Bears Make Final Cuts

6.) TE Tony Moeaki – I thought he was a sure thing to make the roster after being the most reliable receiving tight end this preseason, but the Bears went with two blocking tight ends to back up Zach Miller and Moeaki failed to get much push in the run game this preseason.

7.) TE Rob Housler – Had an impressive 58-yard catch-and-run in week two but really struggled as a blocker and the Bears seemed to value blocking over receiving at the tight end position. They kept blockers Khari Lee and Greg Scruggs over Moeaki and Housler. If Miller gets hurt, the Bears aren’t going to get much (if anything) in the passing game out of Lee and Scruggs.

8.) WR Daniel Braverman – Was one of the Bears most impressive receivers in training camp with multiple highlight reel catches, but it didn’t translate to preseason games. Braverman also struggled as a punt returner when given a chance. Hopefully he will clear waivers and end up on the Bears practice squad.

9.) OT Jason Weaver – Struggled as both a run and pass blocker this preseason. Not a surprise Weaver was let go.

10.) CB De’Vante Bausby – This is one of my least favorite cuts as the 6’2 corner improved as the preseason went on and played a very strong game against the Browns this week. With injuries to Kyle Fuller, Tracy Porter, and Bryce Callahan, it doesn’t make any sense to me to release a corner with size and upside like Bausby. Especially when they kept a corner like Sherrick McManis who has negative value in pass coverage. I’d be surprised if Bausby slips through waivers to end up on the Bears practice squad. This move could come back to haunt the Bears.

11.) TE Ben Braunecker – Didn’t play all preseason despite being healthy by the 4th preseason game. I thought maybe the Bears had already seen enough of Braunecker to ensure his spot on the team. Instead they may have been keeping other teams from getting any tape on Braunecker in hopes they can sneak him onto the practice squad.

12.) CB Tavese Calhoun – Practice squad candidate who has good size (6’1, 200) and is tough against the run, but needs to work on his man coverage skills.

13.) QB David Fales – Not a surprise considering that Fales didn’t see any pre-season action until the 4th quarter of the last preseason game and was seemingly passed up on the depth chart by Connor Shaw. The gruesome leg injury suffered by Shaw may have opened up a spot on the practice squad for Fales if he clears waviers. There was some rumored interest in Fales from other teams last year, so the Bears may lose him.

14.) ILB John Timu – I called this one as well, but that doesn’t mean I like it. Timu plays as hard as anyone on the field and has shown natural instincts for reading plays and attacking ball carriers in the backfield. Timu could be an asset against the run, but has been routinely exposed in pass coverage. He’s just not fast enough to stay with backs and tight ends in coverage. He’ll likely end up on the practice squad and could see some time with the Bears if someone gets hurt.

15.) LS Patrick Scales – Was beat out by the more experienced Araon Brewer, who played for John Fox in Denver.

I’ll be posting more analysis of the Bears final cuts and who I think they will impact the 2016 season. I’ll also be posting cuts from around the rest of the league that could end up on the Bears roster sometime in the next few days.