The Chicago Bears’ first 53-man roster left a lot of people focused on one number: five receivers.
That initial group featured Luther Burden, Rome Odunze, Kalif Raymond, Zavion Thomas, and Jahdae Walker, which made the final wideout competition look like the week’s biggest question. In the end, though, the Bears found a way to keep building behind that group without making much noise.
Ray-Ray McCloud was retained by placing the injured veteran on IR, a move that leaves the door open for him to factor into the active roster at some point in the 2026 season. Chicago also added Scotty Miller to the practice squad, and it would not be a surprise to see him work his way onto the lineup at some point during the upcoming season.
Miller brings speed, and that is the kind of trait head coach Ben Johnson is going to notice. Johnson gave him an extended summer look after Miller stood out in rookie minicamp during a tryout.
He also arrives with real big-moment experience, having helped Tom Brady win the legend’s final ring in Tampa Bay. For a team looking to stash useful depth, that is a strong piece to keep around.
The Bears’ top receivers are already in place, with Odunze and Burden both expected to take notable leaps in the 2026 season. Even so, there is not a ton of proven depth behind them, and that is where McCloud and Miller matter. They give Chicago some insurance at the bottom of the chart and a chance for a few explosive plays if injuries force the team to dip deeper into its options.
For Miller, this is a chance to get his career moving in the right direction again while filling a reserve role for a team expected to be among the top conference contenders. That is the kind of spot where he has already shown he can help.
Ryan Poles and Ben Johnson are clearly trying to balance youth with veteran depth, and that approach is exactly what a contender tends to do. Thomas and Walker are the flashier names, which helps explain how the initial roster shook out, but Chicago was smart to make sure it had more answers waiting if the regular season starts to test the group.
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Rome Odunze Is Giving Bears Fans Another Reason To Believe
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The foot injury concerns that followed Odunze into camp have not shown up in his recent work, and he has continued to take pride in the smaller details that help an offense function. With the Bears assembling a deeper group of playmakers, Odunzes role should be a meaningful one, and the more he keeps stacking days like this, the easier it is to see why Chicago has so much reason to believe in what comes next. [Read more 🡒]