Chicago Bears: Identifying roster battles

What are the position battles to watch as the Chicago Bears fill out their 53-man roster?

With two preseason games to go, we are starting to get a good feel for where the Chicago Bears stand with the talent on their roster. The starters have been set, and the back end will be decided over the next two weeks.

With that in mind, who are some of the back end of the roster players that could be fighting for jobs in the next two weeks. We took a look at the locks to make the roster and came up with 40. With that in mind, 24 players are arguably fighting for 13 spots to close out the roster. This will not include the kicker battle as the roster spot will be taken up by one person regardless. The kicker is a lock whoever it is, and no other kicker will make it.

Here are the locks:

Locks:

Quarterback (2): Mitch Trubisky Chase Daniel

Running back (3): David Montgomery, Mike Davis, Tarik Cohen

Wide Receiver: (6)Allen Robinson, Taylor Gabriel, Anthony Miller, Cordarelle Patterson, Riley Ridley, Javon Wims

Tight end (2): Trey Burton, Adam Shaheen

Offensive Line (6): Charles Leno, Cody Whitehair, James Daniels, Kyle Long, Bobby Massie, Ted Larsen

Defensive Line (5): Akiem Hicks, Eddie Goldman, Bilal Nichols, Johnathan Bullard, Roy Robertson-Harris

Edge rusher (3): Khalil Mack, Leonard Floyd, Aaron Lynch

Linebacker (2): Roquan Smith, Danny Trevathan

Cornerback (5): Kyle Fuller, Prince Amukamara, Buster Skrine, Duke Shelley, Kevin Toliver

Safety (3): Eddie Jackson, Haha Clinton-Dix, Deon Bush

Specialists (3): Pat O’Donnell, Patrick Scales, Eddy Pineiro

Who are the bubble players?

Offensive skill players: Kerrith Whyte, Ryan Nall Marvin Hall, Ben Braunecker, Bradley Sowell, Ian Bunting

Whyte has return ability but is behind Patterson in Cohen in both areas. Nall is making the case on having versatility as a runner, passer, and blocker.

Marvin Hall is hoping that his deep speed, and ability to take one play to the house is enough to beat out a player such as Whyte.

Braunecker has the best chance of all tight ends to make the roster due to his special teams ability. Sowell changed positions and is the best blocker on the unit. This gives him a better chance than others. Lastly is Bunting who has come along recently. His ability to fill a similar role to Adam Shaheen gives him a leg up.

Offensive line: Alex Bars, Rashaad Coward, Cornelius Lucas, T.J. Clemmings

Bars has found a way to go from a UDFA to a leader in the clubhouse to make the 53-man as a seventh offensive lineman. His ability to jump between tackle and guard has been on display, as well as healthy-his biggest pre-draft question.

Bars is closing in on becoming a lock thanks to the issues of the other three. One of these three has to make it, but there is no telling who.

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Defensive front: Nick Williams, Isaiah Irving, Kylie Fitts, James Vaughters, Chuck Harris

Chuck Harris probably number 24 of this group. Nick Williams has little upside but is a backup nose tackle. Can Bullard slide inside and let them keep five? Irving has a lead over Fitts and Vaughters but will need to prove himself the entire time. Vaughters has outplayed Fitts but has no pedigree. Both could be on the outside.

Linebackers: Nick Kwiatkoski, Kevin Pierre-Louis, Joel Iyiegbuniwe, Josh Woods

Kwiatkoski feels like a lock and would only not make the roster because of trade. Pierre-Louis should be a lock but it is not certain. The play of Woods and Iggy is what has made Kwiatkoski and Pierre-Louis so close to locks.

Defensive backs: John Franklin, Clifton Duck, Michael Joseph, Sherrick McManis, DeAndre Houston-Carson

Franklin and Duck have outplayed Joseph. Duck may get the upper hand of the three. McManis and Houston-Carson are claiming special teams value.

Cutting down

19. John Franklin

20. Joel Iyiegbuniwe

21. James Vaughters

22. Josh Woods

23. Michael Joseph

24. Chuck Harris

This would leave

Kerrith Whyte, Ryan Nall Marvin Hall, Ben Braunecker, Bradley Sowell, Ian Bunting, Alex Bars, Rashaad Coward, Cornelius Lucas, T.J. Clemmings, Nick Williams, Isaiah Irving, Kylie Fitts, Nick Kwiatkoski, Kevin Pierre-Louis, Clifton Duck, Sherrick McManis, DeAndre Houston-Carson

and six of them are going to get cut. From this group, look for special teams value to be a deciding factor.

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