Chicago Bears: Breaking Down Final Roster and Week 1 Starters
After going 3-1 in their first preseason under new head coach John Fox, the Chicago Bears had to reduce their roster from 75 players to 53 players before 4 p.m. on Saturday.
"We've got tough decisions to make, and we'll have to work through that," Fox said after the fourth preseason game, per Larry Mayer of ChicagoBears.com. "We'll do everything in our power to pick the best 53 players."
The Bears did not make very many surprising cuts on Saturday, but they did tinker with their roster on Sunday afternoon. Over the weekend, they added guard Patrick Omameh and safety Harold Jones-Quartey off waivers, waived offensive tackle Jordan Mills and cut veteran safety Sherrod Martin, according to Mayer.
Just ahead, we break down Chicago's 53-man roster and take a look at the projected starters for the team's regular-season opener against the Green Bay Packers.
Quarterback
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Starter: Jay Cutler
Backups: Jimmy Clausen and David Fales
Quarterback Jay Cutler has struggled with turnovers throughout his tenure in Chicago, but the Bears hope that his strong preseason carries over to the regular season.
In three preseason games, Cutler completed 25 of his 33 passing attempts for 209 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions. Despite having limited weapons on the outside at the wide receiver position due to injuries, Cutler looked comfortable in the pocket throughout the preseason.
Cutler did not force unnecessary throws down the field and did a nice job of protecting the football when pressure got to him.
Jimmy Clausen will back up Cutler for the second season in a row, and the former Notre Dame star proved in the preseason that he can effectively run offensive coordinator Adam Gase's system.
Second-year man David Fales played well in the preseason finale against the Cleveland Browns and was able to secure a roster spot. The team claimed former Denver Broncos quarterback Zac Dysert off waivers early last week, but Fales' performance against Cleveland made him expendable, per Bleacher Report's Dan Pompei.
Running Back
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Starter: Matt Forte
Backups: Jeremy Langford, Jacquizz Rodgers and Ka'Deem Carey
Matt Forte has been a key part of Chicago's running game since entering the league in 2008, and the veteran running back will be Chicago's starter at the position once again this season.
In seven NFL seasons, he has carried the football 1,817 times and accumulated 7,704 rushing yards with 41 rushing touchdowns. He has also caught 443 passes for 3,727 yards and 16 receiving touchdowns.
He is in the final year of his contract and could push for an extension with a strong showing this season.
To help bolster the position this offseason, the Bears added Jacquizz Rodgers in free agency and drafted Michigan State's Jeremy Langford in the fourth round of the 2015 draft.
Rodgers is an experienced third-down back who excels in pass protection, but he can also run between the tackles and catch the football out of the backfield.
Langford is an explosive runner who works well outside the tackles, and the rookie running back carried the football 28 times in the preseason for 153 yards and one touchdown. He also caught three passes for 30 yards.
Langford proved in limited snaps in the preseason that he can be a dynamic back in the NFL if given the opportunity.
Ka'Deem Carey looked like a long shot to make the roster after the team added Rodgers and Langford this offseason, but he carried the football 26 times for 122 yards and one touchdown in the preseason. He is a solid runner between the tackles, but he will get the majority of his work on special teams this season.
Wide Receiver
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Starters: Alshon Jeffery, Eddie Royal and Marquess Wilson
Backups: Marc Mariani, Joshua Bellamy and Cameron Meredith
No position in Chicago has suffered through more injuries this offseason than wide receiver.
First-round pick Kevin White was placed on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list earlier this summer because of a shin injury, Alshon Jeffery did not play in the preseason because of a calf strain, Eddie Royal missed time in the preseason with a hip injury and Marquess Wilson missed time with a hamstring injury.
Jeffery's injury is the most concerning since he did not play a down in the preseason, and the Bears have said very little about his progress.
"We’re going to say as little as we can," Fox said about Jeffery, according to Chicago Bears Network sideline reporter Zach Zaidman. "Just because we really don’t want to help our opponent."
If healthy, Jeffery will be the team's No. 1 wide receiver against the Packers in Week 1.
The Bears signed Royal to a three-year deal this offseason to help give Cutler a weapon out of the slot, but the veteran could end up lining up on the outside a lot this season in White's absence.
Royal had the best year of his career (91 catches and 980 receiving yards) playing with Cutler in Denver in 2008, and the duo will look to build off that success this season.
