The Bears’ roster is set, but the real work may have just started. With final cuts sweeping across the league, Chicago suddenly has a fresh pool of available talent to comb through, and there are a handful of names that fit obvious needs on this team.
Pass rush is one of the biggest pressure points. Sam Williams would give the Bears another young edge option and a rotational piece to work alongside Dayo Odeyingbo and Austin Booker. He may not walk in as a starter, but Chicago would be a better pass-rushing group with him in the mix.
Left tackle is another spot that demands attention. Braxton Jones did not give the Bears confidence he can hold down the starting job after his poor showing at training camp and preseason. Taylor Decker knows Ben Johnson’s offense from their time together with the Detroit Lions, which makes him a logical target, and this could be something Chicago has to act on right away.
Inside linebacker is thin enough that Tyrel Dodson belongs on the radar too. He started for the Miami Dolphins last season and piled up more than 100 tackles, which is exactly the kind of production the Bears could use. He’d fit as a rotational player, but there’s also a real path for him to start in some games.
The secondary also needs help, especially with injuries already piling up. Trevon Diggs was a surprise cut by the Seattle Seahawks, though they plan to add him to the practice squad if nobody else gets there first. Chicago can at least hope rookie Malik Muhammad handles nickel and Tyrique Stevenson delivers on the outside, but Diggs would be a strong insurance option and could be an instant upgrade.
Kenny Moore II brings a different kind of value: experience. He’s been around the league a long time and played at a high level, and after a strong run with the Colts, he could make sense as a one-year rental to stabilize corner depth. Given how many injuries the Bears have dealt with, adding another veteran into the mix would be a sensible move.
Safety is the last area worth watching, and it’s another place where the Bears have been hit hard. Stone was a starter over the last two years with the Cincinnati Bengals, but the Buffalo Bills let him go in a move that raised eyebrows. Chicago has added upgrades at safety after Coby Bryant’s injury, and Stone could work his way in as a starter over Cam Lewis and Xavier Woods.
In Other News...
Bears Initial 53-Man Roster Sent A Clear Message About Ben Johnson
The Bears first 53-man roster of the Ben Johnson era offered an early snapshot of what the new coaching staff values, and it was not hard to read between the lines. Roschon Johnson earned the third running back job largely because of his special teams work, while the team chose to keep a fourth tight end instead of carrying a sixth receiver, another sign that versatility and role certainty carried real weight in the final decisions.
The cuts and keepers filled in the rest of the picture. Jedrick Wills and Kiran Amegadjie were both let go, Marcus Davenport was released, and Terell Smith was waived, while Jayden Loving made the roster and Elijah Hicks and Skyler Thomas both stuck. It was a reminder that this group is being built with specific jobs in mind, and the early roster math suggests Johnsons staff is willing to prioritize those jobs over more familiar names. [Read more 🡒]
Bears Roster Reveal Just Changed More Battles Than Fans Expected
The Bears 53-man roster is set, and the shape of it says as much about the teams direction as any preseason highlight. Chicago leaned into youth and upside, carrying plenty of rookies and undrafted players while rewarding some of the camp standouts who made the most of their chances. Among the clearer winners was Hayden Large, who earned a spot as a blocking tight end, a sign the Bears valued his role in a room where every detail mattered.
Not every good summer ended in a roster spot. Salvon Ahmed put together a strong preseason but still missed the cut, while James Lynch was among the cuts who could circle back later depending on how the next few days unfold. Then there is Kyler Gordon, still on the PUP list with no clear return timeline, leaving one of the Bears more interesting personnel questions unresolved as the roster settles in. [Read more 🡒]
Bears Defensive Line Shuffle Isn't Over Yet
The Bears defensive front is still taking shape after roster cutdowns, and James Lynch is back in the picture. Chicago re-signed the defensive tackle to its 53-man roster after initially letting him go, a move that gives the team another body inside as it keeps sorting through a group that blends rookies and veterans.
To clear a spot, undrafted rookie tight end Hayden Large is headed to injured reserve, opening the door for Lynchs return. For a Bears defense trying to settle its rotation, the move is another reminder that the line shuffle is not finished yet, especially with depth at defensive tackle still a live issue as the season approaches. [Read more 🡒]