Predicting the 2022 Chicago Bears 53-man roster after preseason

Linebackers (6): Roquan Smith, Nicholas Morrow, Jack Sanborn (R), Matt Adams, DeMarquis Gates, Caleb Johnson

Roquan Smith’s brief contract issue may have hindered him a bit, but he is still going to start with Nicholas Morrow. The other spot is up for grabs, but the Bears are fortunate to have youth and experience in this six-man group, and the best part, at least for Bears fans, is that a fan-favorite UDFA cracked the roster, and he should have.

Jack Sanborn was one of the top defensive players this preseason, and over three games, he showed that he should have been drafted. All is not lost, he is on his way to the NFL, and if he continues to grow and show progress, there is a chance he might get in with the base defense as a starter. But let’s not get too excited. Plenty left to do.

The story of DeMarquis Gates coming from the USFL to the NFL is heartwarming, and Caleb Johnson is showing that last year was no fluke. But fairy tales only exist when the Lombardi trophy is in hands. The linebackers can take a few moments to smile, knowing they made it, but there’s no time to rest. The city is beckoning them to see if they can join the greats that played the position with the “C” on their helmet.