Examining the roster
Taking a look at the 53 men who’ll begin the season against Lions
The Chicago Bears set their 53-man roster Saturday as they prepare for their season opener against the Lions in Detroit on Sept. 13. In the coming days, they can continue to adjust the roster with waiver claims and free-agent signings and also will sign players to a 16-man practice squad.
For now, here’s the Bears roster, a positional breakdown of how it formed Saturday and analysis from our Bears reporters. (* indicates a rookie).
Quarterbacks (2): Mitch Trubisky, Nick
Foles.
The Bears informed Trubisky he will be the starter in Week 1 after a monthlong training camp competition against Foles. Tyler Bray likely will join the practice squad as the third quarterback.
Running backs (4): David Montgomery, Tarik Cohen, Cordarrelle Patterson, Ryan Nall.
Undrafted rookie Artavis Pierce was the lone cut from this group. Montgomery is healing from a groin injury, and it’s unclear yet if he’ll be back practicing this week or if the Bears must implement a plan to fill his role for the opener.
Wide receivers (6): Allen Robinson, Anthony Miller, Ted Ginn Jr., Javon Wims, Riley Ridley, Darnell Mooney*.
No surprises here, but it will be worth watching to see which players get the most snaps behind Robinson and Miller. Ginn brings speed and experience, Wims and Ridley are battling for bigger opportunities and the speedy Mooney is trying to make an impression after the Bears drafted him in the fifth round.
Tight ends (5): Jimmy Graham, Cole Kmet*, Demetrius Harris, J.P. Holtz, Eric Saubert.
With the additions of Graham, Kmet and Harris, this group looks very different from the huge room the Bears fielded last year, though Holtz and Saubert return. Secondyear player Jesper Horsted was the odd man out.
Offensive linemen (9): Charles Leno, Cody Whitehair, James Daniels, Bobby Massie, Germain Ifedi, Rashaad Coward, Jason Spriggs, Alex Bars, Arlington Hambright.
The starting line of Leno, Daniels, Whitehair, Ifedi and Massie has been set since the beginning of training camp. The Bears kept swing tackle Spriggs even though he has been out with a sprained knee. Seventh-round pick Hambright hangs on to a roster spot.
Defensive linemen (5): Akiem Hicks, Bilal Nichols, Roy Robertson-Harris, John Jenkins, Brent Urban.
Eddie Goldman opted out because of COVID-19, leaving a big hole to fill, and Hicks has been limited in practice with a quad injury. Abdullah Anderson, who played in six games last year, was cut but could stick on the practice squad.
Outside linebackers (5): Khalil Mack, Robert Quinn, Barkevious Mingo, Trevis Gipson*, James Vaughters.
The Bears waived fourth-year player Isaiah Irving with an injury designation, leaving them with newcomer Mingo, returnee Vaughters and fifth-round pick Gipson behind Mack and Quinn. The Bears have talked about using Quinn, who was limited in training camp, primarily for what he does best — rushing the passer — so the others will have opportunities to contribute.
Inside linebackers (4): Roquan Smith, Danny Trevathan, Joel Iyiegbuniwe, Josh Woods.
Iyiegbuniwe and Woods take over the key backup roles vacated when Nick Kwiatkoski and Kevin Pierre-Louis left in free agency. Both have been primarily special teams contributors.
Cornerbacks (5): Kyle Fuller, Buster Skrine, Jaylon Johnson*, Kindle Vildor*, Duke Shelley.
Third-year cornerback Kevin Toliver is one of the bigger surprise cuts — he had been competing with the rookie Johnson for the starting spot opposite Fuller. The Bears seemed to ease Johnson into camp slowly because of his offseason shoulder surgery, but Nagy said recently he’s ready to go. And the Bears can use Skrine on the outside rather than just in the slot if needed.
Safeties (5): Eddie Jackson, Tashaun Gipson, Deon Bush, DeAndre HoustonCarson, Sherrick McManis.
The Bears have yet to name a starter in the competition between Bush and Gipson, who was sidelined briefly with a lower back issue. Veterans Houston-Carson and McManis are back for their special teams prowess.
Specialists (3): Eddy Pineiro (K), Pat O’Donnell (P), Patrick Scales (LS).
Pineiro makes the roster despite a groin injury that limited his kicking during training camp. It’s possible the Bears plan to move Pineiro to injured reserve Monday. In that case, they could put waived kicker Cairo Santos on the practice squad and promote him for the opener.