The Chicago Bears confirmed that they will play their starters for most of the first half in the preseason finale. Matt Eberflus will dictate status based on playtime, but most should expect to work the entire first half.
Now that the roster is down to 80, we can see how the depth chart is shaking out and how the rotations at wide receiver will look. The team has 11 wide receivers currently signed, but with Byron Pringle, and N’Keal Harry out, they have nine players.
That essentially gives them three strings worth of players.
How will Chicago Bears divide WR snaps?
For the starting string, they will run a three wide receiver set of Darnell Mooney, Equaniemous St. Brown, and Velus Jones. The team may mix in Dante Pettis as a fourth wideout for some naos, but for the majority of the first half, these will be the three players who work with Justin Fields and the first team offense.
To start the second half, the next three in-line are likely going to be Dante Pettis, Tajae Sharpe, and Chris Finke. In terms of roles, you could expect Pettis to be in the Mooney role, as he moves in and out of the slot, and steps in as the top pass catcher.
Sharpe would fill in for ESB, as the bigger body blocker, and Finke would be the primary slot who backs up Velus Jones. This group may get an extended look in the second half, but they could also shift to the third string.
Behind Dante Pettis would be Nsimba Webster. If Pettis gets pulled early in the third quarter, you know that he made the roster. Isaiah Coulter would step in behind Sharpe, and then Kevin Shaa would be behind Chris Finke as the slot-only threat.
In most cases it would be Fields with the top group, Siemian with the second string, and then depending on how much the third group plays, they would likely see Nathan Peterman. Below you can see how the strings should run.
Darnell Mooney – Dante Pettis – Nsimba Webster
Equanimeous St. Brown – Tajae Sharpe – Isaiah Coulter
Velus Jones – Chris Finke – Kevin Shaa