5 under-the-radar Chicago Bears to keep an eye on during training camp

3. Is DeMarquis Gates poised to make the Chicago Bears roster?

If you remember back to last summer, one of the best players in the second half of every game was DeMarquis Gates. Gates dominated during the XFL and was working with Jack Sanborn as depth linebacker in training camp.

That led to them both making a name for themselves last season. Sanborn made the roster, and Gates got himself onto the practice squad. Like most players, he got his chances late in the lost season and now has a chance to make the roster in 2023.

An underrated development was Sterling Weatherford being released. He made the roster last year and may have been a sixth linebacker this year. With him out of the way, a sixth spot is open, and the team definitely might keep six. Even the fifth spot is owned by Dylan Cole, who had been missing time and was signed from Tennessee this year, so he is not as familiar with the defense as Gates.

Still, Cole can play special teams well, and that is what is going to get him onto the roster. Gates needs to show that he can hang with Cole, and push him. At the least, if he can make plays on special teams, it pushes someone like Travis Bell, the defensive tackle, or some other position for a last spot.