Where the Bears Rate

The release of an unofficial Bears depth chart in advance of the first preseason game has a few minor surprises.

The Bears unofficial depth chart released in advance of the first preseason game lists Trevis Gipson in an unaccustomed lower spot at defensive end, as well as a few other slight or surprising changes.

Gipson, a fifth-round pick in 2020, cost them a 2021 fourth-rounder in a trade. He had seven sacks two years ago but he is fourth behind starter Yannnick Ngakoue, backup Rasheem Green and third-team pass rusher Terrell Lewis.

Running back Roschon Johnson's first spot on a pregame depth chart is fifth string. Trestan Ebner is the third back.

Another change over the depth chart as it was being built was adding the third wide receiver category, so Chase Claypool is listed with starters. The depth chart does not list players at multiple offensive or defensive positions except for wide receiver Tyler Scott. They have him listed third behind Darnell Mooney and Equanimeous St. Brown and second behind Claypool but ahead of Daurice Fountain.

Because they do not break down the cornerback position with a slot cornerback, the two starters are listed as Kyler Gordon and Jaylon Johnson with Terell Smith and Tyrique Stevenson as backups. In actuality, Stevenson and Smith have split time to play the starting left cornerback spot when the team is in the nickel package with Gordon at slot cornerback.

Veteran acquisition Bravvion Roy is behind starter Andrew Billings and rookie Zacch Pickens at nose tackle while seventh-round pick Travis Bell is the third three technique behind Justin Jones and Gervon Dexter.

Rookie seventh-round safety Kendall Williamson is a third safety behind backup A.J. Thomas and has been working with the third group in practices.

Velus Jones Jr. is listed as No. 1 punt returner and kick returner.

2023 Depth Chart

(Four-Deep: Position, players listed in order of rank)

WR: DJ Moore (first team), Velus Jones Jr. (second), Dante Pettis (third), Isaiah Ford (fourth)

LT: Braxton Jones, Larry Borom, Bobby Haskins

LG: Teven Jenkins, Alex Leatherwood, Gabe Houy, Josh Lugg

C: Cody Whitehair, Lucas Patrick, Doug Kramer

RG: Nate Davis, Ja'Tyre Carter, Dieter Eiselen

RT: Darnell Wright, Aviante Collins, Kellen Diesch, Roy Mbaeteka

TE: Cole Kmet, Robert Tonyan, Marcedes Lewis, Stephen Carlson, Jared Pinkney  (fifth team)

WR: Darnell Mooney, Equanimeous St. Brown, Tyler Scott, Nsimba Webster, Joe Reed

QB: Justin Fields, P.J. Walker, Nathan Peterman, Tyson Bagent

RB: Khalil Herbert, D'Onta Foreman, Trestan Ebner, Travis Homer (Roschon Johnson fifth team)

FB: Khari Blasingame, Robert Burns

WR: Chase Claypool, Tyler Scott, Daurice Fountain, Aron Cruckshank

DE: DeMarcus Walker, Dominique Robinson, D'Anthony Jones, Jalen Harris

DT: Justin Jones, Gervon Dexter, Travis Bell, Andrew Brown

DT: Andrew Billings, Zacch Pickens, Bravvion Roy

DE: Yannick Ngakoue, Rasheem Green, Terrell Lewis, Trevis Gipson

MLB: T.J. Edwards, DeMarquis Gates, Micah Baskerville

WLB: Tremaine Edmunds, Noah Sewell, Buddy Johnson

SLB: Jack Sanborn, Dylan Cole, Kuony Deng 

CB: Jaylon Johnson, Tyrique Stevenson, Greg Stroman Jr., Jaylon Jones, Macon Clark

CB: Kyler Gordon Terell Smith Josh Blackwell Michael Ojemudia Kindle Vildor

S: Eddie Jackson, Elijah Hicks, Adrian Colbert, Bralen Trahan

S Jaquan Brisker, A.J. Thomas, Kendall Williamson

P Trenton Gill

K Cairo Santos 

LS Patrick Scales

KR Velus Jones Jr., Khalil Herbert, Trestan Ebner, Tyler Scott, Aron Cruickshank

PR Velus Jones Jr., Dante Pettis*, DJ Moore, Eddie Jackson, Tyler Scott

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