The Chicago Bears are undefeated in the 2023 season. There are plenty of takeaways from the game after beating the Titans in the preseason opener. Many players were competing for jobs on the roster, starting positions, and contracts. Who are some players that made the most of the preseason opener?
10. Roschon Johnson looked like the real deal for the Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears waited until the second half to fully unlock Roschon Johnson, but it looked like he belonged when they did. Johnson led the Bears in rushing with 44 yards. Yes, a lot of it came on a 24-yard rush, and the rest of the day was pedestrian, but that rush was all Johnson making players miss and grabbing extra yards.
More than that, he had two pass protection snaps and looked strong, and he also played 12 snaps on special teams, tied for the second most on the roster. When the Bears drafted Johnson, he was known for his power, blocking, and special teams, and all three were on display today.
Early on, the Chicago Bears started Khalil Herbert, but Trestan Ebner got work in the first half as a third-down, passing game back. You can expect the team to push Johnson into that role so that he gets to play third downs with Justin Fields as soon as this weekend.
9. Greg Stroman is making a case for the Chicago Bears roster
Greg Stroman is an interesting player who is rising up the depth chart. He missed most of the 2019 through 2021 seasons and worked himself back to full health last year. Still, he just was able to make the Bears practice squad and get called up for the week 18 game. The Bears did play him 70 snaps in week 18, so they obviously wanted to see what he could bring.
Now, he is rising up the depth chart before the 2023 season. Stroman got 27 snaps of work, and all of them came with the second team. What is fascinating to note is that he took all of his snaps from the slot. Stroman has played the slot in 208 snaps of his 460 career snaps.
So, his playing the slot is not necessarily expected, but it is not new to him. You have to wonder if this has to do with Josh Blackwell missing time and not playing. He is the presumed backup slot, so they did not have a better option.
Still, if Stroman can play the slot and outside, he can make the roster as a fifth or sixth cornerback, which is where he stands right now. He added nine special teams snaps, which is major for his roster placement. His play has to warrant the thought that he could be sticking around the team this season, and not just on the practice squad.
8. The D.J. Moore to Justin Fields connection is real for the Chicago Bears
The preseason is mainly about the roster battles we highlighted in the last slide. The sixth cornerback spot and the 53rd player on the roster will be the big talking points because that is where the movement is. Those are the players who played the majority of the snaps.
Still, despite just seven snaps, it is hard not to talk about Justin Fields to D.J. Moore. We had heard about it all summer, and the two showed us what happens when you put two big-time athletes on the field together.
The pass was not even great, and it was an easy pass for Fields. Still, that is the point of why these two can be so dynamic together. They are both so talented that they can overcome the margin for error, and turn small and simple into big and extraordinary.
Moore and Fields are expected to be connecting deep down the field, so the thought that they can turn a pass behind the line into a big play, and turn a pass 60 yards down the field into the same result will leave cornerbacks nervous.
This connection is just getting started, and we only saw a sneak peak on Saturday. What a fun peak.
7. Jaylon Jones may find a role with the Chicago Bears on special teams
Jaylon Jones is the definition of what the preseason is all about. Jones is a UDFA who was able to catch on in the preseason last year. He ended up starting a bit as a rookie due to the poor depth on the roster. Jones was definitely thrust into a spot where he was not ready yet, but he hung around and now is back for another season.
While the cornerback room is stronger, we noted with Stroman that the fifth and sixth cornerback spots are still open. Fortunately for Jones, Terell Smith missed the game as well, and it made the rotation smaller, and easier for him to get on the field.
Jones played 24 snaps on defense, with 17 in coverage. He allowed just two catches, but the main display was special teams. Jones led the Bears in special teams snaps, tackles, and PFF grade on Saturday. This is more important than anything defensively.
The fifth or sixth cornerback will hardly see the field, but they will be a valuable special teams piece. Stroman proved that he could play inside and outside, but Jones showed that he could play five phases of special teams, while Stroman was in for just three special teams units.
These are the small things that may seperate the two, but both of them made cases for different reasons.
6. AJ Thomas made a big play when he needed to
AJ Thomas was a UDFA last season. He used the preseason to stick around all year, mostly on the practice squad. Thomas did get called up late into the year, but it was well after the season was lost. Still, he is back for year two and has a strong path to the roster.
Looking at the initial depth chart, he was a backup behind Jaquan Brisker and Eddie Jackson. Like the depth chart showed, Elijah Hicks was the third safety stepping in for Brisker. Then, when Jackson left the field, it was A.J. Thomas stepping in as the backup.
He played 20 snaps and ended with an interception. This is huge because he is still competing with Adrian Colbert, and Kendall Williamson for a roster spot. Thomas played fewer snaps than both, but that may be a good sign. All of his snaps came in the first half, while these two finished out the second half.
