3 storylines to watch from Chicago Bears linebackers in preseason week one

2. Who are the best depth options on the Chicago Bears?

We know about the Chicago Bears starters. Tremaine Edmunds may not even play this week, and TJ Edwards only needs a series, if that, to make sure he is comfortable in his new defense. We know that Sanborn and Sewell are the third and fourth guys as they compete at the SAM. So, who is the depth from there? Five and maybe six linebackers will make the roster.

The two players with the best cases to make are Dylan Cole and DeMarquis Gates. Cole was signed just this offseason. He is entering his seventh NFL season and spent time with both the Houston Texans and Tennessee Titans. He is a special teams ace, and his veteran status and experience on special teams have many thinking he is the fifth linebacker.

Then, there is DeMarquis Gates, who came into the NFL from the XFL. Gates was excellent on the Bears last season in the preseason. However, that just earned him a year on the practice squad. Gates did come up to the active roster when the season was lost and got on the field for some work. This shows that the Bears do have an interest in his long-term development, and they were happy with the way he progressed through the year. He lit up the preseason last year and now is one player with the most on the line this year. A strong preseason could have him beat out Cole or get the sixth linebacker spot onto the top 53.