Breaking down the Bears 53-man roster on offense |
At long last, things are about to get real for the Chicago Bears as their 53-man roster was dropped on Tuesday. This is always an exciting time for fans as it is the last step before the NFL season opens. When it comes to the Bears and their roster, there were a few surprising additions and subtractions, which we will look at.
First things first, today we will look at the offensive side of the ball heading into the season opener with the Packers. This is arguably the most critical side of the ball this season, as the offense needs to show everyone a lot this season for there to be some belief in Justin Fields for the future. Quarterbacks (2): Justin Fields and Tyson Bagent: One of the biggest surprises on the roster reveal wasn't necessarily seeing Bagent as the backup, but seeing only two QBs on the roster as the Bears cut ties with PJ Walker and Nathan Peterman. That leaves them with only two QBs heading into week one, which is a dangerous situation. Chicago will have to add another one via free agency. Running Backs (4): Khalil Herbert, Roschon Johnson, Travis Homer, and D'Onta Forman: Arguably the easiest position to predict, the Bears are going to have four RBs to lean on this season, and three of them come with starter experience. Look for Johnson, Herbert, and Forman to get a bulk of the carries, while you could see Homer used more in the passing game. Fullbacks (1): Khari Blasingame: Not many teams use a fullback anymore, but considering the offense, the Bears have a fullback is crucial to their success. Blasingame is not only the lone FB on this roster, but he is one of the three best in the game, right up there with CJ Ham of the Vikings and Kyle Juszcyzk of the 49ers. Wide Receivers (6): DJ Moore, Darnell Mooney, Chase Claypool, Equanimeous St. Brown, Tyler Scott Velus Jones Jr.: Despite some fumbling issues from both Scott and Jones Jr. in camp, they will both make this team heading into week one, which is huge for them. Comparing the WR room of this season to what it looked like last season, there is no comparison. This is not only a very deep WR group with tons of potential, but you could make the case that it is the fastest overall group in the NFL. That is telling, and it will play a massive role in the success of Fields this season. Tight Ends (3): Cole Kmet, Robert Tonyan, and Mercedes Lewis: Not only is the WR room good, but this is the best TE Room the Bears have ever had as they continue to influx endless weapons into their offense. Kmet is an absolute baller, Tonyan is a significant red zone threat, and Lewis is the best blocking TE in the NFL. All three of these guys will see plenty of time on the field as they all fill a specific need on this team. If Fields struggles or doesn't have the success he is hoping for with this group, there may be little hope he ever finds it beyond this season. Offensive Line (9): LT Braxton Jones, LG Teven Jenkins, C Cody Whitehair, RG Nate Davis, RT Darnell Wright, Larry Borom, Lucas Patrick, Ja’Tyre Carter, Doug Kramer: Immediately when you look at this list, you notice that Dan Feeney isn't on the initial roster. That is because he still has to pass his physical, and if he does, look for him to take over the spot occupied by Jenkins right now. Apart from that, this is another deep position group, which we don't know much about right now. Sure, talent is across the board, but that talent has yet to translate into success together. For Fields to have the season he wants to have, he needs to be protected better than he has, and it will be up to all nine of these guys collectively to make that happen. Other players who were in the running to make the team on offense but were cut are as follows. Robert Burns (FB), Stephen Carlson (TE), Kellen Diesch (OT), Dieter Eiselen (G), Bobby Haskins (OT), Josh Lugg (G), Roy Mbaeteka (OT), Lachlan Pitts (TE), Logan Stenberg (G). You also had veteran WRs Nsimba Webster and Daurice Fountain miss the cut. Eiselen and Carlson had the best shot to make the team out of all these guys, and Carlson would have made it had Lewis not been signed. The Bears also cut 2022 6th-round pick Trestan Ebner from the team after dealing with injuries in camp.