Wilson was expected to be Chicago's No. 3 receiver last season, but he suffered a clavicle injury in training camp last summer and missed the first nine games of the year. He made six starts in 2014 and finished the year with 17 catches for 140 yards with one touchdown.
Wilson has enough speed to take the top off opposing defenses, but he will need to prove he can go across the middle of the field.
The final spots on the roster went to veteran Marc Mariani, journeyman Joshua Bellamy and undrafted rookie Cameron Meredith.
Mariani is expected to be the team's primary return man, while Bellamy gives the team a young receiver who has good hands and has played with Cutler in the last two offseasons. Meredith began his collegiate career at Illinois State as a quarterback but made the transition to wide receiver in 2013. He is still very raw, but he flashed his potential in the preseason.
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Tight End
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Starter: Martellus Bennett
Backups: Zach Miller and Khari Lee
Tight end Martellus Bennett went to his first Pro Bowl last season after recording career highs in catches (90), receiving yards (916) and touchdowns (six), and he will be the team's starter once again this season.
Bennett is a great fit in Gase's offense because of his ability to line up over all over the field. In the preseason, the Bears lined the veteran tight end up at his traditional tight end spot, split out as a wide receiver on the outside and lined up out of the slot.
He has a chance to put up big numbers in Gase's system this season because of his presence in the red zone.
The Bears waived tight ends Dante Rosario, Bear Pascoe and Gannon Sinclair over the weekend, leaving Zach Miller and Khari Lee to be Bennett's backups this season.
Miller has not played in an NFL regular-season game since 2011 because of injuries, but he has good hands and showed improvement as a blocker in the preseason.
The Bears acquired Lee last week from the Houston Texans in exchange for a 2017 sixth-round pick, per ESPN's Jeff Dickerson, and the former Bowie State standout has a lot of upside as a pass-catching tight end.
Offensive Line
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Starters: Jermon Bushrod (LT), Matt Slauson (LG), Will Montgomery (C), Vladimir Ducasse (RG) and Kyle Long (RT)
Backups: Hroniss Grasu (rookie), Patrick Omameh, Charles Leno and Tayo Fabuluje (rookie)
The Bears used the same five starters along the offensive line for all 16 games in 2013, but all five of Chicago's opening-game starters along the offensive line in 2014 missed at least one start due to injury.
Left tackle Jermon Bushrod, left guard Matt Slauson and Kyle Long are all expected to be starters in Week 1 for the Bears for the third year in a row, while veteran Will Montgomery is set to start at center after spending last season with Fox in Denver.
The big question facing Chicago's offensive line concerns who will be starting at right tackle when the Bears take on the Packers. Charles Leno struggled in the preseason, and the Bears used Long at right tackle last week in practice, per WGNRadio.com's Adam Hoge.
Mills was the team's starting right tackle in 2013 and 2014, but his release means Long will likely be the team's starting right tackle against Green Bay.
Despite the position's struggles last season, the Bears did very little to address the depth along the offensive line this offseason.
The team added two new centers in Montgomery and third-round pick Hroniss Grasu, signed journeyman guard Vladimir Ducasse to a one-year deal and drafted TCU tackle Tayo Fabuluje in the sixth round of this year's draft.
Grasu looked overmatched at times during the preseason, but the young center has a lot of upside and should be able to take over the position next season.
Ducasse struggled mightily last season with the Minnesota Vikings, but he is a strong, powerful guard who plays well in the power-running game. He appears to be the best fit at right guard if Long moves to tackle.
Fabuluje was tagged by NFL.com's Lance Zierlein as a raw prospect coming out of TCU, but he flashed his potential in the preseason. He is a strong tackle who plays well in the running game but needs to improve his footwork.
The Bears claimed Omameh off waivers on Sunday, and the former Tampa Bay Buccaneer started all 16 games last year at right guard. He struggled in pass protection in 2014 at guard, and the Bucs moved him to tackle this offseason.
He could be the team's starter in Week 1 over Ducasse, but Ducasse's familiarity with the system should help him get the starting job in the opener.
Defensive Line
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Starters: Eddie Goldman (nose tackle), Ego Ferguson (defensive end) and Jarvis Jenkins (defensive end)
Backups: Will Sutton and Cornelius Washington
The depth along the defensive line for the Bears took a big hit late last month when it was announced that veteran nose tackle Jeremiah Ratliff would be suspended for the first three games of the year, per the Chicago Sun-Times' Patrick Finley.
