5 things to watch in the Chicago Bears preseason finale

Who will grab the final cornerback spot(s) for the Chicago Bears?

Injuries to the cornerback position have opened the door for some unproven players to gain valuable playing time. Unfortunately, none of them have seized the opportunity like the Bears have hoped and have failed to separate themselves from the group.

The team’s cornerback room consists of a handful of question marks behind starters Jaylon Johnson, Kyler Gordon, and (to a lesser extent) Tavon Young. Third-year man Kindle Vildor, who started 12 games for the Chicago Bears last season, also feels like a safe bet to make the roster after making a positive impression on the new coaching staff.

After those four, the team features a slew of roster hopefuls. 2021 contributors Duke Shelley and Thomas Graham Jr. hope they made enough of an impression on the new coaching staff to stick around while newcomers Lamar Jackson (not that one), Jaylon Jones, and Greg Stroman Jr. are also fighting for their place on the squad.

Thomas Graham Jr., who flashed potential last year, might be the most intriguing player of the bunch. Unfortunately, he is also the least healthy one, which could jeopardize his spot on the roster.

The first thing they must decide is how many cornerbacks they will keep. While the team could go with six cover men, it seems more likely they would opt to keep an extra safety, where they have better depth and more players who provide added value on special teams, over an extra cornerback.