The Position Bears Need to Fortify After Roster Cuts

The Bears have one defensive position where they are badly in need of experienced depth and may need to find it after roster cuts are made.

Joel Iyiegbuniwe hasn't started an NFL game and has been on the field for 26 defensive plays.

He is the Bears' experienced depth at inside linebacker.

For that reason, it wouldn't be surprising for the Bears to trim their roster more after establishing the necessary 53-man roster on Saturday, and pick up an inside linebacker with more experience.

At least Iyiegbuniwe says he's ready to be that No. 3 after two years limited almost entirely to special teams play.

"The work that I put in, training camp, OTAs even though it was virtual, I thought I did a good job of that," Iyiegbuniwe said. "So I'm definitely ready. I've been waiting for this."

Iyiegbuniwe is feeling the proverbial "slowing down" of the game as he's able to speed up due to better knowledge of the defense.

"Year three for me, honestly, the game is slow as its ever been in my career," Iyiegbuniwe said. "You know, high school, college.I feel like I'm really hitting my stride now as far as football IQ, as far as all that stuff.

"So I'd definitely say I'm a different player."

He'll need to be, simply because the other backups are Josh Woods and Rashad Smith. Woods has only played special teams and not a down of defense while Smith is a rookie. Smith's speed has been surprising on the practice field, but then again it's only practice.

The Bears cut undrafted rookie Keandre Jones this week and last week brought in former Giants and Rams linebacker Alec Ogletree for a tryout.

It wouldn't be surprising to see them find another young discarded linebacker or even two after cutdowns to bring in for both the practice squad and/or roster. It might not necessarily be to be third linebacker, but just for special teams purposes or to be on the practice squad.

Inside linebackers coach Mark DeLeone believes Iyiegbuniwe and Woods are ready to take the same step Nick Kwiatkoski took last year.

"They can play run and pass," DeLeone said. "They can both run. I think the thing we need to see from those guys is just have them play football. Right?"

The question is, what's there after those two because someone has to play linebacker on a scout team.

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