After two preseason games, the Bears have already seen enough from a handful of non-starters to keep them on the sideline when Tennessee comes to town.
That final exhibition should be about bubble players and anyone who needs one last strong showing to keep a job somewhere else. For Ben Johnson and the Bears, there are four players who have already done enough to make the next step pretty clear: no more preseason snaps.
Jahdae Walker is at the top of that list. One catch against the Bengals was all it took for him to catch national attention, and the play itself was the kind that sticks.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler even highlighted the video and wrote, "Looks like the Bears got another playmaker emerging." Walker would be fun to watch as a WR3, but Kalif Raymond has had a phenomenal camp.
Walker has already shown he deserves more chances, and the sense here is that his real opportunity comes in 2026, not in the preseason finale.
Jordan van den Berg has done more than flash. The rookie sixth-round pick has repeatedly shown he belongs, collapsing pockets, causing disruption in the backfield and winning one-on-one battles over the first two preseason games.
He’s given Dennis Allen plenty to consider in a defensive line room with respected veterans around him, and he may already be one of the best players in that group. Sending him out again would be unnecessary.
He’s earned a roster spot and could become an important piece for this defense in 2026.
Ruben Hyppolite has also made his case. After being mocked early as a Ryan Poles fourth-round pick, he’s turned into what might be the best depth linebacker on the roster.
In two preseason games, he’s put up 14 total tackles, one for a loss and a pass breakup. With Noah and Nephie Sewell and rookie Keyshaun Elliott all hurt, the Bears’ linebacker depth is thin, which only makes Hyppolite more valuable as a reserve.
He’s already shown enough against live competition.
Then there’s Sam Roush, another rookie who arrived with a strong RAS reputation and has backed it up. He’s caught four passes for 45 yards across the two preseason games, and the athleticism shows up, especially after the catch. The Bears’ top three tight ends are healthy, and that’s exactly why there’s no reason to expose Roush to more preseason wear and tear.
The same logic applies to the bigger names on the roster. Caleb Williams, Colston Loveland, Rome Odunze and most of the Bears’ starters should be parked against the Titans. The main spots still worth sorting out are left tackle and nickel.
Braxton Jones and Theo Benedet need the reps because neither one has pulled away at left tackle. And at nickel, the starting job still hasn’t been settled. Dennis Allen’s use of the slot corner could turn into a major weapon, and rookie Malik Muhammad might end up being the answer, but there’s still more to evaluate there.
For everyone else at the top of the depth chart, though, the instruction is simple: sit them down and move on.
In Other News...
Bears Have An Early Cairo Santos Decision They Can't Ignore
Cairo Santos has spent the first two preseason games giving the Bears plenty to think about at kicker. He has made 5 of 7 field goals, but the two misses both came from 50 yards or more, which is exactly the range that can turn a routine camp evaluation into a roster conversation. For a team trying to settle down as many spots as possible before the games start to count, the kicking job is suddenly one of the quieter issues with a potentially loud answer.
Santos has been reliable for stretches since arriving in Chicago, but his accuracy has dipped over the past two seasons compared with his earlier run with the Bears. That kind of trend is hard to ignore at a position where trust matters as much as leg strength, and the next few kicks will go a long way toward shaping how patient the team wants to be. If the consistency does not come back soon, Chicago may decide it cannot wait to see whether the problem fixes itself. [Read more 🡒]
Bears Roster Battle Just Got Tougher For A Few Fringe Names
The Bears second preseason game against the Bengals did more than add another exhibition result to the ledger. It also sharpened the picture of who still has real work to do in the final weeks of camp, especially among the players fighting to stick on the back end of the roster. For a group that needed these reps to make a case, Sunday offered a reminder that every snap matters.
Kaden Davis had the kind of night that can be tough to recover from, with a muffed punt and only a modest presence in the passing game. Kiran Amegadjie also had a rough stretch at left tackle, while Daniel Hardy has been overshadowed by other edge rushers. Brittain Brown has not done enough as a runner or on special teams, and Zavion Thomas has yet to make much of an imprint since returning from injury, leaving several fringe names with a lot to prove before roster decisions get serious. [Read more 🡒]
Bears Bubble Players Just Made Final Roster Cuts A Lot Tougher
After the Bears second preseason game against the Bengals, the competition at the bottom of the roster looks even tighter than it did a week ago. Several players who entered camp on the fringe helped themselves with steady, useful work, the kind of showing that can make a coaching staff pause before setting the final 53. Salvon Ahmed added value as a runner and receiver while also handling pass protection and special teams, which matters for players fighting to carve out a role.
Malik Muhammad has been working through a transition to slot receiver and looked solid there, while Kentavius Street kept doing his job as a backup on the defensive line. Jamree Kromah has also made a case for an edge rusher spot, and rookies Skyler Thomas and Jordan van den Berg have flashed enough to stay in the conversation. With the Bears still sorting out the back end of the roster, these are the kinds of performances that can turn a bubble job into a real decision. [Read more 🡒]