NFL Roster Cuts 2011: 8 Chicago Bears Who Are Hanging On, Barely

The third preseason game is in the books for the Chicago Bears, and the roster situation is getting clearer by the day.

From the way that certain players performed, to the amount of time they received, there is a strong indication of what lies ahead in the immediate future for the Bears.

On Tuesday, the Bears, like all NFL teams, will need to pare the roster down to 75. While some players who eventually get cut will make this first paring, the final 53 have mostly been determined, with a few notable exceptions.

Since this first cut is minimal, some players on the bubble may survive, but that doens't mean they will be on the roster when the Atlanta Falcons come to town on September 11.

So which players are barely, or should I say, "bearly," hanging on? Keep reading.

Chester Taylor

This one is the most obvious. He didn't play in Saturday's game and wasn't happy about it.

But that is a strong indication that the Bears have already made up their mind about not paying Taylor the $1.275 million he is due this season. They will probably keep only three running backs, and unless Marion Barber's injury is serious, he and Matt Forte are the top two.

The third? Well, the Bears have a younger and cheaper alternative in Kahlil Bell.

All that likely means the end of a relatively brief Bears career for Taylor. But it's not as if he shouldn't have seen this coming.

The Bears paid Taylor $7 million in 2010 to have one of the worst seasons of any running back in NFL history. Averaging just 2.38 yards per carry, he was put into a role that he didn't quite fit, as a short-yardage back.

But Taylor wasn't powerful enough to do that, and if healthy, Barber will fill that role this year. He hurt his calf in Saturday's game and did not return, though he was seen walking around the locker room after the game.

Marcus Harrison

Harrison probably wouldn't still be on the roster except he offers insurance against injury for a relatively thin defensive tackle corps. Rookie Stephen Paea is coming off of knee surgery and is being brought along more slowly.

But for the second time in three seasons, the fourth year DT had to miss time in camp because he came in overweight. He has been disappointing when he has played.

Harrison did not play in Saturday's game and will not likely make the final roster.

Kris Adams

Adams came into came as an undrafted free agent fighting with Ohio State product Dane Sanzenbacher for the sixth receiver spot.

It certainly appears that Sanzenbacher is going to make this team. Although he is small and Adams adds size to a smaller wideout corps, just look at how each player was used on Saturday.

Sanzenbacher was targeted six times by Bears QBs while Adams had just two passes thrown his way. And even though each had two receptions, Sanzenbacher had twice as many yards.

Caleb Hanie's interception on Saturday night came as a result of a communication gaffe between Hanie and Sanzenbacher.

Dom DeCicco

DeCicco had an awful game on Monday against the Giants. It was so bad, in fact, that I was surprised to see him getting playing time against the titans.

Although he looked much better on Saturday, tying for the team lead with four tackles, three of them solo and one for a loss, he is barely hanging on to a roster spot.

Give the coaching staff credit for not giving up on a player they saw good things from in practice. But it's going to be awfully difficult for DeCicco to make the final roster.

Caleb Hanie

I put Hanie on this list, not because I don't think he will make the final cut, but mainly because it seems Mike Martz is looking for any reason to go out and find a veteran backup instead of Hanie.

Martz has been critical of Hanie and is thought not to be enamored with him. While his play this preseason has been inconsistent, let's face it, if Jay Cutler goes down this team is in serious trouble no matter who gets the backup nod at QB.

It's clear that Nathan Enderle is not ready for such a role, even if he is Martz's guy. He did not play on Saturday.

Hanie was 9-of-18 for 107 yards against the Titans, but he threw a bad interception that appeared headed for no one in particular, and his pass to Desmond Clark was behind the Bears tight end and many have contributed to his injury.

Hanie did have his moments, however, and he looked good running the ball, including a 19-yard scamper. 

Mario Addison

DE Addison, an undrafted rookie from Troy,  played Saturday, contributing a solo tackle in the loss to the Titans. And he has been getting more practice reps with the injury to Corey Wootton.

The coaches like Addison, who is having a solid camp. And, with Corey Wootton sidelined following arthroscopic knee surgery, the Bears are looking for a third defensive end to step up behind starters Julius Peppers and Israel Idonije.

Addison is battling Vernon Gholston and Nick Reed for this spot. 

Desmond Clark

Clark was the forgotten man last season, so it was a mild surprise when the Bears decided to bring him back for 2011.

Clark hurt his left knee in the fourth quarter on Saturday against the Titans and had to be carted off the field.

With Kellen Davis hurting, however, there appeared to be a very good chance that Dez Clark made the final cut. Now, his future is uncertain.

The extent of Clark's injury wasn't immediately known, but it appeared to be serious. But he's a good guy who got the shaft last season, so I'm rooting for him.

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Vernon Gholston

Gholston has been an enigma since being drafted sixth overall in 2008. He may blame former coach Rex Ryan for his failure to generate a pass rush while in New York, but he can't blame the Bears coaches for not giving him a long look in camp.

With Amobi Okoye one of the few defensive players to generate QB pressure thus far for the Bears, the coaching staff would love for Gholston to match his potential with on-field production.

Despite being back in a 4-3 defense like he had in college, Gholston has failed to impress. Against the Giants, undrafted free-agent Mario Addison was put in the game while Gholston stood on the sidelines.

Gholston is going to have a tough time cracking the team’s defensive line rotation.