2022 Bears position battles

   Couldn't get this one out before the official Bears depth chart for week 1 preseason game was announced, anyway this is who I see the Bears going for their final 53 man roster.

QB - J. Fields, T. Siemian

RB - D. Montgomery, K. Herbert, T. Ebner

FB - K. Blasingame

WR - D. Mooney, V. Jones, B. Pringle, N. Harry, E. St. Brown, D. Newsome, D. Pettis, T. Sharpe 

TE - C. Kmet, R. Griffin, J. O'Shaughnessy

OL -  B. Jones, C. Whitehair, L. Patrick, M. Schofield, R. Reiff, L. Borom, S. Mustipher, T. Jenkins

DL - T. Gipson, J. Jones, A. Blackson, R. Quinn,  A. Muhammad,  K. Tonga, M. Edwards, C. Snowden, D. Robinson

LB - R. Smith, N. Morrow, M. Adams, C. Johnson, J. Sanborn

CB - J. Johnson, K. Gordon, T. Young, T. Graham, K. Vildor, L. Jackson

S - E. Jackson, J. Brisker, D. Cruikshank, D. Houston-Carson, E. Hicks

SP - C. Santos, P. Scales, T. Gill

QB2 - T. Siemian, N. Peterman

   QB1 is set with Justin Fields getting all the first team reps and then some as he tries to learn the new scheme and better his mechanics and chemistry with the new and old weapons. Backup duties I'm going with Trevor Siemian over Nathan Peterman.

RB4/FB - K. Blasingame, D. Evans

   RB1 is David Montgomery's to lose with Khalil Herbert maybe getting involved more than the previous season. Trestan Ebner as the lead for the 3rd string RB spot as I see it with Darrynton Evans the closest to take it away, he may get a shot if the Bears decide not to carry Khari Blasingame as the FB, a decision that wouldn't make me happy.

WRX - B. Pringle, N. Harry, E. St. Brown

WRS - V. Jones Jr., D. Newsome, B. Pringle

WR4 - D. Pettis, T. Sharp, D. Moore, I. Coulter

   This is where the competition really is blowing up with only Darnell Mooney as the sure fire starter. At WR1 Byron Pringle and N'Keal Harry got the first shot playing with the first team but are currently injured so the door opens for Equanimeous St. Brown to get a shot at getting considered for a starting role and is doing good so far as is Dazz Newsome as a slot option with Dante Pettis and Tajae Sharpe making noise at occasions, what makes me think right now they get in is the lack of talent at TE, the severity of the injuries to Harry and Pringle and if no other options pop up when roster cuts begin next week. I had little hope for David Moore to make the team because of his off field troubles with the law and now its gone to probably zero chance with his recent leg injury, this might get Isaiah Coulter some kind of chance to fight for a spot. Velus Jones Jr. has gotten a good amount of snaps with the first team but is dealing with injury as well, if he misses preseason action it will be tough for his development and the chance to start early this season. 

TE - R. Griffin, J. O'Shaughnessy, Rysen John

   TE1 is Cole Kmet, new comers Ryan Griffin and James O'Shaughnessy should be the favorites to make the team just by experience but who will get more on the field? Only other player I have heard named making some plays is the rookie Rysen John, if the Bears prefer less WRs than TEs he might make it but I really doubt it.

OT -  L. Borom, T. Jenkins

OG - M. Schofield, J. Carter, S. Mustipher, T. Jenkins, Z. Thomas

C - S. Mustipher, D. Kramer

   Best competition on the team and the most important group to get set for the season. Impressive to think that Braxton Jones might just get the LT spot and run with it all season. Cody Whitehair looks to retain his LG spot.

   RT right now looks to be for newcomer Riley Reiff but sophomore players Larry Borrom and Teven Jenkins will battle it out to see who finishes as the swing tackle, its kind of absurd to think one of these guys might be out of the team.

