The Chicago Bears roster is not set at all. There will be position battles up and down the roster for starting, depth, and bench spots. It will be interesting to see how things unfold for the team.
While most fans know of the names who have an excellent chance to make the roster, others could always slip in with a strong training camp. Who are the players not being discussed often but could end up on the Chicago Bears 53-man roster?
5. Chase Allen could be a needed depth tight end for Chicago Bears
Chase Allen is a second-year UDFA from Iowa State. He spent almost all of his rookie season on the practice squad, although he got called up and appeared on an NFL field for week 16. So, now that he got his debut out of the way, will he make the 53-man roster?
The Chicago Bears lost Trevon Wesco and Ryan Griffin, but they only added Robert Tonyan in free agency. They have both Allen and Jake Tonges, but Tonges made the roster as a fourth tight end last season. So, if they keep four tight ends again this year, it would be Cole Kmet, Tonyan, Tonges, and Allen.
This seems likely because Tonges was used as a move tight end, who had the fullback tag on his position early in training camp. Chase Allen is closer to a Jesse James version of a tall pass catcher who is used in the red zone. They have different roles. Even if the Chicago Bears asked Tonges to be a more traditional tight end, that may not be for the best, and it may end with Allen over Tonges as the third tight end.
So, if they keep three or four tight ends, Chase Allen has a real shot at making the Chicago Bears' 53-man roster.
4. Does Robert Burns make Khari Blasingame expendable for the Chicago Bears?
One reason the Chicago Bears may be looking at Tonges strictly through the tight-end lens this year is Robert Burns. Last year Tonges was the backup fullback to Khari Blasingame because they did not roster anyone else. This year, they have Robert Burns.
If Blasingame makes the roster, Burns will spend his first year on the practice squad, which is a likely option. But, if Blasingame got hurt, it would be an easy call-up. If Blasingame were injured in training camp, it would result in the first path to Burns making the roster.
Another path is straight up beating out Blasingame. This is a player with experience and versatility at fullback, but the Chicago Bears see something they like from Burns. If Burns gets the chance and shows that he belongs, why wouldn't the team go with the younger and cheaper option who has more years of control left on his contract? The Bears would not save much this year, but the writing does appear to be on the wall that this will be the le
The odds are that Blasingame will make the roster, and Burns will spend a year on the PS. After the season, the roles may change where. We see Blasingame move on, and Burns makes the roster during year two.
3. DeMarquis Gates is a roster sleeper for the Chicago Bears
If you remember the preseason last year, it was not just Jack Sanborn who was lighting things up. DeMarquis Gates, who was signed straight from the XFL was next to Sanborn, and they would go play-for-play and series-for-series.
Sanborn got the edge to make the roster, and thus get on the field. Still, Gates did spend the year on the practice squad, and beyond that, he did make an appearance in the NFL. He was called up in week 12, and he played 35 special teams snaps, and two defensive snaps, getting active for three games.
So, this is a step for Gates, but as you know, the linebacker depth chart just got tough. There are obvious names ahead of him, such as Tremaine Edmunds, TJ Edwards, Noah Sewell, and Jack Sanborn. That does leave two spots for potential players such as Gates. The issue is that he is not alone.
Most would project Sterling Weatherford to make the roster because he made it last year and was a special team ace for the Bears. They also signed Dylan Cole this offseason and added UDFA Micah Bakersfield. Cole and Weatherford are the favorites for spots five and six on the linebacker depth chart. However, another strong summer could have the Chicago Bears push Gates over these two.
2. Could A.J. Thomas make the Chicago Bears roster?
AJ Thomas is a second-year UDFA from Western Michigan. He is another player who was solid during the preseason and stuck around because of that. He made the practice squad, but late in the season, he was called up to the roster.
He was active from week 13 on, and he played three phases on special teams. AJ Thomas finished his first year with 66 special teams snaps and 13 defensive snaps, which is a win for a UDFA. He now enters year two with a chance to build off of that> it is not like the Chicago Bearsp ut heavy investments into safety, and they lost DeAndre Houston-Carson along the way.
The team has Jaquan Brisker and Eddie Jackson, but things get interesting after that. Elijah Hicks should make it, and then A.J. Thomas should compete with Kendall Williamson and Adrian Colbert. The good is news is that one and maybe even two of them will be making the roster.
For Thomas he sees Colbet, who has bounced around the NFL and is older, and then Williamson, who is a rookie. Williamson was drafted, but only in round seven. A.J. Thomas beating out a rookie drafted that late would be a mild upset but not a shock. Because Colbert is known and Williamson was drafted, they usually get the projected call over AJ Thomas, but Thomas is a sleeper to crack the 53 this season.
1. Jaylon Jones could knock Kindle Vildor off the Chicago Bears roster
Jaylon Jones is a second-year UDFA from Ole Miss. Fans may not remember seeing DeMarquis Gates and AJ Thomas called up late in the season, but we all remember Jaylon Jones. The Chicago Bears were so thin at cornerback that they had Jaylon Jones getting serious snaps from week three throughout varying points of the season.
He finished with 464 snaps on defense and 161 on special teams. He would have played even more on special teams if he was not playing so much defense. So, a UDFA who got that much work as a rookie is not only not a lock for the roster, but he would be a surprise to make the roster? What gives?
The Chicago Bears saw Jones and realized they needed to add more depth. They not only drafted Tyrique Stevenson, but they also drafted Terell Smith, and both of them would hope to be ahead of the second-year UDFA.
So, in the cornerback room, there is Jaylon Johnson, Kyler Gordon, and Tyrique Stevenson. Kindle Vildor started last year, then rookie Terell Smith and second-year UDFA Josh Blackwell. Blackwell may be in because he can play the slot. This has Jones right on the outside of the roster.
Most would assume that he will not make it at this point. However, Vildor is obviously trending down and Smith is just a rookie. Beyond that, Blackwell is no lock. They may stand over him right now, but Jones could easily be right in the mix with a strong training camp.