More than that, the rookie Williams had a rough go of it. Thomas also got himself on four phases of special teams for eight snaps. As of now, he is firmly on the roster. We will see if Williamson and Colbert can do anything about it in the coming weeks.
5. Khalil Herbert is the leader in the clubhouse for the Chicago Bears at running back
There has been a question about who will lead the Chicago Bears in rushing this season. They have a three-man race, with Roschon Johnson slowly coming into his own after a strong performance in this game. Still, Johnson got his name into the three-man mix with a strong second half, but Herbert was out there with the starters in the first half.
Justin Fields played seven snaps on Saturday. Khalil Herbert was out there on the field for all seven of them. D'Onta Foreman and Johnson played in the second half while Herbert sat with the rest of the starters. It is only week one of the preseason, but this is a major sign for the Chicago Bears.
One huge note is that Khalil Herbert was not only on the field for third down with eight yards to go. He flared out and caught a touchdown pass. Last year, the passing game value was a huge hindrance to the ability of Herbert. They not only trusted him to stay on the field for a third and long, but they ran him out. Fields threw him the ball, and he caught it and worked upfield.
If Herbert can show passing game value, he is for a massive season, and it will be tough for Foremd or Johnson to touch him.
4. Travis Bell made a name for himself in his Chicago Bears debut
Travis Bell was one of the more surprising draft picks by the Chicago Bears. Coming from Kennesaw State, he was an unknown by fans. Could he have gone undrafted? Did the Bears need him after drafting Zacch Pickens and Gervon Dexter? Will he even make the roster?
It was limited, as Bell played just 19 snaps, but he did record two pressures and a sack. He is clearly fifth in the pecking order, which is good because the team added Bravvion Roy, who made an NFL roster last year. Andrew Brown also got work at defensive tackle, but Bell was ahead of him in the rotation and outplayed him.
The question is whether he makes the roster or spends a year on the practice squad. He is still a bit of a project, but if he plays well the next two weeks, it will make the Chicago Bears decision tougher, and they may have to keep him on the roster. Still, the Bears would love to hear that their seventh-round rookie is ahead of schedule.
3. Ja'Tyre Carter put his mark on making the Chicago Bears roster
Ja'Tyre Carter was a seventh-round pick from a small school last season, so Ryan Poles does have a track record. Carter made the roster as a rookie, which was impressive, and now he is back to win a spot again.
Nate Davis was injured and did not play, which is not great for Bears fans. For Carter, in particular, this is not bad because it means starting snaps. The Chicago Bears could have chosen Dieter Eiselen or Alex Leatherwood for these snaps but rolled with Carter.
Carter played 39 snaps in this game. He went from working with the starters to getting 32 snaps with the backups as well. According to PFF, Carter was the highest-graded offensive line player. if you watch the tape, you can understand why he would be in the mix.
Carter is as close as you can get to a roster lock with a few weeks to go until roster cut down day. He also will be active on gamedays at this point.
2. Terrell Lewis is making a strong case for the Chicago Bears roster
The Chicago Bears have some sorting out to do at the bottom of their edge rusher depth chart. One name who is starting to make a lot of noise is Terrell Lewis. Lewis has always been a talent. He went to Alabama and was drafted in the top 100 picks for a reason. However, he has issues staying healthy.
On Saturday, he was healthy and played 38 snaps, including 27 pass-rushing snaps. Lewis added four pressures and a couple of sacks. He looked like the more dominant athlete in most of his pass-rushing snaps. He also added three special teams snaps. Playing any phases can help keep him on the roster when he is at this standing.
The situation for Lewis could be as simple as staying healthy. If Lewis can stay upright through September, it may be hard for the team to leave this upside off of the roster. At the same rate, we know why he has not stuck around in the NFL, so it may just be a matter of time. The Bears have to keep playing him to see what he can bring to the table, and also to make sure that he can handle the grind of getting work in the NFL
1. Did Trevis Gipson work his way up the Chicago Bears roster
One of the biggest notes from the Chicago Bears' initial depth chart was that Trevis Gipson was way down the depth chart. Like, below rookie UDFA D'Anthony Jones low. However, that is why we always say that you have to take that depth chart with a grain of salt.
Gipson played before Jones and dominated this game like a player who should make an NFL roster. Gipson played 44 snaps in this game. He had 27 pass rush snaps, and finished with eight pressures. He was getting after it.
Gipson is going to need this, because he still was about the sixth man in the mix. Yannick Ngakoue, and DeMarcus Walker sat, signifying their starter status. Rasheem Green and Dominique Robinson started this game as the primary backups, then Lewis and Gipson got serious work, because they rar eon the roster bubble.
Fans need to remember that when assessing his play. One thing that may happen is Gipson may have opened himself up for a trade. His play, plus his depth chart standing may signal to teams to give Chicago a call. That would be a win for Gipson and the Chicago Bears.