Chicago Bears: 5 Veteran players on the 2018 roster bubble

The Chicago Bears will likely have to part with some of their veteran players to get the roster to the 53-man limit.

Between now and the start of the regular season, the Chicago Bears have to trim their roster down from 90 players to 53. Many of the cuts will be easy, as the team is currently loaded with undrafted free agents or players lacking experience and much skill.

However, roster decisions won’t be made until Matt Nagy and Ryan Pace fully evaluate the players during training camp.

With this being said, here are five veteran players who might need to have an extraordinary camp just to make the team:

Pat O’Donnell, Punter

Due to the team’s conservative offense, O’Donnell punted a career-high 87 times in 2017. He averaged a career-high 47 yards per punt and tied his career-best with a 39.7 net average. However, the team explored other options in free agency and only gave O’Donnell a one-year contract this offseason.

The Bears signed Ryan Winslow as an undrafted free agent and he’ll provide competition for O’Donnell in training camp. O’Donnell is a solid punter, but he’s on shaky ground.

John Timu, Linebacker

Timu has developed into a bit of a fan favorite and played in a career-high 11 games last season. He has shown good instincts when on the field, but he might get squeezed-off the roster due to a number’s game.

The Bears will likely keep only four inside linebackers, and Danny Trevathan, Roquan Smith, Nick Kwiatkowski, and Joel Iyiegbuniwe appear to be the four. It’ll likely take an injury or trade (perhaps Kwiatkowski?) for Timu to make the team.

Marcus Cooper, Cornerback

Cooper signed a three-year deal with the Bears in 2017, was cut in March of 2018, and then re-signed with the team (on a one-year deal) just weeks later. Cooper played in 15 games last year but is best remembered for his special teams gaffe against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He ended the season with just 18 tackles and three passes defended.

Cooper is behind Kyle Fuller, Prince Amukamara, Bryce Callahan and maybe even Deiondre’ Hall and Cre’Von LeBlanc on the depth chart. He has talent, but like Timu, he might be affected by a number’s game.

DeAndre Houston-Carson, Safety

Carson was a sixth-round pick in 2016 and has seen the majority of his time on special teams. Eddie Jackson and Adrian Amos are locked-in as the starters, and Deon Bush appears to be the top reserve. Houston-Carson is a “Ryan Pace guy” which should help his case, but it’s no guarantee he’s able to crack the 53-man roster.

Next: Bears: Ranking the 5 best players under 25

Hroniss Grasu, Center

It’s safe to say that Grasu has been a disappointment since he was drafted in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft. Injuries and poor play have now led to him battling just for a spot on the team. Unfortunately for him, there seems to be no room on the roster for an interior offensive lineman who only plays center.

Cody Whitehair is entrenched as the starter and rookie James Daniels is likely the backup. Grasu does not have the positional flexibility that reserve offensive linemen need, and thus, he’s likely a goner.

Home/Chicago Bears