Chicago Bears 53-man roster prediction has some painful cuts entering final preseason week

That's not necessarily a bad thing.

Johnson said after Saturday's loss to the Cincinnati Bengals that Monday's discussions with the personnel department would be important, particularly for players on the bubble. The Bears close the preseason Saturday against the Tennessee Titans before the roster must be trimmed from 91 players to 53 by 6 p.m. ET Sunday.

Several competitions remain legitimately unsettled. Running back, the final receiver spots, defensive-line depth and the secondary could all be affected by what happens during the final week.

Here's my Bears 53-man roster prediction entering the final week of the 2026 preseason.

Quarterback (3)

Caleb Williams, Tyson Bagent, Case Keenum

No drama here.

Williams is QB1, Bagent remains the primary backup, and the Bears have little reason to move on from the experience Keenum provides as their third quarterback.

Cut: Miller Moss

Running total: 3

Running back (4)

D'Andre Swift, Kyle Monangai, Roschon Johnson, Salvon Ahmed

Here's our first tough call.

Swift and Monangai are locks, although Monangai's hyperextended knee has him week-to-week. The real decision is between Johnson and Ahmed, unless Chicago keeps both.

And that's exactly what I'm projecting.

Ahmed has earned it. He has provided the explosive element Chicago wanted to see this summer, and cutting him would risk losing a player who has consistently helped himself.

But Roschon isn't going away, either.

Ben Johnson specifically praised his special-teams performance after the Bengals game. It's an important detail because Johnson has repeatedly said that special teams will help decide the depth spots at running back. Johnson also mentioned Roschon has stacked successful performances, which bodes well for the fourth-year pro's odds of making the team.

A lot can change in a week, but for now, I'm keeping both.

Running total: 7

Wide receiver (6)

Rome Odunze, Luther Burden III, Kalif Raymond, Zavion Thomas, Jahdae Walker, Kaden Davis

Kaden Davis has done enough.

He was one of the biggest stories of training camp, followed by four catches for 88 yards against Cleveland, and has shown the special-teams ability necessary for a sixth receiver.

Davis' quiet offensive performance against Cincinnati shouldn't outweigh an entire summer of production.

Maurice Alexander isn't making this easy. His five-catch, 60-yard performance against Cincinnati was another reminder that Chicago has legitimate depth here. But if the Bears keep six, Davis gets the final spot.

Cuts: Maurice Alexander, JP Richardson, Scotty Miller, Ray-Ray McCloud III, Kaden Davis' other competitors

Running total: 13

Tight end (3)

Colston Loveland, Cole Kmet, Sam Roush

Loveland and Kmet give Ben Johnson one of the NFL's more intriguing tight end combinations.

Roush gets the third spot. Chicago's offensive structure makes carrying three tight ends an easy decision.

Running total: 16

Offensive line (10)

Braxton Jones, Joe Thuney, Garrett Bradbury, Jonah Jackson, Darnell Wright, Ozzy Trapilo, Theo Benedet, Logan Jones, Luke Newman, Jordan McFadden

The starting five appears increasingly straightforward: Braxton Jones, Thuney, Bradbury, Jackson and Wright.

Jones hasn't exactly slammed the door shut at left tackle. His holding penalty against Cincinnati derailed the starting offense's only possession, and the Bears have continued evaluating Benedet. But Jones remains the most logical Week 1 starter while Trapilo works his way back from his remarkable recovery from a torn patellar tendon.

The biggest cuts here would be Kiran Amegadjie and Jedrick Wills Jr.

Amegadjie entered camp with a legitimate chance to win the left tackle job but was eventually moved to the right side with the reserve unit. Wills has followed a similar path. Meanwhile, Benedet's versatility gives him value as the swing tackle.

Logan Jones is locked in as the developmental center behind Bradbury.

Notable cuts: Kiran Amegadjie, Jedrick Wills Jr., Caden Barnett

Running total: 26

Defensive line/edge (10)

Montez Sweat, Dayo Odeyingbo, Austin Booker, Marcus Davenport, Daniel Hardy, Grady Jarrett, Gervon Dexter Sr., Neville Gallimore, Jordan van den Berg, Jamree Kromah

Yes, I'm keeping Jamree Kromah.

Kromah has been too disruptive this summer to risk losing him. He erupted against Cleveland and continued making his presence felt against Cincinnati. On a Bears defense desperate for more pass-rush production, I'd rather bet on the ascending player.

Jordan van den Berg has made the roster, too. Quite honestly, I'm not sure there's much of a debate. The sixth-round rookie has been one of Chicago's most consistently disruptive young defenders throughout camp and the preseason. His performance against Cincinnati only strengthened the case.

Davenport is difficult to evaluate because the Bears only signed him Aug. 17, but his familiarity with Dennis Allen and veteran pass-rush experience should get him onto the initial roster.

Keeping Kromah means making a difficult decision elsewhere. I'm cutting Kentavius Street.

