7. AJ Thomas is a lock for the Chicago Bears roster
As we noted with Elijah Hicks, he has locked down the third safety. He will be the primary backup at both spots and will play dime when called upon. Still, the Chicago Bears cannot just keep three safeties, even if Hicks can back up both spots. Through two weeks of the preseason, it has become clear that AJ Thomas is the fourth safety.
Thomas ascended in training camp last year and stuck on the practice squad. He got some playing time last year and is showing that it is paying off this year. He clearly has a step on the rookie seventh-round pick Kendall Williamson, but he has also held off Adrian Colbert.
Thomas just appears near the football often. He had an interception on the tip drill in the first game and almost had another in week two. More than that, he has been the fourth safety from the start of training camp through the second preseason game. He started next to Elijah Hicks, with Brisker and Jackson out this week.
Nothing Thomas has done suggests he will not make the roster. He has one more week to make sure his job is secured, but it is hard to see anything happening to change his circumstances now.