The 2022 NFL Preseason is over, and here’s a look at what will likely be the 53-man roster for the 2022 edition of the Chicago Bears. The preseason is over. The Chicago Bears finished 3-0. That means the regular season is upon us, and a new era of Windy City football is about to begin.
Some are optimistic, given how the franchise has performed in three games with new talent. Others, like Youtuber Jeff Schlegel, will warn Bears fans to temper their expectations and not fall victim to what he calls #BEARSFOOTBALL, defined as consistent mediocrity, a phrase associated with the Bears for much of the 21st century.
However, being mediocre in 2022 wouldn’t be such a bad thing for the organization, provided that quarterback Justin Fields shows significant improvement from his rookie year. In this case, a 4,000-yard passing season, which a Bears quarterback has never done, is very doable.
That said, the Bears sit at about 80 players after the 21-20 win over the Cleveland Browns, but by Tuesday, that number will shrink to 53. Several players shouldn’t have to worry too much about their roster spot. The rest of them? They will be waiting with anxiety, hoping that a phone call from the organization is telling them to start preparing for the regular season as they have made it.
Predicting the Chicago Bears 2022-2023 53-man roster after the preseason
Just because you had a dominant preseason doesn’t automatically equate to a roster spot, and the Chicago Bears are no exception. It sucks to make a good impression and still not make it, but that doesn’t mean the dream is over. There is the likelihood of the practice squad or another team making one phone call and keeping the goal alive.
The Bears had some standouts, but when you run out of numbers, i.e., roster spots, the math gets more arduous, and the process is more painful. You could risk letting go of a good player that could come back and beat you if his team ever gets an opportunity to face you. So, you don’t want to make any mistakes, even though it is bound to happen.
Now that we got that out of the way let’s begin our rundown of the 53 players who, as of Tuesday, will likely end up on the roster as part of the 2022-23 Chicago Bears.
Quarterbacks (2): Justin Fields, Trevor Siemian
Nathan Peterman had a good throw against Cleveland that helped preserve the win, but the Chicago Bears are going with two arms this season. The backup will be Siemian, a man with a Super Bowl ring and a resume worthy of a quality backup. Moreover, he gets the system, having worked with a variation of it in Denver.
Of course, the starter is Fields. He gets the big reps; he is the franchise quarterback, it’s all about his development to see if he can indeed be the guy, or the Bears may need to look to someone else again. That’s probably not going to happen. Fields’ elite physical tools will be good enough to help him in Chicago, that and his toughness.
Moreover, he is in a very quarterback-friendly system, which was not the case under Matt Nagy. Matt Eberflus has made sure to stay on top of Fields despite coming from a defensive background. Luke Getsy and Andrew Janocko (Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach) have been working hard with him to ensure his success. Good things are coming.
Running Backs (5): David Montgomery, Khalil Herbert, Trestan Ebner (R), Darrynton Evans, FB Khari Blassingame
Four of the players here will be seeing most of their playing time on offense, while Evans is likely going to work on special teams as a returner. Still, Evans can provide versatility out of the backfield and give the Bears a boost in the passing game. However, the main focus will be on the three leading players and Blassingame.
The fullback will be required to help open up the offense, while the other three will be vital for Justin Fields’ development. It’s about the quarterback. With the exception of Curtis Enis, the Chicago Bears tend to get good production out of most running backs they have on their roster. It’s in their blood.
Montgomery and Herbert in the West Coast system as a 1-2 punch will be useful, especially against the 49ers and Packers in back-to-back weeks. Ebner, although a rookie, showed strength and good ball carrier vision, which is critical in the outside-zone scheme. Look for him to steal a few carries and make some noise on his own.
Wide Receiver (6): Darnell Mooney, Byron Pringle, Equinamous St. Brown, Dante Pettis, Velus Jones Jr (R), Isaiah Coulter
N’Keal Harry will be on IR to start the year, and this group will likely see drastic changes when the waiver wire hits. Right now, the Bears are probably going to use what they have. Again, don’t doubt Ryan Poles going through the waiver wire looking for more help. For now, let’s take a look at this six-man group.
Darnell Mooney is going to be the top player on the depth chart. St. Brown has established himself as a No. 2. Pringle will likely operate from the slot. Jones Jr is more of a special teamer, but because he was taken in the 3rd round, the hope is that he can do more with the offense. Isaiah Coulter and Dante Pettis had a strong preseason, so that they will get the nod.
Again, we can’t emphasize this enough; this group will likely look very different once the waiver wire comes and goes. But let’s say the Bears don’t attack this position; this is still a solid group that can make plays if the correct plays are called for the right situation, and the players make plays. Talent is not the only thing that wins in the league. Production will. The Bears need more production than superstar talent, and this group has some of that in them.
Tight End (3): Cole Kmet, Ryan Griffin, James O’Shaughnessy
The offense that offensive coordinator Luke Getsy wants to run requires the tight end position to be able to block but also get open in space to help his quarterback. See Todd Christensen, Kellen Winslow, and the quiet but impactful Shannon Sharpe. Long story short, the H-Back is valuable.