With Ratliff out, rookie Eddie Goldman should get the start at nose tackle in Week 1. He suffered a concussion against the Cincinnati Bengals in the team's third preseason game, but if healthy, he could be a major factor against Green Bay.
If Goldman is unable to play, second-year man Will Sutton would likely move inside to nose tackle. An ideal fit in a 4-3 defense at the 3-technique defensive tackle spot, Sutton moved to nose tackle in the team's 3-4 defense earlier this offseason.
Despite being a bit undersized for the position (6'0", 315 lbs), he flashed during the preseason.
On the outside, second-year man Ego Ferguson and veteran Jarvis Jenkins are expected to start at defensive end. Both Ferguson and Jenkins played well against the run, but they will also be asked to apply pressure on the quarterback on occasion.
Cornelius Washington has struggled to find a role in the NFL up to this point, but the 2013 sixth-round pick played well in the preseason at the 5-technique defensive end position.
He played 15 games between 2013 and 2014 as a 4-3 defensive end and recorded 10 tackles and one sack. In four preseason games this year, Washington played 77 total snaps and recorded three quarterback hits, one quarterback hurry and three total tackles, per Pro Football Focus.
Outside Linebacker
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Starters: Pernell McPhee and Jared Allen
Backups: Lamarr Houston, Sam Acho and Willie Young
The Bears needed to add an experienced pass-rushing outside linebacker this offseason, and they did so by signing former Baltimore Raven Pernell McPhee to a five-year contract in March.
McPhee has the ability to rush the passer out of both a two- and three-point stance, and he will have an opportunity to be an every-down player in Chicago for the first time in his career. He needs to do a better job of setting the edge against the run, but he has a chance to make a big impact this season as a pass-rusher.
Veteran Jared Allen is set to be the other starter opposite McPhee after a strong showing in the preseason. Allen has spent his entire career rushing the passer out of a three-point stance, but he will be asked to rush out of a two-point stance on occasion this year.
He will likely still line up with his hand on the ground in obvious passing situations, but he proved in the preseason that he is athletic enough to play out of a two-point stance.
Lamarr Houston and Willie Young both suffered season-ending injuries last season, but both were able to return to the practice field during training camp. Houston was able to begin training camp with very little restrictions, but Young was eased back onto the field.
Houston did not play in the preseason opener, but according to PFF, he played 82 total snaps in the final three preseason games and recorded two sacks and three quarterback hurries. He is strong against the run and has the ability to move down to the line of scrimmage to play the 5-technique defensive end position if needed.
Though Young also missed the preseason opener, PFF indicates that he played 67 snaps in the team's other three preseason games. He finished the preseason with a plus-5.3 overall grade and recorded one sack and three quarterback hurries.
Both Houston and Young are playing out of position at outside linebacker, but they both played well this preseason.
The Bears signed Sam Acho to a one-year deal this offseason, and the former Arizona Cardinal gives the Bears an experienced pass-rushing outside linebacker. He is not flashy, but he does a nice job of attacking the quarterback. He also plays well in pass coverage.
Since the Bears have a wealth of talent at outside linebacker, expect them to rotate their outside linebackers a lot this season.
Inside Linebacker
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Starters: Christian Jones and Shea McClellin
Backups: Jonathan Bostic and John Timu (rookie)
After flashing at times last season as an undrafted rookie, Christian Jones was able to secure one of the team's starting inside linebacker jobs this offseason.
Jones is an athletic linebacker who can rush the passer and stop the run, but he needs to improve his technique in pass coverage. He was one of Chicago's most consistent linebackers during the preseason and received praise from linebackers coach Glenn Pires earlier this offseason.
“His length—he plays long,” Pires said, per Finley. “His size—he can cover a lot of ground. He can be physical at the point of attack, but he’s a long guy that can really have a lot of range throughout the defense.”
Jones has a chance to flourish under defensive coordinator Vic Fangio this season if he can improve against the pass.
Shea McClellin is playing his third different position in four years, but the 2012 first-rounder looks comfortable playing inside linebacker. He played well against the run in the preseason, but like Jones, he struggles in pass coverage. If he can tighten up his technique in pass coverage, he has a chance to resurrect his disappointing career.
