Chicago Bears' Biggest Preseason Disappointments So Far

After the Chicago Bears defeated the Indianapolis Colts 23-11 over the weekend, they improved to 2-0 in the preseason.

Wins and losses during the preseason mean little, but preseason games help coaches determine which 53 players will make the team's final roster before the start of the regular season.

During Chicago's first two preseason games, guys like cornerback Sherrick McManis, defensive lineman Will Sutton, rookie running back Jeremy Langford and outside linebacker Pernell McPhee all stood out, but a handful of players have been a disappointment up to this point.

Who has been a disappointment so far in the preseason for the Bears and is now on the verge of not making the team's final 53-man roster?

RB Ka'Deem Carey

Nam Y. Huh/Associated Press

After the 2014 season ended, it looked like Ka'Deem Carey would enter the 2015 season as Chicago's No. 2 running back.

The Bears opted to upgrade the position during the offseason, and they added veterans Jacquizz Rodgers and Daniel Thomas in free agency and drafted Langford in the fourth round of this year's draft.

Veteran Matt Forte will still be the team's starter at running back this year, but Carey has fallen down Chicago's depth chart this offseason.

Forte did not play in the team's preseason opener against the Miami Dolphins, and Rodgers got the start in his absence. Rodgers carried the football seven times for 33 yards against Miami and looked good in pass protection.

Langford carried the ball four times against Miami for just one yard, but he hauled in two catches for 16 yards. Carey was the next man up, and he carried the football seven times in the second half for 34 yards and scored one touchdown.

Carey looked explosive against the Dolphins, but he did most of his damage against Miami's third-string defense. When the Bears took on the Colts over the weekend, Carey was the fourth running back to see the field.

Forte carried the football eight times for 24 yards before he was relieved by Rodgers. The former Atlanta Falcon carried the ball nine times for 34 yards and hauled in his first catch of the preseason. 

Langford then stole the show. The former Michigan State standout ran the ball nine times for a game-high 80 yards and scored one touchdown. He showed off his terrific breakaway speed, and he looks like a good fit in offensive coordinator Adam Gase's system.

"He's versatile," Forte said about Langford after the game, according to ChicagoBears.com. "He can catch the ball out of the backfield. He's got the speed and agility to make guys miss. He's what you need as a running back."

Carey came in for Langford in the fourth quarter and finished the game with just 13 yards on five carries. According to Pro Football Focus, Carey played just 11 snaps against the Colts on Saturday night. 

Even though Carey was impressive against the Dolphins in the preseason opener, the Bears opted not to give him an extended look against the Colts. He struggled to hit holes on Saturday night, and unless he can put together a strong effort against the Cincinnati Bengals in the third preseason game, he will be looking for a new team once the preseason concludes.

ILB Jon Bostic

Christian K. Lee/Associated Press

Inside linebacker Jon Bostic has been outplayed by undrafted rookie John Timu in two preseason games.

A second-round pick of the Bears back in 2013, Jon Bostic has had an up-and-down career in Chicago. He was thrust into a starting role at middle linebacker during his rookie season, and he struggled with injuries last season.

After spending the first year of his career at middle linebacker and his second year as a strong-side linebacker, Bostic moved to inside linebacker this offseason in Chicago's new 3-4 defense. He appeared to be a good fit on the inside because of his athleticism and big-hit ability, but he has struggled in Chicago's two preseason games.

According to Pro Football Focus, Bostic played 21 of the team's 79 defensive snaps against Miami and finished the night with two tackles. In Chicago's game against Indianapolis, Bostic played 33 snaps on defense and finished with a minus-1.5 overall grade. 

Bostic moves well and has the athleticism to cover from sideline to sideline, but he has looked stiff at times during the preseason. Some think the former Florida Gator is suffering from an injury.

"Bostic doesn’t look healthy," tweeted the Chicago Sun-Times' Adam Jahns last week during Chicago's joint practice with the Colts. "He’s not moving like the others."

According to the Chicago Tribune's Dan Wiederer, Bostic struggled with a back injury this offseason.  

At times, Bostic looks like he is trying too hard to make a big play and ends up overpursuing the ball-carrier. He has looked solid against the pass, but his subpar performance against the run this preseason will keep him from taking a starting job away from either Christian Jones or Shea McClellin at inside linebacker.

The Right Tackle Position

Charles Rex Arbogast/Associated Press

Charles Leno (72) and Jordan Mills have both struggled at right tackle this preseason.

The Bears have struggled to find a reliable tackle on the right side of the offensive line for the better part of this decade, and third-year man Jordan Mills and second-year man Charles Leno are currently fighting to be the team's starter in 2015.

Mills started all 16 games in 2013 at right tackle and 13 games last year, but during that time, he gave up nine sacks, 19 quarterback hits and 93 quarterback hurries, according to Pro Football Focus. Mills struggled in the preseason opener against Miami and was replaced by Leno in the starting lineup against the Colts.

Per Pro Football Focus, Leno played 29 snaps on Saturday night and finished with a minus-0.8 overall grade, while Mills played 25 snaps with the second-team offense and finished with a plus-2.8 overall grade.

