Why Some Bears Will Be Kept Over Others

Cutting a backup quarterback signed for two years and $4 million would seem a pretty drastic act by the Bears.

So would cutting a third-round wide receiver in only his second year.

Then there is that chance they cut or trade away Trevis Gipson, who had a couple of preseason sacks and has been a defensive playmaker in Chicago during past seasons.

It always seems drastic is someone gets cut who wasn't expected to go when training camp started.

Teams make such decisions for numerous reasons.

The cuts are coming down within the next 24 hours, although the final announcement or finalization doesn't get made until 3 p.m. Tuesday.

Here are key factors to consider about how the Bears must shape their roster.

Injuries

Especially on the offensive line, this looms as a factor in how many players are kept and at what position.

The Bears and their medical staff know how long injuries to players like Teven Jenkins, Nate Davis, Lucas Patrick, Cody Whitehair and Darnell Wright are going to need to heal. They still have two weeks and have this week as a virtual off-week, mostly light walk-throughs and meetings, when they can get better. Jenkins' injury is the only one the Bears have said is more serious, with Matt Eberflus proclaiming it to be week-to-week.

The problem is, the severity and nature of some of the other injuries won't be known until a week from Wednesday. So it's difficult to tell on the outside if they would need to go outside for line help.

Defensively, the injury most disturbing is to DeMarcus Walker. He hasn't been part of much all training camp. He came back once after the injury for light work but left and hasn't been back on the field since early last week.

Jenkins going on injured reserve and missing the first four weeks gives the Bears an opportunity to keep an extra lineman when they make cuts. If he's going to be gone only four weeks and the other players will be healthy, it wouldn't make a lot of sense to bring in offensive linemen because it's a position requiring players to work together to be effective. It would be bringing in an outside element and expecting immediate return. Running backs and defensive backs could do something like this and quickly fit the offense or defense more easily than an offensive lineman, a wide receiver or a quarterback.

Talent Availability

Reports keep flying around about Pro Bowl/All-Pro Kansas City defensive tackle Chris Jones being available for trade because of his need for a new contract. This seems so overblown and unlikely that it's almost comical. They have a real chance to win a second straight Super Bowl and they're just going to trade away a player who makes their defense a potential Super Bowl team? He might be the key player on their defense. And they'd trade him for a chance to, what, not win the Super Bowl now when they have the talent but maybe be better in the future when other parts of the team might not be as good? It's not logical.

They could find other talent like a punt returner who is a receiver or special teams player. Jalen Reagor's name keeps getting mentioned as a player the Vikings might cut. Reagor hasn't been better for his career or with Minnesota at returning punts than Dante Pettis was for the Bears. He averaged 6.4 yards last year for 26 punt returns. Pettis averaged 9.1. His only time as a kick returner was part of the 2021 season with the Eagles and he averaged only 21.3 yards.

The Bears have a kick returner in Velus Jones Jr. It's not going to be easy for them to have Jones and Tyler Scott both active all the time on game days so they might look for someone who is not a receiver to do this but good luck finding one.

There are always return men to add but it seems almost always they're receivers or backs and there is no room on the roster for another back.

Make no mistake, the waivers will be populated with people who can do numerous things the Bears need to have done. Whether they can be someone who can do it immediately and whether Ryan Poles perceives this need as immediate might trigger whether the available talent is brought to Halas Hall.

Preseason Efforts

This is the most overrated of any factor in shaping the roster.

These were games and stats against teams not using a game plan on offense, most of the time against players who don't even figure to be on an NFL roster this year.

Starters played only sparingly in preseason for all teams, not just the Bears. Any stats seen on how players they might have the ability to acquire performed are skewed by the fact they're against subs and not using specific game plans aimed at beating their opponents.

This is where the Bears battle for backup quarterback battle falls.

If you went by preseason statistics, P.J. Walker is the odd man out with a 55.7 passer rating, only 4.2 yards per attempt and 11 of 23 completions for 96 yards.

However, it isn't like Walker missed beating out Tyson Bagent by a great deal. Only Bagent's completion percentage was impressive (69%). It's easy to have a high completion percentage when your passes resemble handoffs. Bagent averaged only 5.4 yards an attempt.

Versatility

Coaches spent all offseason saying this, if anyone listened. They say it every year. Anyone who can do more for you will rate better than someone of comparable skill level.

Players of similar talent who can perform better on special teams are regarded higher than those who can't.

It's not just special teams, but those who can do it at their position as well.

For example, look at the Bears backfield group and there isn't anyone who it can be said possesses that great all-around versatility you look for in a starting running back. Roschon Johnson is the closest, and he's never been in an NFL regular-season game, facing a defense led by a coordinator who is designing ways to attack his weaker spots. This type of scheming isn't done in the preseason.

That's why the talk about the Bears trading for Jonathan Taylor wasn't as far-fetched as some might have thought, although it has been reported by Adam Schefter the Bears won't be trading for him. Taylor averaged more than 34 catches a season and is a load back. He was a better version of what the Bears had in David Montgomery because he had breakaway speed to go with his ability to run through tackles and also could catch passes and block.

They'll keep players on the roster who have the required versatility, with special teams or otherwise.

I said earlier I wasn’t buying the report on Gipson. I was wrong! Received a text today saying it was indeed true. Very very reliable source
— Greg Gabriel (@ggabefootball) August 27, 2023

Potential

Young draft picks who haven't had the chance are still going to take priority over undrafted types or players who could be available on another team.

The Bears have been bringing in their own talent. They want to see those players reach their potential because they'll get the benefit of the first four years in the league at lower cap costs before deciding to keep them. Signing free agents or making trades for players from elsewhere is a way to lose salary cap space exponentially. See Ryan Pace for this.

If there are draft picks made the last two years being considered for cuts, expect them to get every chance to stay on and prove themselves. Those drafted from the Pace era who are on the cut borderline—not so much.

Cash

It's not too much of a factor this year, though.

Last year it was and in many years it will be. The Bears could even take on a big contract like the kind an expensive defensive lineman or running back would command.

Twitter: BearDigest@BearsOnMaven

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