Chicago Bears Roster Cuts: 7 Players Who are on the Bubble

Everything is moving faster now that the lockout has ended. There is a shorter window of evaluation for the Bears coaches, and a bigger roster than ever, so cuts will come quickly and sharply, without even time to wipe the blood off the knife.

What does that mean for the Chicago Bears? Well, established vets like Brian Urlacher, Lance Briggs, Julius Peppers, Charles Tillman, Matt Forte and Jay Cutler aren't worried. The same is true for draft picks like Gabe Carimi, Stephen Paea and even former first-rounder and potential bust, Chris Williams.

While the final roster has been largely determined, there are plenty of players on the proverbial bubble. That knife is drawing ever closer to their necks, and one slip in performance during a preseason game could hasten their exit.

Meanwhile, who are the guys whose careers may be in the balance? Well, you don't have to expend brain energy thinking about it, all you have to do is to read the slideshow.

Check out Bleacher Report colleague Timothy Hockemeyer's take on this subject.  

Lance Louis

Right guard Lance Louis played well during training camp, but had a rough game against the Bills. He didn't name names, but Louis and J'Marcus Webb were called out by offensive line coach Mike Tice after the game.

Louis started the first four games last season before Edwin Williams took his spot for three games, followed by Garza moving into that spot over the final nine games.

Louis was a seventh-round pick in the 2009 draft. Last season, he started four games and appeared in all 16 games. He was one of the O-linemen burned in last October's loss to the Giants, when New York sacked Jay Cutler nine times in the first half.

He has had his share of injury and inconsistency and, if he doesn't show improvement, could become a camp casualty.

Chester Taylor

It is the worst kept secret in Bears land that Chester Taylor will not make the final cut. Unless the team goes with four running backs like last year, Taylor is a goner.

Since it is likely they will carry just three backs, it appears that Matt Forte, Marion Barber and Kahlil Bell have those spots locked up, leaving Taylor out in the cold.

But shed no tears for him, as he was paid $7 million for that dismal performance in 2010.

Meanwhile, Barber seems to be the punishing runner the Bears need in short yardage and goal-line situations, a role for which Taylor was ill equipped last season.

Kahlil Bell ran the ball very effectively in last Sunday's Bills game and is a strong special-teams performer.

Marcus Harrison

He reported to camp 11 pounds overweight, and he suffered an injury during the Buffalo game, though it was just a stinger.

I feel that the Bears will keep five defensive tackles, and those five will likely be Anthony Adams, Henry Melton (who will likely start opposite Adams), Stephen Paea, Amobi Okoye and Matt Toeina.

That means that Harrison could very well be left out in the cold.

Harrison was inactive for six of the Bears' first seven games last season, as well as the last four. He contributed just one tackle. 

Dom DeCicco

One exception to the previous slide on the undrafted free agents could be Dom DeCicco. The linebacker seems to be in the mix for the sixth linebacker spot on the Bears final roster. 

Unless they sign Pisa Tinoisamoa, who is recovering from surgery but still on the Bears' radar, DeCicco could make the team.  

The team will break camp with six LBs, and right now, only five of them are locks: Brian Urlacher, Lance Briggs, Nick Roach, Brian Iwuh and rookie J.T. Thomas. That leaves an opening for a kid like DeCicco.

It helps that Lovie Smith praised DeCicco's work on special teams.

Kris Adams

Adams possesses the kind of size the Bears need, at 6'4", and he made a nice catch last Sunday against the Bills.

Plus, Adams has been turning heads at camp. While it's too early to say he will make the team, he is a candidate for the practice squad.

There isn't a true No. 1 wideout among the group, but there is plenty of depth at wide receiver this year.

If the Bears decide to keep six WRs, then Adams could make the team. In 2010, the Bears kept five wideouts on the 53-man roster.

Dane Sanzenbacher

The Ohio State product is 5'11" and 180 pounds, but he has turned heads in Bears camp thus far.

Known as a possession receiver with sure hands, he quelled fears about his speed by performing well at the combine. He went undrafted and will compete with Kris Adams for the sixth spot at WR, if the Bears keep six.

The head coach has noticed him.

"If you're a young player, you need to come in and make some plays," coach Lovie Smith said. "He's done that." 

Spencer Lanning

No doubt that it would take a monumental meltdown for Adam Podlesh not to make the final roster as the Bears punter, but Lanning has looked very impressive in camp and Podlesh had a poor game last Sunday.

So, Lanning is Plan B. But he looks like an NFL punter. Only problem for him is that the Bears aren't going to keep two punters.