After the game, head coach John Fox said the position is still up for grabs.

“No jobs have been won yet," he said, per ESPN.com's Jeff Dickerson. "We’re still figuring out who our 53 best players are going to be. We’ll continue to do that. I thought we made progress tonight in really all phases; by no means have we arrived. If we can keep that mindset, I think we’ll continue to improve.”

Leno spent a lot of time this offseason playing left tackle, but the team moved him to right tackle in practice last week, according to WGN Radio's Adam Hoge.

“He’s athletic. I’ve only seen him play in two games in person,” Fox said about Leno, per Dickerson. "I’ve seen him in practice now for a few opportunities. We’ll keep the competition, really in just about everywhere, and see what happens.”

Leno struggled early in pass protection and was called for an illegal hands to the face penalty in the first quarter. He appeared more comfortable as the game went on, but his lack of experience showed at times.

Mills looked comfortable with the second-team offense, and there is a chance he could be back with the starters this week when the Bears take on the Bengals.

Both Leno and Mills have flashed at times this offseason, but neither has looked like a viable NFL starter in the preseason.

LT Jermon Bushrod

Steven Senne/Associated Press

The Bears signed Jermon Bushrod to a five-year, $35.96 million contract in 2013, and the veteran left tackle has struggled this preseason.

Bushrod missed two games last year due to ankle and knee injuries, and the Bears eased him back onto the practice field this offseason.

"Certain things happen and you have to make certain you are hitting on all cylinders before you step up," Bushrod said last month, per the Chicago Tribune's Brad Biggs. "I have to have a good gauge on it, which I do. I have to be smart about it. I want to get the reps in and I want to do whatever I can to make sure I am prepared."

Bushrod started against the Dolphins in the preseason opener and played 19 of the team's 84 snaps on offense, according to Pro Football Focus. He allowed one quarterback hurry and was called for a holding penalty, but he played well in the running game. 

He saw his snaps increase against the Colts with the Bears' first-team offense playing nearly the entire first half. Per Pro Football Focus, Bushrod played 29 of the team's 63 snaps on offense, but he finished the night with a minus-4.3 overall grade. 

Bushrod looked overmatched all night against Indianapolis, and he struggled against both speed-rushers and bull-rushers in his one half of work.

Since coming over from the New Orleans Saints in 2013, Bushrod has struggled in Chicago. Between 2013 and 2014, he gave up nine sacks, 18 quarterback hits and 73 quarterback hurries in 2,017 snaps, according to Pro Football Focus.

He was never an elite left tackle while with the Saints, but he was a steady contributor who did a nice job of protecting quarterback Drew Brees' blind side. Since arriving in Chicago, the 31-year-old tackle has steadily declined. He is athletic enough to get to the second level in the running game and displays solid footwork at times in pass protection, but he struggles with quick, strong pass-rushers on the outside.

Even if he continues to struggle in the preseason, he will remain the team's starting left tackle because the Bears lack depth at the position.

CB Kyle Fuller

Sam Riche/Associated Press

Second-year CB Kyle Fuller struggled against the Indianapolis Colts over the weekend.

A first-round pick of the Bears in 2014, cornerback Kyle Fuller recorded three interceptions in his first three NFL games. He finished the year with 64 tackles, three forced fumbles and four interceptions, but he struggled as his rookie season wore on.

He struggled in zone coverage in then-coordinator Mel Tucker's defense, but he appeared to be a better fit in new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio's scheme. He was forced to play a lot of off coverage in Tucker's scheme, but Fangio's scheme allows the young cornerback to play physical at the line of scrimmage.

Fuller made his debut in Fangio's system against Miami and looked a little shaky at times. He returned as a starter on the outside against Indianapolis, but he was beaten deep on a 45-yard throw from quarterback Andrew Luck to wide receiver T.Y. Hilton.

"Fuller beat to the inside by Hilton on the post," tweeted NFL writer Matt Bowen. "Used the head-whip on the break, but [Fuller] has to squeeze back to [the] WR."

When the first-team defense came off the field in the second quarter, Fuller stayed on the field to get more work. According to Pro Football Focus, Fuller played 22 snaps against the Colts and finished with a minus-2.7 overall grade.

The former Virginia Tech standout was expected to show improvement in Fangio's scheme, but he has struggled in the preseason.

"Players are supposed to make a leap between first and second years," tweeted Bleacher Report's Dan Pompei. "So far, we haven't seen that from Kyle Fuller."

Fuller was lauded coming out of college for his ability to play physical at the line of scrimmage, but he has struggled with that this preseason. From a technique standpoint, he has looked stiff in his backpedal, and opposing receivers have been able to create separation off the snap of the ball.

He will still be a starter on the outside when the Bears open up the regular season against the Green Bay Packers next month, but unless he shows improvement on a week-to-week basis, he could find himself on the bench at some point in 2015. 

Statistical information courtesy of NFL.com unless otherwise noted. Contract information courtesy of Spotrac.

Matt Eurich is a Chicago Bears featured columnist for Bleacher Report and a member of the Pro Football Writers of America.

Follow @MattEurich.