The Chicago Bears will officially open their 2025 NFL training camp today when Ben Johnson and his coaches hold their first of 20 practices at 8:30 a.m. CT.
Over the next five weeks, the Bears must figure out which of their current 90 players are best suited for their initial 53-man roster for the 2025 season. Their camp schedule also includes three preseason games and one joint practice with Miami and Buffalo each, all leading up to the league’s deadline for roster cuts at 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday, August 27.
With training camp upon us, here’s a projection for the Bears’ initial 53-man roster:
GettyBears quarterback Case Keenum.
Quarterback (3): Caleb Williams, Tyson Bagent, Case Keenum
Nothing is likely to change about the Bears’ quarterback room. Williams is the starter, Bagent is the backup and Keenum is the veteran that Johnson and Chicago’s offensive brain trust sought out to help mentor and support the two younger quarterbacks. Even if Keenum manages to overtake Bagent as QB2, all three should still make the roster.
Cut: Austin Reed
Running Back (4): D’Andre Swift, Roschon Johnson, Kyle Monangai, Travis Homer
Ian Wheeler managed to pass his physical and come off the active/non-football injury (NFI) list before the first practice, so it is officially safe to start factoring him into the roster competition. The 2024 undrafted rookie stood out in last year’s camp but tore his ACL before the end of the preseason, landing him on season-ending injured reserve. But while Wheeler’s door to make the team has reopened, he will need to prove he is decisively better than either Monangai — a seventh-round rookie draft pick — or the veteran Homer, who offers value to Richard Hightower’s special teams unit.
Cut: Ian Wheeler, Deion Hankins (R)
Wide Receiver (6): DJ Moore, Rome Odunze, Luther Burden III, Olamide Zaccheaus, Devin Duvernay, Miles Boykin
The Bears are mostly settled at wide receiver. Moore, Odunze and Burden project as the primary trio while Zaccheaus and Duvernay provide quality veteran depth. Duvernay also adds value as a two-time All-Pro return specialist, making him a near-lock. Beyond those five, though, there are no guarantees. Tyler Scott and Boykin are the top candidates if a sixth receiver is kept, but we’ll give the edge to Boykin — who is more experienced and adds special teams value — over Scott, a 2023 fourth-round pick.
Cut: Tyler Scott, Samori Toure, John Jackson III, Maurice Alexander, JP Richardson (R), Jahdae Walker (R)
GettyBears tight end Cole Kmet.
Tight End (3): Colston Loveland, Cole Kmet, Durham Smythe
Joel Wilson received some praise from Johnson toward the end of the spring workout program, but it remains to be seen whether that will translate into him pushing for the No. 3 role in the rotation behind settled 1-2 options in Loveland and Kmet. If Wilson has a strong camp and preseason, Smythe could become the odd man out in August.
Cut: Joel Wilson, Stephen Carlson, Jordan Murray
Offensive Line (9): Braxton Jones, Joe Thuney, Drew Dalman, Jonah Jackson, Darnell Wright, Ozzy Trapilo, Ryan Bates, Kiran Amegadjie, Luke Newman
While the Bears’ offensive line is bound to command a great deal of attention in camp, the personnel is somewhat straightforward. Regardless of whether Jones or Trapilo wins the starting left tackle job, both will make the roster. Amegadjie — a 2024 third-round pick — is also a safe bet despite some ugly moments in his rookie season. Bates could slide to the bubble if injuries become a problem for him again, but for now, he makes it as a backup who can play all three interior positions. The other interior backup position is up for grabs, but the edge goes to Newman, a sixth-round rookie, for now.
Cut: Bill Murray, Ricky Stromberg, Jordan McFadden, Chris Glaser, Theo Benedet, Joshua Miles
Defensive End (5): Montez Sweat, Dayo Odeyingbo, Austin Booker, Tanoh Kpassagnon, Daniel Hardy
The Bears made things more interesting at defensive end when they signed Kpassagnon to their roster on July 22, even though plenty will still find the room underwhelming. It is now a larger mystery whether the Bears will keep four or five defensive ends. While four could make sense with a different roster alignment, let’s assume they carry five edge rushers for the start of the season with Hardy earning his keep as a special teamer.
Cut: Dominique Robinson, Xavier Carlton, Jamree Kromah
GettyBears defensive tackle Grady Jarrett.
Defensive Tackle (5): Grady Jarrett, Gervon Dexter Sr., Shemar Turner, Andrew Billings, Chris Williams
The Bears sunk meaningful resources into their defensive interior during the offseason, signing Jarrett to a three-year, $42.75 million contract and adding Turner in the second round of the draft. As a result, the position is easier to predict with Dexter an easy lock to make the roster and Billings a likely lock, so long as he snaps back to form ahead of his age-30 season. The lingering question is: Which player will win the fifth spot in the rotation between Williams and Zacch Pickens? While Pickens was a 2023 third-round pick, Williams was more productive than him in 2024, which is a nice advantage.
Cut: Zacch Pickens, Jonathan Ford
Linebacker (5): Tremaine Edmunds, T.J. Edwards, Ruben Hyppolite II, Noah Sewell, Amen Ogbongbemiga
The Bears should have a battle on their hands for the vacant strong-side linebacker role in the lineup between Hyppolite and Sewell, but both should make the roster regardless of who winds up starting. During the offseason, the Bears also signed Ogbongbemiga to a two-year extension, which indicates they expect him to remain in their plans — likely because of his value on special teams. Maybe Power Echols grabs his NFL future by the horns and makes himself uncuttable in the staff’s eyes, but that feels like a long shot.
Cut: Power Echols (R), Swayze Bozeman
Cornerback (6): Jaylon Johnson, Kyler Gordon, Tyrique Stevenson, Terell Smith, Zah Frazier, Josh Blackwell
According to Bears general manager Ryan Poles, Johnson will miss a “few weeks” with a lower leg injury that he sustained during his offseason training, but Poles did not sound too concerned about his long-term health. But while Johnson isn’t going anywhere, his absence will free up more reps in camp for the younger boundary cornerbacks on the roster who are vying for the No. 2 role opposite him. The Bears did sign veteran Tre Flowers on July 22 to bolster the competition, but Stevenson, Smith and Frazier should outlast him. Blackwell projects as the top backup slot cornerback behind Gordon, both of whom signed multi-year contract extensions with the Bears during the offseason.
Cut: Tre Flowers, Nick McCloud, Ameer Speed, Nahshon Wright, Jeremiah Walker (R), Shaun Wade
GettyBears strong safety Jaquan Brisker.
Safety (4): Kevin Byard III, Jaquan Brisker, Jonathan Owens, Elijah Hicks
Either one of the Bears’ undrafted rookie safeties — Major Burns or Tysheem Johnson — could push Hicks for his final spot in the rotation. Owens could also find himself in a vulnerable position if he struggles to prove himself in front of a new coaching staff. For now, though, Hicks and Owens make the most sense to back up the clear-cut starters.
Cut: Tarvarius Moore, Major Burns (R), Tysheem Johnson (R)
Specialist (3): Cairo Santos, Tory Taylor, Scott Daly
Nothing changes here. The starters are clear-cut. Rookie placekicker Jonathan Kim has a shot at making the practice squad as an emergency kicker, but he would most likely need an injury to have a legitimate chance at dethroning Santos as the No. 1 option.
Cut: Jonathan Kim (K), Luke Elkin (LS)
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