Jon Bostic has had an up-and-down NFL career up to this point, but the 2013 second-rounder still has the potential to be a serviceable NFL player if he can stay healthy. He missed time during training camp and the preseason due to injuries, but the Bears thought enough of him to keep him on their 53-man roster.
The Bears released veteran Mason Foster over the weekend and opted to keep undrafted rookie John Timu as the team's fourth inside linebacker. Timu is an aggressive linebacker who moves well from sideline to sideline, and he will be counted on this season as a special teams contributor.
Cornerback
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Starters: Kyle Fuller and Alan Ball
Backups: Sherrick McManis, Demontre Hurst, Terrance Mitchell, Tracy Porter and Bryce Callahan
The Bears surprised some last week by releasing veteran cornerback Tim Jennings, and they will head into the regular-season opener with Kyle Fuller and Alan Ball as starters on the outside.
Fuller struggled at times during the preseason, but the young cornerback has a lot of potential. He struggles when playing off coverage, but he is a physical defensive back who is at his best when asked to play physical at the line of scrimmage.
Ball is savvy veteran who has played cornerback, nickelback and free safety in his career. He has good size (6'2", 195 lbs) and also plays aggressively at the line of scrimmage.
Sherrick McManis had a strong preseason, and the former Northwestern Wildcat will be the team's primary nickelback to start the season. In addition to playing nickelback, he will likely be a key contributor on special teams.
Demontre Hurst was the team's primary nickelback last season, and he gives the team depth at both nickelback and free safety.
The Bears claimed Terrance Mitchell off waivers last season from the Dallas Cowboys, and the former Oregon Duck spent the majority of the 2014 season on Chicago's practice squad. Mitchell got an opportunity to prove himself in the preseason, and his strong play helped him secure a spot on the roster.
Tracy Porter played sparingly during the preseason, but the veteran cornerback gives the Bears much-needed depth at the position. He is at his best in the slot, but he has the ability to line up on the outside.
Bryce Callahan went undrafted after a strong final season at Rice, but the young cornerback performed well enough in training camp and the preseason to earn a roster spot. He has a chance to develop into a starter down the road, but he will be used primarily on special teams this season.
Safety
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Starters: Antrel Rolle and Adrian Amos (rookie)
Backups: Brock Vereen and Harold Jones-Quartey (rookie)
The Bears signed Antrel Rolle to a three-year deal this offseason, and the veteran Pro Bowl safety will be the team's starting strong safety this season. Rolle has the ability to play up in the box against the run and can also drop back in pass coverage.
He does not possess the same range he had when he entered the league in 2005, but he is an upgrade at the position for the Bears in comparison to last season.
The Bears first used second-year man Brock Vereen with the first-team defense at free safety, but the former Minnesota Golden Gopher struggled in the team's preseason opener against the Miami Dolphins. He was later replaced in the starting lineup by rookie Adrian Amos.
Amos started Chicago's second and third preseason games and was given the night off in the preseason finale.
Amos has good range and is solid in pass coverage, but he needs to improve his tackling. He will begin the season as the team's starter at free safety, but if he struggles, Vereen could find himself back in the starting lineup sometime this season.
The Bears added Jones-Quartey on Sunday after he was waived by the Arizona Cardinals over the weekend.
"Jones-Quartey has the size and explosion traits to get into a camp, but his inconsistencies in coverage could force him into more of a box role, which means he'll have to become more of a wrap-up tackler," wrote NFL.com's Lance Zierlein in his scouting report.
Jones-Quartey appears to be a project player, but he will be expected to make an impact on special teams this year.
Special Teams
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Kicker: Robbie Gould
Punter: Pat O'Donnell
Long snapper: Thomas Gafford
Robbie Gould made just nine of his 12 field-goal attempts last season, but he completed nine of his 10 attempts during the preseason. He also attempted 21 kickoffs this preseason, and eight of them went for touchbacks.
Punter Pat O'Donnell punted 71 times last season and averaged 43.8 yards per punt. This preseason, he punted 23 times and averaged 43.4 yards per punt in addition to dropping nine punts inside the opposition's 20-yard line.
Long snapper Thomas Gafford battled undrafted rookie Rick Lovato in training camp, but the eighth-year veteran won the job and will be the team's long snapper this season.
Statistical information and measurables courtesy of NFL.com unless otherwise noted. Roster information 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.
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