Chicago Bears' first 2024 depth chart provides clarity for defensive line

The Chicago Bears play their first regular season game of the 2024 NFL Season on Sunday and in a sign that normal game week preparations are coming into focus, the Bears released their first unofficial depth chart of the regular season on Tuesday.

It was a unique preseason for the Bears in that there were not many starting spots up for grabs. One of the biggest questions that the Bears had entering Training Camp was who would be the starting defensive end on the opposite side of Montez Sweat and who would be the starting center.

DeMarcus Walker will be the first option for the Bears at the defensive end spot on the other end of the defensive line. When the Bears acquired Darrell Taylor at the end of the preseason, it seemed that the move was down in order for Taylor to serve as the starting defensive end opposite Sweat, with Walker serving in the hybrid role that he had last season. After the addition of Yannick Ngakoue last season, the Bears used Walker in different roles--rotating from lining up as a defensive end andn in the middle of the defensive line.

The Bears release their first depth chart of the 2024 season.

Coleman Shelton gets the starting nod at center. While the plan throughout the offseason was for Ryan Bates to be the starting center, a Training Camp injury led to Shelton getting most of the work at center with the first-team offense. Bates has returned to practice in recent weeks, but it seems he may open the season as the swing guard for the Bears' offensive line.

As for the return specialists, Velus Jones Jr. appears to be getting the first crack at being the Bears' returner for kickoffs. Along those lines, the Bears list Jones as a wide receiver instead of a running back. As expected, DeAndre Carter will be the return man on punts.