These Bears have more to prove after preseason opener vs. Browns

Chicago overcame an early 10-0 deficit and rolled to a 34-10 victory over the Cleveland Browns on Saturday, with several roster hopefuls making strong cases for themselves. Salvon Ahmed flashed his explosiveness. Jamree Kromah wreaked havoc. Beanie Bishop Jr. intercepted two passes.

But preseason football isn't only about identifying winners. There were some duds, too.

For players fighting for starting jobs or spots on the 53-man roster, every opportunity matters. And while one August performance shouldn't dramatically alter the Bears' plans, several players left Soldier Field with more to prove.

Jedrick Wills Jr.

The Bears wanted Saturday to provide some clarity in their unsettled left tackle competition. And, well, it might have.

Just not in the way Wills hoped.

Wills and Kiran Amegadjie were expected to receive close to equal work after offensive line coach Dan Roushar said their performances had been relatively even during training camp. Neither emerged from the game as a dominant option, but Wills had the more concerning afternoon, including getting beaten for a sack. It was the worst play of the game for the Bears.

That's a problem for Wills.

The former Browns first-round pick was signed to give Chicago another legitimate option at left tackle, and preseason games are particularly important for an offensive lineman trying to prove he's ready for a starting role. Especially one who's returning from injury.

One bad rep isn't enough to eliminate Wills from consideration. But he needed Saturday to strengthen his case. Instead, the door remains wide open.

And with Jones expected to rejoin the competition, Wills can't afford many more missed opportunities.

Roschon Johnson

Salvon Ahmed had himself a day, and that's bad news for Roschon Johnson.

Ahmed turned five offensive touches into 72 yards, including a 49-yard touchdown reception from Keenum. Afterward, Ben Johnson confirmed that the Bears feel good about their top two running backs and said the competition for the remaining spots will come down to special teams and finding ways to separate.

Ahmed separated Saturday. Roschon didn't.

That's particularly concerning because this isn't a competition for a featured role. D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai are firmly positioned atop the depth chart. Everyone behind them is fighting for a finite number of roster spots, and offensive touches won't necessarily determine who survives cutdown day.

Johnson's physical running style and special-teams ability still give him a path to the roster. But when another player competing for the same job turns five touches into an explosive performance, the pressure increases.

Anyone fighting Jamree Kromah for a defensive line roster spot

Sometimes your stock falls without you doing anything particularly wrong. Sometimes another guy just has a better day.

That's what happened to every edgte rusher competing with Kromah for one of the final spots on Chicago's roster.

Kromah recorded two sacks, forced a fumble and recovered it himself. Ben Johnson praised his get-off and relentlessness afterward, saying the Bears could "feel his presence every snap."

Now, that doesn't mean he's made the team. But it does mean the math just became more difficult for everyone competing against him.

It's only one preseason game, but these reps matter

There's an obvious disclaimer with every preseason stock report. It's one game.

Wills hasn't lost the left tackle competition. Roschon Johnson hasn't been cut. And the Bears aren't going to reconstruct the bottom of their roster based exclusively on 60 minutes against Cleveland.

But the preseason exists for evaluation, and Ahmed took advantage of his opportunity. So did Kromah.

The Bears who didn't now have fewer opportunities remaining to answer. That's what makes the next couple of weeks so interesting.