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Chicago Bears: Roster locks, bubble and who’s in trouble

By Erik Lambert

DENVER, CO - AUGUST 18: Quarterback Mitchell Trubisky #10 of the Chicago Bears passes against the Denver Broncos in the first half during an NFL preseason game at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on August 18, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - AUGUST 18: Quarterback Mitchell Trubisky #10 of the Chicago Bears passes against the Denver Broncos in the first half during an NFL preseason game at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on August 18, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /
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CHICAGO, IL – OCTOBER 22: Tanner Gentry #19 of the Chicago Bears runs onto the field for warm-ups before a game against the Carolina Panthers at Soldier Field on October 22, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears defeated the Panthers 17-3. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL – OCTOBER 22: Tanner Gentry #19 of the Chicago Bears runs onto the field for warm-ups before a game against the Carolina Panthers at Soldier Field on October 22, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears defeated the Panthers 17-3. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

In trouble:

RB:  Taquan Mizzell, Ryan Nall, Knile Davis, and Michael Burton

With Cunningham unwilling to relinquish his third spot on the depth chart, that makes it difficult for Mizzell, Nall or Davis to have any hope of cracking the roster. The former two at least have a shot to make the practice squad. Ironically Burton may have the best chance to survive provided the Bears wish to keep a fullback on the roster.

WR:  Tanner Gentry, Marlon Brown, Demarcus Ayers, Garrett Johnson, and Malachi Jones

The massive influx at wide receiver this offseason was tough news for Gentry. Though he’s played well this preseason, he’s caught up in a numbers game given his lack of special teams prowess. Brown drops too many passes. Ayers has value as a return man that should be interesting to monitor. Johnson and Jones were never really a factor.

TE:  Colin Thompson

For the briefest moment, it looked like Thompson might challenge for one of the tight end spots alongside Brown and Braunecker. Then he showcased a reason why he’s been unable to stay on a team. He has inconsistent hands. Getting open isn’t a problem but when the time comes his tendency is to drop as many balls as he catches.

OL:  Matt McCants, Brandon Greene, Earl Watford, Hroniss Grasu, Will Pericak and Dejon Allen

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Such an unfortunate turn of events for Grasu. It looked like he might be a quality center for the Bears going into 2016. Then he tore his ACL, paving the way for Whitehair to steal his job. Now his odds of hanging onto the roster have drastically reduced. As for the other names listed, none of them have really distinguished themselves in any way to earn a job as well.

DL:  Abdullah Anderson and Cavon Walker

Walker and Anderson aren’t bad players. Each has flashed from time to time. If nothing else this proves how deep the Bears are along the defensive line. They’d probably make the roster on most other teams and each should be a definite practice squad option. Unfortunately, the depth chart ahead of them is just too steep.

LB:  Elijah Norris, John Timu, Jonathan Anderson, Josh Woods, and Ro’Derrick Hoskins

Timu can still make the roster. He’s solid as a reserve inside linebacker with good insticts and aggressiveness. He also has special teams value. Anderson and Woods have looked alright but haven’t produced enough flash plays to warrant consideration. Norris has practice squad written all over him thanks to his pass rush upside.

DB:  Deiondre Hall, Nick Orr, Jonathan Mincy, Doran Grant, Michael Joseph, John Franklin and Rashard Fant

Hall couldn’t have picked a worse time to earn a suspension. He looked like he might just steal a roster spot at safety. Now he’s in danger of losing it because of a poor decision. Grant deserves consideration considering how many plays he’s making but his lack of size may be too much to overlook. Joseph, Franklin, and Fant could all be easy practice squad possibilities.

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