There are some obvious position battles that are taking place at OTAs for the Chicago Bears, but which one might be under the radar going into the 2026 season?
Of course, the left tackle position, WR3 job, and CB2 battle might be the biggest ones going on in OTAs. Those are the ones who will define the Bears in the 2026 season.
One position battle, though, might seem small for the new season, but it will have big implications for the future of the franchise in 2027 and beyond. This is one that Bears fans really shouldn't ignore, as it could be more impactful than expected.
Bears fans should be watching the backup linebacker position battle
The starting lineup at linebacker looks to be pretty obvious between T.J. Edwards, D'Marco Jackson, and Devin Bush, but what about behind those guys? Who is going to be behind the three starters?
Noah Sewell feels like a lock, as he had some good moments at linebacker last year, as he filled in with injuries. Jack Sanborn came back to the team and feels like another player who could make the roster, as he is more of a special teams guy.
The real battle is between Ruben Hyppolite II and Keyshaun Elliott for the second-string jobs. Hyppolite and Elliott were both Day 3 picks over the last two drafts, as it may come down to one of them being a future starter on the team.
Chicago brought in Hyppolite last year because of his insane 4.39-second 40-yard dash time, which he showed off. Elliott is more about his tackling abilities and is a developmental player they selected late in this year's draft.
Edwards is close to being gone from the team and might have been this offseason if it weren't for his contract, after mixed performances throughout the year. The Bears need to figure out if Hyppolite or Elliott could be the future at the linebacker position.
Read more: New 2025 NFL Draft redo proves Bears' Ryan Poles got it right the first time
One of those guys is going to have to step up and play well if the Bears want a solid future at linebacker. If they don't, then general manager Ryan Poles has a much bigger problem in the 2027 offseason than edge rusher.
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