Notable cut: Kentavius Street

Injury watch: Shemar Turner

Running total: 36

Linebacker (5)

T.J. Edwards, Devin Bush, D'Marco Jackson, Jack Sanborn, Ruben Hyppolite II

Another fairly straightforward group.

Hyppolite gets the fifth spot after a stronger second training camp. Rookie Keyshaun Elliott's continued absence makes this decision easier if he remains on PUP.

Running total: 41

Cornerback (6)

Jaylon Johnson, Tyrique Stevenson, Malik Muhammad, Josh Blackwell, Jaylon Jones, Dontae Manning

Kyler Gordon's continued absence leaves open the possibility that he begins the season on reserve/PUP, which would require him to miss at least the first four games. Muhammad has handled nickel duties in Gordon's absence.

Stevenson is also now dealing with an injury that Johnson characterized as week-to-week, adding another variable entering the final preseason game.

Manning gets my final spot for now, although this is far from settled. He was terrible against the Bengals, and another bad performance against the Titans will get him the walking papers.

Don't be surprised if the Bears look outside the organization after cuts for a veteran cornerback.

Bubble: Dontae Manning, Beanie Bishop Jr., Deantre Prince

PUP: Kyler Gordon

Running total: 47

Safety (3)

Dillon Thieneman, Cam Lewis, Xavier Woods

Three? Yes, three. And There's a reason.

Coby Bryant's knee injury is expected to sideline him for four to six months. Elijah Hicks' status also remains uncertain while he's on PUP.

That leaves Thieneman, Lewis, and Woods as the three I'm comfortable calling locks.

Skyler Thomas has helped himself and would be my next man up. His interception against Cincinnati came at an ideal time for a bubble player, and another strong game against the Titans could secure a spot on the final 53.

But I need the roster spot elsewhere.

Bubble/cut: Skyler Thomas

IR: Coby Bryant

PUP watch: Elijah Hicks

Running total: 50

Specialists (3)

K Cairo Santos, P Tory Taylor, LS Beau Gardner

Easy.

The Bears effectively ended the long-snapper competition when they waived Luke Elkin on Aug. 9, leaving Gardner as the guy.

Final total: 53

Bears 53-man roster prediction

• QB (3): Caleb Williams, Tyson Bagent, Case Keenum

• RB (4): D'Andre Swift, Kyle Monangai, Roschon Johnson, Salvon Ahmed

• WR (6): Rome Odunze, Luther Burden III, Kalif Raymond, Zavion Thomas, Jahdae Walker, Kaden Davis

• TE (3): Colston Loveland, Cole Kmet, Sam Roush

• OL (10): Braxton Jones, Joe Thuney, Garrett Bradbury, Jonah Jackson, Darnell Wright, Ozzy Trapilo, Theo Benedet, Logan Jones, Luke Newman, Jordan McFadden

• DL/EDGE (10): Montez Sweat, Dayo Odeyingbo, Austin Booker, Marcus Davenport, Daniel Hardy, Grady Jarrett, Gervon Dexter Sr., Neville Gallimore, Jordan van den Berg, Jamree Kromah

• LB (5): T.J. Edwards, Devin Bush, D'Marco Jackson, Jack Sanborn, Ruben Hyppolite II

• CB (6): Jaylon Johnson, Tyrique Stevenson, Malik Muhammad, Josh Blackwell, Jaylon Jones, Dontae Manning

• S (3): Dillon Thieneman, Cam Lewis, Xavier Woods

• ST (3): Cairo Santos, Tory Taylor, Beau Gardner

The toughest Bears cuts

There are four decisions I'd be watching particularly closely this week.

Roschon Johnson vs. Salvon Ahmed remains fascinating. Keeping four running backs isn't ideal from a roster-math perspective, but both have made legitimate cases. If the Bears insist on three, Johnson's special-teams value could give him the late advantage despite Ahmed's explosiveness.

Jamree Kromah vs. another defensive lineman might be even tougher. I'd have a difficult time exposing Kromah to waivers after the summer he's had.

Skyler Thomas is my painful cut. If Chicago carries only three running backs, Thomas is probably the first player I'd put back onto the roster.

Then there's the offensive line.

Amegadjie going from a legitimate candidate to start at left tackle to missing the 53 entirely would be a stunning fall for a 2024 third-round pick. But the Bears have moved both Amegadjie and Wills away from the first-team left tackle competition, while Trapilo's unexpectedly fast recovery has changed the numbers.

The Bears' initial 53 won't necessarily be the roster that travels to Carolina. Once every NFL team makes its cuts, hundreds of players will hit the waiver wire. Given Chicago's uncertainty at defensive line and in the secondary, it would be surprising if Poles didn't at least investigate outside additions.

Johnson said this weekend that he's not merely trying to identify the best 53. He's looking for the best 69, knowing the practice squad will inevitably contribute during a 17-game season. That makes Saturday against Tennessee enormously important for the bottom third of this roster.

Some Bears will be playing for the 53. Others will be playing for the practice squad. And a handful could be playing their final snaps in Chicago.