Chicago Bears: What We've Learned Through Week 4 of Preseason

The Chicago Bears wrapped up the 2015 preseason with a 24-0 victory over the Cleveland Browns on Thursday night. The Bears finished the preseason with a 3-1 record and will take on the Green Bay Packers in the regular-season opener on September 13.

After weeks of evaluating the roster throughout training camp and the preseason, the Bears will have to cut their roster down from 75 players to 53 players before 4 p.m. ET on September 5.

The Bears will likely scour the waiver wire following cuts this weekend, and there is a good chance that the team will have a few new faces on the practice field next week when they prepare to take on the Packers at home at Soldier Field.

What have we learned about the Bears through four weeks of the preseason?

There Is Still Uncertainty at the Tight End Position

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Veteran Dante Rosario is one of a handful of tight ends competing for a roster spot behind Martellus Bennett.

Veteran Martellus Bennett will be the team's starting tight end this season, but it looks like the position is still wide-open behind him on the depth chart.

The Bears have kept seven to eight tight ends on their roster all offseason, and they added another on Wednesday when they traded their 2017 sixth-round pick to the Houston Texans for Khari Lee, according to ChicagoBears.com's Larry Mayer.

An undrafted free agent out of Bowie State, Lee caught five passes for 71 yards in three preseason games with the Texans. Per Pro Football Focus, Lee played 116 total snaps for Houston and registered a minus-1.1 overall grade. While he has good hands, he struggles at times as a blocker. According to Pro Football Focus, he was used as a run-blocker 67 times during the preseason but recorded a minus-1.5 run-block grade.

Lee is raw, but he does have upside as a pass-catching tight end.

"Very good athlete whose background as a basketball player is obvious in his body control and positioning," wrote NFL.com's Lance Zierlein in his scouting report of Lee. "Has good hands and is tough to bring down but will need time to develop against a higher level of competition, despite his potential to play in the league."

Since the Bears used a future draft pick on Lee, he looks to be a lock to make the roster. With Bennett and Lee locked in to make the team, there are four guys competing for one final spot on the roster.

Veterans Dante Rosario and Bear Pascoe both have legitimate shots to make the roster because of their run- and pass-blocking abilities, while Zach Miller has a chance to stick because of his ability to catch the football across the middle of the field.

The sixth tight end on the roster, Gannon Sinclair, was signed off waivers this week, per ESPN.com's Jeff Dickerson. Sinclair went undrafted out of Missouri State, and according to Pro Football Focus, he played just 14 total snaps in three preseason games with the Arizona Cardinals.

Sinclair is a long shot to make the roster, meaning the Bears will have to decide between Rosario, Pascoe and Miller for the final tight end spot on the roster.

Alshon Jeffery's Status for the Season Opener Is Still Up in the Air

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When the Bears opened up the preseason against the Miami Dolphins back on August 13, wide receiver Alshon Jeffery was not seen on the sidelines for the start of the game. It was later revealed that he was suffering from a calf injury.

"Bears [wide receiver] Alshon Jeffery is expected to miss about one week with his mild calf strain, per a source—good news for Chicago," tweeted ESPN's Adam Schefter on August 14.

Chicago traveled to Indianapolis the following week to conduct joint practices with the Indianapolis Colts, but Jeffery did not practice with the team. General manager Ryan Pace later said Jeffery's ailment was "not a long-term injury," per the Chicago Tribune's Rich Campbell.

Jeffery did not play in the team's final two preseason games, and it is not known whether he will be available in Week 1 against the Packers.

"It’s not like he’s sitting there eating bonbons. He’s conditioning,” head coach John Fox said, per the Chicago Sun-Times' Mark Potash. “I can’t predict what’s going to happen other than day-to-day. So we’ll assess it and the plan is hopefully we get everybody ready for Green Bay.”

After struggling through injuries his rookie season in 2012, Jeffery burst onto the scene in 2013 by hauling in 89 passes for 1,421 yards and seven touchdowns. Last season, he caught 85 passes for 1,133 yards with 10 touchdowns. The Bears traded away All-Pro wide receiver Brandon Marshall earlier this offseason, leaving Jeffery as the team's No. 1 receiver.

The Bears already lost rookie receiver Kevin White for at least the first six games of the year because of a shin injury, veteran Eddie Royal has missed time in the preseason with a hip injury and third-year man Marquess Wilson missed the final two preseason games with a hamstring injury.

If Jeffery, Royal and Wilson are unable to play in the season opener, the Bears will have to rely on a combination of Joshua Bellamy, Rashad Lawrence and Marc Mariani at the wide receiver position.

Jared Allen Was the Surprise of the Preseason

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When the Bears hired defensive coordinator Vic Fangio this offseason, many wondered how veteran defensive end Jared Allen would fit in the team's new 3-4 defense.

Allen has embraced the move to outside linebacker, and he admitted earlier this offseason the transition has helped take some stress off his body.

“It’s less stress on my body,” Allen said, according to Jake Bartelson of ChicagoFootball.com. “[Standing up], and not banging on every play, it’s a little more refreshing from a physical standpoint. I think it all takes its toll, and it all helps.”

The veteran pass-rusher turned 33 years old earlier this year, and although he has spent the majority of his career rushing the passer out of a three-point stance, he has looked comfortable working out of a two-point stance in the preseason.

