The Bears’ second preseason game against the Bengals didn’t produce a win, but it did sharpen the picture of who’s making a real push for a roster spot.
A few players used Saturday to help their cases, and some may have done enough to separate themselves in tight battles as Chicago moves closer to trimming down to 53.
Salvon Ahmed gave the Bears something to think about in the backfield. Through just eight carries, he’s averaging 6.6 yards per carry, which tops Roschon Johnson’s 3.8.
Ahmed also has 69 receiving yards, compared with Johnson’s four. Beyond the numbers, he checked boxes in areas that matter for a bubble back: he handled two pass protection reps well and added five snaps on punt coverage, a role he hadn’t had before.
The question now is whether that combination is enough to get him on the team.
Malik Muhammad also made his presence felt. He has spent nearly all of training camp in the slot, with 51 snaps there and 16 on the outside, and he opened for a second straight week in the slot while looking steady. If that continues, Cam Lewis could be moving back to safety soon.
Kentavius Street keeps operating like a player who already knows where he stands. He has continued to work with the starters and comes off the field when they do, which has made his role easy to read. He looks like the clear backup to Grady Jarrett, and his roster spot appears secure.
On the edge, Jamree Kromah has made a strong case in a crowded competition with Daniel Hardy and Marcus Davenport for the final spot. He’s clearly been better than Hardy in the preseason, posting eight pressures and two sacks, while Hardy has only two pressures and no sacks. Whether that also puts pressure on Davenport is the next question.
Skyler Thomas, the rookie UDFA from Oregon State, has helped himself in a safety room that doesn’t offer much breathing room. He picked off a pass and was generally solid throughout preseason play, which makes him a difficult cut.
Jordan van den Berg has also flashed enough to get attention. The rookie sixth-round pick showed why Chicago selected him, even if he didn’t arrive with much draft buzz, and now he’ll get a shot to compete for a Week 1 role.
The Bears still have one preseason game left, but Saturday’s loss brought several of these battles into clearer view. For players on the edge, one more strong week could be enough to turn momentum into a place on the 53-man roster.
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Caleb Williams Just Put More Pressure On A Growing Bears Problem
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Caleb Williams took aim at the issue in his postgame press conference, saying the offense and the team as a whole have to own it and get better. The timing matters, too, because Chicagos penalty count has climbed from 2024 to 2025, and the team has slipped in the league rankings for penalties committed, which only adds more pressure to a problem the Bears cannot afford to carry into meaningful games. [Read more 🡒]