The Chicago Bears have one week to make an impression on the coaching staff before the regular season begins. For many of them, it's more like an audition for other teams.
Chicago has an incredibly deep wide receiver room, with so much talent around. One problem is that they might have too much talent, to the point that they'll likely lose good players no matter what.
That's the dilemma the Bears face: who to keep on the roster, who to risk on the waiver wire in the hopes of including them on their practice squad, and who to move on from altogether. One guy who has been there for a few weeks made a strong first impression, but now is playing for his NFL life in the preseason finale against the Tennessee Titans.
Bears WR Ray-Ray McCloud III faces more pressure than most on the team
New Bears wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud III is two seasons removed from having a career-high 686 yards and one touchdown with the Atlanta Falcons in 2024. Now, things feel almost desperate for him as he tries to make his mark on the NFL.
With injuries to Luther Burden III and rookie Zavion Thomas early in training camp, the Bears signed McCloud to help with depth. Few people believed McCloud would make Chicago's 53-man roster, but it was a good opportunity for him to get in front of other NFL teams and show his game tape.
He did get off to a fast start in the 34-10 preseason win over the Cleveland Browns, where he caught three passes for 63 yards. Things went south in the 27-9 preseason loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, where he did not record an offensive stat.
That leaves this Titans game to be one of the most important games for the 29-year-old receiver. Making the roster is most likely not in the cards for him, but he needs to perform well.
McCloud needs first to prove that he can still be a reliable slot receiver in the NFL, as he has over the years. The league has seen him do it for six teams since 2018, and do it pretty well. He's also been a solid returner on special teams, so if he can make some plays there, he might have a chance to get a few calls from NFL teams.
Read more: Bears legend shows one play that could land undrafted rookie onto final roster
This is an underrated storyline that most Bears fans might not even care about, but many players on this team have similar stories. McCloud's, though, could make this game his last if he doesn't ball out.
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