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1 surprise Bears 2026 preseason roster cut to watch out for before Week 1
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- 1 surprise Bears 2026 preseason roster cut to watch out for before Week 1
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The Chicago Bears emerged from years of frustration to assert themselves in 2025 behind a pair of new leaders in head coach Ben Johnson and quarterback Caleb Williams .
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Johnson gave the Bears something they had not had in years — strong and decisive leadership that included a demand for excellence from every player. Nobody mattered more to the Bears than Williams, who had been the No. 1 overall pick in 2024 and looked every bit like an inconsistent rookie under previous head coach Matt Eberflus.
Williams had been put under no pressure by Eberflus, who appeared to serve as a cheerleader for Williams. Johnson was anything but that, as he saw multiple flaws in the talented Williams' performance and he attempted to correct each one of them in a bold and unflinching manner.
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By the second half of the season, Williams had taken Johnson's coaching to heart and he was able to play his best when the game was on the line. Williams showed off his athleticism, arm strength, accuracy and ability to play under pressure and the Bears won the NFC North title and advanced in the playoffs.
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That has created new expectations for the 2026 season and the Bears will almost certainly face intense competition from inside the NFC North. As well as Williams played down the stretch last season, he must continue to improve. The rest of the offense must be in sync with him, and the offensive line has to play consistently and eliminate flaws.
Left tackle appears to be a major worry
Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
While the Bears have a good group — led by offensive guard Joe Thuney — there are issues at left tackle. The Bears are hoping Ozzy Trapilo (torn patellar tendon) will be able to make a return at left tackle after playing six games at the position last year, but his backups will play a key role and it doesn't seem likely that Trapilo will be be a starter when the Bears open the season with a road game against the Carolina Panthers .
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The Bears are almost certainly going to start the season with Braxton Jones at left tackle, although he has been slowed by a knee issue. Kiran Amegadjie or Jedrick Wills are the backups at the position, and neither one looks good enough to help the Bears at left tackle. This could cause huge problems because if the offense is out of sync this year, the defense appears to be in over its head.
The Bears made a name for themselves on defense last year because they were No. 1 on the takeaway/turnover table last year. Safety Kevin Byard led the NFL with 7 interceptions last year, and he was followed by Nahshon Wright with 5 picks and linebacker Tremaine Edmunds with 4. All three are no longer with the team as Byard joined former head coach Mike Vrabel with the New England Patriots while Wright is with the Jets and Edmunds will line up for the Giants.
The defense gave up big-time yardage last year and preseason injuries to CB Coby Bryant and DB Kyler Gordon could be disastrous for Johnson and defensive coordinator Dennis Allen.
That's why the offensive line must be pristine and the Bears are going to have to score a boatload of touchdowns this season. They are going to need to outscore opponents to win, and Johnson can't look at his left tackle situation and have any kind of confidence
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The belief is that he may have seen enough of Amegadjie. The third-year player from Yale will find himself as a surprise cut before the season gets underway.
Johnson may have to make other moves in order to sharpen his team
While the head coach's work with Williams was his most obvious accomplishment last season, Johnson's greatest strength is as a game planner. He proved himself in that area in Detroit as the offensive coordinator and he demonstrated last year that he knows how to set up a defense.
He can do the same again this year but it will be much harder if the offensive line is not functioning at near-peak efficiency.
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The other issue for the Bears is at center, where former Viking and Patriot Garrett Bradbury takes over in the middle of the offensive line. Bradbury heads into his eighth season in the NFL with maximum experience, fine technique and know-how when it comes to understanding the nuances of his position.
The problem is that he does not have the kind of power or strength to hold off the best and toughest interior defensive linemen. That was the case in Minnesota and the Patriots attempted to cover up that issue last year.
Johnson has been quite supportive of Bradbury throughout the offseason and this summer, but he may not hold onto the center for a full season if there is an obvious weakness in the middle of the offensive line.