He lined up as a starter on the outside in Chicago's first three preseason games, and according to Pro Football Focus, he played 60 total snaps, recorded one quarterback hurry and finished with a plus-2.7 overall grade.

Allen has not looked like an All-Pro at the position, but he has looked comfortable in his limited snaps in the preseason. Even though he is playing a different position, he knows it is all about understanding his assignment when on the field.

"You still have to understand you're either going to get a run block, pass block, and your key is going to tell you you have to do something," he said, per Campbell. "So it's how fast do you recognize that key? How fast do you react to that key and get in the right areas? And then let your ability take over."

The biggest challenge for Allen moving forward will be dropping back in pass coverage. The Bears will likely use him primarily as a pass-rusher, but he will be asked to drop back in coverage on occasion. 

Allen struggled through one of the worst years of his career last season, and he knows he can improve on his career-low 5.5 sacks.

"I'm still the active leader in sacks," he said with a smile, per Campbell. "I still did things in my first 11 years that took guys 15 years to do."

If Allen can build off his strong showing in the preseason, he has a chance to put up big numbers in Fangio's system in the regular season.

Defensive Linemen Will Sutton and Ego Ferguson Have Shown Progress

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DE Ego Ferguson will be leaned on heavily this season along the defensive line.

The Bears used their second- and third-round picks last year on 4-3 defensive tackles Ego Ferguson and Will Sutton, but both have assumed new roles this offseason in the team's new 3-4 defense.

Ferguson—a stout, run-stopping nose tackle at LSU—moved to the 5-technique defensive end position earlier this year, while Sutton—a quick-footed 3-technique defensive tackle—moved to nose tackle.

According to Eli Kaberon of ChicagoBears.com, Ferguson dropped 20 pounds this offseason to play the 5-technique after playing last season at 310 pounds. Ferguson has embraced the position change this offseason, and he says he feels comfortable playing in a 3-4 defense.

"I am more comfortable with the defense, understanding the blocks you are getting in this scheme," he said, per Kaberon. "There are only certain blocks you can get in a 3-4 defense, which cancels out a lot of gaps. So understanding that you know, where the overhang is at when you're running the ball, where the help is at. Just different things like that."

The biggest difference between a 4-3 defense and a 3-4 defense is gap responsibility. In a 4-3 defense, a lineman is responsible for one gap, but in a 3-4 defense, a lineman has to be able to play two gaps. Linemen typically battle one-on-one in 4-3 defenses, but that changes when playing in a 3-4.

"You have to be quick-footed," Sutton said, per Kaberon. "You have to hold that point of attack because you get double-teamed pretty much almost every play, and sometimes you feel a third guy on you."

Sutton was used as a 3-technique defensive tackle last season because of his ability to penetrate gaps, but he was surprisingly moved to nose tackle this offseason. Nose tackles are expected to be strong at the point of attack and be a force in the running game, and Sutton has not disappointed in the preseason.

He is a bit undersized (6'0", 315 lbs) for the position, but he looks like a guy who fits in this system. He has done a nice job of taking on blockers in the running game, but he has also been able to create pressure up the middle as a pass-rusher.

Both Ferguson and Sutton appeared to be bad fits in Fangio's scheme before training camp began, but both have a chance to be key contributors on defense this season.

John Fox Hasn't Ruled out a Position Change for Kyle Long

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The Bears have struggled to find a suitable starting right tackle this offseason, and they used Pro Bowl guard Kyle Long at the position in practice earlier this week, per WGNRadio.com's Adam Hoge.

Long said he is willing to do whatever it takes to help the team.

“I’d like to help the team wherever that is,” Long said Tuesday, per Hoge. “I’m really sincere when I say that. If they ask me to play receiver, I’d be out there running routes now, practicing. It’s football. It’s not that complicated.”

Both Jordan Mills and Charles Leno have struggled at right tackle during the preseason, and although Long has very little experience playing the position, he knows it really comes down to one thing.

"Honestly, you're just trying to keep somebody away from Jay Cutler," Long said when asked what was different about playing guard compared to tackle, per Chicago Bears radio network sideline reporter Zach Zaidman.

Long is both strong and athletic, and he has terrific size (6'6", 313 lbs) for the position. Fox believes the young lineman is good enough to line up anywhere along the offensive line.

"I see a tremendous young player regardless of what position he plays," Fox said, per ChicagoFootball.com's Nate Atkins. "I think he’s got the right mindset, the right skill set. Capable of other than center playing any position up front."

According to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, Long lined up at right tackle earlier this offseason due to injuries at the position, and Long's head coach believes he can play the position in Week 1 against the Packers if needed.

"It's never too late," Fox said about moving Long outside, per the Chicago Tribune's Dan Wiederer. "You've got what you got and you try to put your best 11 (players) out there. If you're asking if it's difficult, it's all difficult. But it's been done before."

Long is arguably the most talented lineman on Chicago's roster, and he may have to permanently move to right tackle this season in order for the Bears to be competitive on offense.

Statistical information courtesy of NFL.com and Sports-Reference.com unless otherwise noted. Measurables courtesy of ChicagoBears.com.

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

Follow @MattEurich.