5 Chicago Bears players with a lot to prove in 2022

Chicago Bears player no. 3: Sam Mustipher, Offensive Line

Sam Mustipher has to thank his lucky stars. He got the starting center job last season without any competition but then went and had a horrible season. He was constantly out of position and gave up too many pressures.

Many people felt that Mustipher would not make it through the cuts that Poles was expected to make. However, he did. He is still standing, though if he does make it through the season opener it will be at a different position.

Poles signed Lucas Patrick to take over at center. The Bears still have an opening at right guard so Mustipher will battle to try to win that job. Perhaps not having the pressure of snapping the ball and getting the line together and calling the blocking scheme pre-snap will help him perform better.

If Mustipher cannot win the starting job, it won’t look good for him to remain on the roster. He is competing against Dakota Dozier. If there is one offensive lineman who might be below Mustipher it is Dozier.

Dozier played every snap in 2020. He did such a bad job (at one point he even helped sack his own quarterback) that he spent most of last season on the practice squad. He did play in six games but all of them were on special teams.

Mustipher has to have a lot to prove during training camp. However, he has to keep proving it during the regular season.