   RG looks to be handed to hometown guy Mike Schofield, Ja'Tyre Carter is trying to fight it out but looks to be losing the battle but will keep it up to see if he can make the final roster, coaches are giving Jenkins a crack on RG to see if he can make the team showing some versatility. Sam Mustipher has impressed coaches (somehow) showing he can be in the mix for RG and C spots and right now seems to be the favorite to keep the seat warm at C until Lucas Patrick returns beating out Doug Kramer in the process, still I would believe its open for the taking until the preseason is over. Zachary Thomas has an uphill battle to be even near of beating Whitehair for his spot but may impress coaches to stay on the roster, as it is right now he has a better shot at getting in the PS. Its looking bad for Jenkins who looks to be battling some ailment, Ryan Poles may have to decide to let him walk or get anything on a trade if he doesn't get enough snaps and/or doesn't show growth, its easier to push someone like Carter or Thomas to the PS and leave Jenkins on the roster but if he isn't the best player to have on the team then tough decisions will need to be made.

NT -A. Blackson, K. Tonga, M Pennel

DT - M. Dew-Treadway, L. London, T. Coley

LDE - T. Gipson, A. Muhammad, M. Edwards Jr.

DE5 - D. Robinson, C. Taylor, C. Snowden, S. Kamara

   Fierce competition at the trenches on both sides, Robert Quinn is the only safest bet to start on one DE spot. Angelo Blackson might get significant snaps at NT but with who will he be rotating? Having Mario Edwards Jr. placed as a DE is something unexpected but with versatility knowing the DT spot as well may open the door to new defensive looks. Al-Quadin Muhammad spotted behind Quinn is a win for Trevis Gipson but can he maintain the starting spot? The battle for bench positions at DT and DE will be tough, I got Dominique Robinson and Charles Snowden making it but the competition is real and wouldn't be surprised if one or even both of them are left out for another DT or to make room for another position.

LB - M. Adams, C. Johnson, J. Sanborn, J. Thomas

   The Roquan Smith drama might continue for a while and for now only Nick Morrow is the sure guy to start at LB. Matt Adams, Joe Thomas and Jack Sanborn are the new faces on the team that have survived camp the most, only Caleb Johnson is a returning player at LB and is fighting for his life to make the team, I have them battling out for the remaining spots but LB is the most questionable position on all the roster that wouldn't surprise me if it was Smith (hopefully), Murrow and anyone who fits the scheme better. The Roquan situation obviously will get resolved one way or the other, Poles needs to maintain this negotiation alive to have options open, if Poles decides to trade him so be it but the trade needs to have value for the team to lose a very good player, I would think that a 1st round pick should be in play or multiple second day picks, if its less than this then its not worth it and Poles might ultimately let things run with the present contract in place and let Roquan decide his fate, obviously the optimal result would be to get Roquan on a deal both him and Poles are happy with.

NB - T. Young, T. Graham

CB3 - K. Vildor, L. Jackson, T. Graham

CB4 - D. Shelley, G. Stroman Jr.

   I really think that the competition for CBs is set, its just a matter of figuring out who is next behind the starters. For some reason Kindel Vildor is still viewed as a CB and the only guy making noise to dethrone him as the backup is Lamar Jackson, so lets assume the coaching staff have some tricks under their sleeves to make these men better players. Its almost a sure thing Tavon Young is starting at NB with Thomas Graham dealing with injury, still Graham showed he has great skills last year and should be on the roster to back up Young or even get considered ahead of Vildor to be the CB3. With Kyler Gordon being injured, Duke Shelley or Greg Stroman Jr. could be considered to be added to the roster for someone else at another position.

   Safeties are set with Eddie Jackson and Jaquan Brisker, the backups I believe are set too with DeAndre Houston-Carson, Dane Cruikshank and Elijah Hicks, all three are capable of playing at dime and quarter as big CB and contribute at ST.

ST - NONE, stability yay! Punter Trent Gill looking good.

   Some positions seem set and others have enough bodies for descent to good competition, still the LB and CB spots are the more worrisome ones that might of needed more help in talent to push other players and are counting on their starters to play all year, the TE position could be another one that needed more bodies if they intend to go more 12 personnel and run the ball but may be counting more on Blasingame for that. WR and CB are being hit by injury and LB as well with Roquan holding out , the team will need to be attentive to other teams when the roster cuts begin.