player for a long time in this league.” This is the place to be for Roush to learn from Kmet and Loveland and begin his career as the No. 3 tight end for a coach who is going to love 13 personnel.

Sam Roush is well positioned to be the No. 3 tight end and learn from a coach who loves to deploy three tight ends. (Joseph Maiorana / Imagn Images)

Offensive line (10): Braxton Jones, Joe Thuney, Garrett Bradbury, Jonah Jackson, Darnell Wright, Logan Jones, Theo Benedet, Ozzy Trapilo, Luke Newman, Jedrick Wills

Fishbain: The left tackle situation creates a number of scenarios for Poles and company on cut day. Are they ready to part with 2024 third-round pick Kiran Amegadjie? What about Wills, a veteran with ample starting experience? That player might not be active most weeks pending Trapilo’s availability, who may need to stay on the roster even if he can’t play for a bit just so he can continue practicing.

Wiederer: While the Bears activated Trapilo from the physically unable to perform (PUP) list two weeks ago, just seven months after he suffered a torn patellar tendon, there’s a scenario where he could be placed on injured reserve to start the season, freeing a roster spot as he continues to ramp up. Other names to keep tabs on as the Bears assemble their practice squad: Jordan McFadden and Caden Barnett.

Defensive line (10): Montez Sweat, Grady Jarrett, Gervon Dexter, Austin Booker, Dayo Odeyingbo, Jordan van den Berg, Neville Gallimore, Daniel Hardy, Kentavius Street, Marcus Davenport

Projection: Shemar Turner remains on PUP.

Wiederer: Turner, still recovering from an ACL tear suffered last October, may not be clear for a return for a little while longer. At some point, the second-round pick has to get himself ready for a significant role. To become a consistently productive defense this season, the Bears need a big developmental jump from Booker and another impactful season from Sweat. Earmark Jamree Kromah and Jayden Loving for practice squad nods.

Fishbain: The Bears might not have a Pro Bowler on their interior, but Johnson believes the defensive tackle group is being underrated. It’s definitely deeper. Jarrett is healthy, van den Berg has been the story of camp, newcomers Street and Gallimore have flashed at times, and Dexter is entering a contract year. But can they stop the run?

Linebacker (5): T.J. Edwards, Devin Bush, D’Marco Jackson, Jack Sanborn, Keyshaun Elliott

Projection: Noah Sewell remains on PUP.

Fishbain: In this scenario, a pair of Day 3 draft picks wouldn’t make the initial 53 — Sewell and Ruben Hyppolite. Sewell could stay on the PUP list and remain with the team. Hyppolite flashed a few times this summer, but is also battling an injury. He could be a practice squad candidate if the Bears want to keep developing him.

Wiederer: I see Sewell, rehabilitating from a torn Achilles tendon, as a PUP lister much more than a cut risk. It will be interesting to soon get a look at Elliott, who missed months of time with a back issue but was recently cleared to resume practicing.

Cornerback (6): Jaylon Johnson, Tyrique Stevenson, Malik Muhammad, Terell Smith, Josh Blackwell, Jaylon Jones

Projection: Kyler Gordon remains on PUP

Wiederer: Gordon’s calf injury and extended absence have really put a strain on the corner depth, with Muhammad the frontrunner to be the Week 1 starter in the slot. Stevenson has been banged up the last few weeks, which should open a door for Terell Smith to stick around. Blackwell and Jones remain plus contributors on special teams.

Fishbain: I doubt many in Halas Hall would have slotted in Muhammad as the Week 1 starter at nickel corner, but it’s trending in that direction. If he can hold down the job in Gordon’s absence, it’d be a huge lift for the defense — and a nod to the scouting staff. Muhammad has the confidence and skill set necessary for corner, but will be targeted often by opposing QBs if he’s in that role.

Safety (4): Dillon Thieneman, Cam Lewis, Elijah Hicks, Xavier Woods

Projection: Coby Bryant goes to IR

Fishbain: Boy, does this position look different without Bryant, the $40 million safety. Hicks and Lewis are more than serviceable, but as full-season starters? The best case scenario for the Bears would be Thieneman developing ultra-fast to be a playmaker on the back end.

Wiederer: There has been widespread praise about the upward arc of Thieneman’s growth. He’s still a rookie with inevitable growing pains ahead. But his emergence should be fun to watch. I’ve been impressed since the spring with Lewis’ versatility and willingness to adapt to whatever is needed. Undrafted rookie Skyler Thomas is likely deserving of a practice squad opportunity.

Special teams (3): Cairo Santos, Tory Taylor, Beau Gardner

Wiederer: Gardner outlasted Luke Elkin in a training camp long snapping competition. But you get the sense he has more to accomplish to lock down that job for the entire season. Special teams coordinator Richard Hightower is calling for consistent accuracy and reliable protection and asking Gardner to make sure he snaps “a good, clean, deliverable football.” “You’ve got to prove you belong in the National Football League every day,” Hightower said.

Fishbain: Santos missed a field goal in the preseason opener, but as far as training camp has gone, he has looked very solid. The Bears hope to score more touchdowns this year and not need to rely on as many field goals. But if they do, early returns are positive on Santos’ seventh year as a Bear.