There have been a number of obstacles that the Chicago Bears have had to deal with during this unconventional offseason amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether that’s an entirely virtual offseason or absence of a preseason, which is a blow to late-round draft picks, undrafted free agents and other players looking to make an NFL roster.
As that wasn’t a big blow, NFLPA leadership informed players that rosters will be trimmed from 90 to 80 to start training camp. Which means the Bears need to cut 10 players by next Tuesday.
Chicago already parted ways with tight end Ben Braunecker on Thursday. Now they need to cut nine players ahead of Tuesday.
Let’s take a look at nine players that are in danger of being released by the Bears ahead of training camp.
S Kentrell Brice
With a crop of veteran safeties ahead of him, Kentrell Brice faces an uphill battle to lock down a roster spot. Eddie Jackson and Tashaun Gipson will likely be the starting safeties, with returning Bears Deon Bush and DeAndre Houston Carson serving as depth. And Brice, who was undrafted out of Louisiana Tech, might not make it to training camp given guys like free-agent addition Jordan Lucas and Sherrick McManis, both who bring more as special teams contributors.
TE Darion Clark
With just one roster spot for a tight end up for grabs, the Bears could certainly eliminate a couple more ahead of the start of training camp. A prime candidate to be the next tight end released is basketball-turned-football player Darion Clark, who doesn’t have much experience playing tight end. Prior to rosters needing to be cut down to 80, Clark didn’t stand a chance of making the 53-man roster. And that’s even more true now.
G Dieter Eiselen
There’s no doubt offensive line remains one of the biggest concerns for the Bears heading into 2020. And while Chicago would like to carry every available offensive lineman, they simply can’t. One of those cut candidates is guard Dieter Eiselen, an undrafted rookie free agent out of Yale. While Eiselen has a great story — he’s a South African rugby player who converted to American football — it won’t be enough to secure him a roster spot. And it’ll be a struggle to make it past those first cuts ahead of camp.
WR Thomas Ives
If there’s anything that’s going against Thomas Ives, it’s that the Bears have a loaded receivers room and presumably just one roster spot up for grabs during training camp. With Allen Robinson, Anthony Miller, Cordarrelle Patterson, Ted Ginn Jr. and Riley Ridley all virtual locks at this point, Ives would have to beat out rookie Darnell Mooney, Javon Wims and a slew of other veterans for that last roster spot. While Ives isn’t likely to lock up one of those spots on the 53-man roster, he’s a great candidate for another round on Chicago’s practice squad.
CB Michael Joseph
The Bears have a crowded cornerbacks room that should be trimmed ahead of the start of training camp, and that could start with former undrafted free agent Michael Joseph. Joseph spent two seasons on Chicago’s practice squad, and he was promoted to the active roster at the end of last season due to an injury to cornerback Prince Amukamara. But with limited roster spots up for grabs, Joseph will find it difficult to make the 80-man roster, yet alone the 53-man roster.
LB LaCale London
While it would certainly be a nice story for LaCale London to secure a roster spot with his hometown team, it’ll be a difficult task given the competition at edge rusher behind starters Khalil Mack and Robert Quinn. Chicago added some veterans this offseason in Barkevious Mingo and Devante Bond, and they drafted Trevis Gipson in the fifth round. Not to mention they also return veteran Isaiah Irving. London will also have to compete with the likes of fellow undrafted rookies Ledarius Mack and Keandre Jones. That could unfortunately spell an early end to London’s time in Chicago.
DL Trevon McSwain
It’s the Bears biggest strength on their roster that could ultimately prevent undrafted rookie Trevon McSwain from nabbing a roster spot — even before training camp starts. Chicago’s defensive line is so deep that McSwain, a former Duke standout, faces an uphill battle to secure a roster spot. He’ll have to battle fellow undrafted rookie Lee Autry for that backup nose tackle job behind Eddie Goldman. McSwain will have to beat out the likes of Autry, Abdullah Anderson, Brent Urban and John Jenkins for a valuable roster spot.
TE Eric Saubert
More often than not, it’s a numbers game when it comes to roster spots. And everyone is well aware of Chicago’s crowded tight ends room, which could ultimately be the downfall for Eric Saubert. With essentially just one roster spot up for grabs, it’s not likely that Saubert secures that final spot with guys like J.P. Holtz and Jesper Horsted in the mix. But Saubert could be a candidate for the Bears’ practice squad.
WR Alex Wesley
While Alex Wesley certainly brings the kind of speed to the table that the Bears were missing last season, his chances of making the roster are hurt by the depth in Chicago’s receivers room. With ultimately just one roster spot up for grabs, Wesley faces a challenge just to survive these first cuts ahead of training camp. Not to mention the Bears have a couple speedy receivers in Ginn Jr. and Mooney that would likely have the edge over Wesley.