Look for Cole Kmet to be the receiving threat that the Bears envisioned he would be when he was drafted, while Griffin and O’Shaughnessy will likely be blockers more than pass-catchers. That’s not to say they can’t step up when their number is called upon, but Kmet will see most of the catches.
Don’t be surprised if Ryan Poles goes scowering for a tight end off waivers. Depth matters, and given how the Bears are a bit thin at the tight end position, another receiving threat certainly wouldn’t hurt to have on the roster. We’ll stick with these three as the tight ends the Bears will carry this season.
Offensive Line (10): Braxton Jones (R), Cody Whitehair, Lucas Patrick, Teven Jenkins, Larry Borom, Sam Mustipher, Zachary Thomas (R), Ja’Tyre Carter (R), Riley Reiff, Michael Schofield
This unit has been the most criticized, mainly because of its lack of aggression. But Ryan Poles is not some random general manager. He is ruthless and has been an offensive lineman for the Bears in the 2000s. He knows that the unit was also not as good during his tenure. He has seen what it takes to have a good one.
It does not matter where they come from. Are they tough, violent, nasty, and fast? That’s what the checklist requires, and the rookies in this ten-man group exude at least two traits each. As for the veterans, they understand that they are on this roster because they have veteran status and leadership qualities. However, it may not last long.
Considering how Ryan Poles will not be satisfied until he puts the five best blockers on the field, don’t be surprised to see some changes after Tuesday’s initial deadline. Likely the younger ones and players like Cody Whitehair, Teven Jenkins, and Larry Borom will stick around. Schofield and Reiff and Mustipher? They could be on the move if something changes. For now, they will wear navy blue and orange and be expected to block and maul.
Defensive Linemen (8): Robert Quinn, Dominique Robinson (R), Justin Jones, Angelo Blackson, Trevis Gipson, Al-Quadin Muhammad, Sam Kamara, Trevon Coley
Though the list was long, the Bears were shorthanded after losing Eddie Goldman and Khalil Mack. Still, Matt Eberflus, known to get more out of less, is not afraid of the challenge and now has an arsenal, or at least something to go into battle with. There are a few surprises, though.
While Robert Quinn and Trevis Gipson will likely man the edges, and Justin Jones, along with Angelo Blackson, patrol the interior, the depth was a question. Rookie Dominique Robinson and veteran Al-Quaddin Muhammad will be seen as depth rushers who can bring fresh legs. As for the interior, the Bears will likely move on from Khyris Tonga because he plays better in a 3-4 than a 4-3, and Mario Edwards Jr is not doing much in training camp to make an impression.
Trevon Coley has been a pressure cooker in the preseason, and Sam Kamara has been a quiet force finally getting his dues. As of now, both will be on the roster, but changes could be coming. Controlling the line of scrimmage is critical, and the Bears need to do that to stand any chance of winning games this fall.
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.
Defensive Backs (10): Jaylon Johnson, Kyler Gordon (R), Thomas Graham Jr, Kindle Vildor, Jaylon Jones (R), Eddie Jackson, Jaquan Brisker (R), Dane Cruikshank, DeAndre Houston-Carson, Elijah Hicks (R)
The first two picks of the 2022 NFL Draft for the Bears were in the secondary, in the form of Kyler Gordon and Jaquan Brisker. That indicates that Ryan Poles was adamant about finding players to strengthen the coverage unit in the Windy City, especially as the league is increasingly becoming a passing league. As such, both Gordon and Brisker and veteran Jaylon Johnson are making the team.
Though Thomas Graham Jr suffered an injury, his scrappiness and aggressive mindset will be enough to convince Ryan Poles that he should not go anywhere. Kindle Vildor has improved significantly, and UDFA Jaylon Jones has shown promise. Dane Cruikshank and DHC are veteran leaders that know what it takes, and rookie Elijah Hicks has good ball skills. They need to stick around.
Unless something significant comes around on the waiver wire, this is the group Chicago will likely roll with in 2022. Still, this area is far from the most significant concern on the roster. Moreover, having a UDFA make this core speaks to Poles’ resume as a good talent evaluator. It will take more to solidify this unit and make it one of the more potent units in the league.
Special Teams (3): K- Cairo Santos, P- Trenton Gill (R), LS- Patrick Scales
Given what just happened with the Buffalo Bills and punter Matt Araiza, who is now out of the league, Bears fans can breathe a sigh of relief knowing they have Trenton Gill as their punter, who has no off-the-field issues and a booming leg that can make an impact on the game. Additionally, they have a reliable kicker in Cairo Santos.
But the biggest nod is for Patrick Scales. Long snappers don’t often get the credit they are supposed to get, and so we have to give Scales credit here. Like Patrick Mannelly, an icon during his tenure, Scales shows consistency and poise. That doesn’t sound like much for a long snapper, but snappers are looked at as heavily as kickers when kicks go wrong.
The Bears have a reliable unit in their special teams. Still, one year and one wrong kick can change everything. It’s on these three players to make it difficult for the opposition. Santos with scoring kicks at any distance within comfort, Gill with touchbacks and pinning opponents deep, and Scales making sure snaps are on point for accurate results.