CINCINNATI — As the Bears close in on the Aug. 30 deadline to cut their roster to 53 for the upcoming season, their focus is on the second- and third-string heading into their preseason game against the Bengals on Saturday. Here are three players with significant stakes:
WR Kaden Davis
Davis has been a training camp hero, and while that’s often a nice story in the summer that doesn’t matter once the season arrives, the Bears saw Jahdae Walker make the roster and make a big touchdown catch in the Week 16 win over the Packers. Rome Odunze said Davis consistently clocks the highest miles per hour on GPS trackers in practice.
RB Brittain Brown
With D’Andre Swift unlikely to play much or at all in preseason games and Kyle Monangai injured, Brown has an opportunity to showcase himself at running back and on special teams. He’ll have to be good at both to make the final roster. Brown had 37 yards and a touchdown on five carries against the Bengals last season, by the way.
OT Theo Benedet
It still looks like Braxton Jones will be the Bears’ starting left tackle in Week 1, but Benedet is hanging around in the competition while also fighting to be the swing tackle ahead of Jedrick Wills and Kiran Amegadjie. Time is running out, so Benedet can’t afford any lapses against the Bengals.