3 Bears on roster bubble who must shine in 2026 NFL preseason

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3 Bears on roster bubble who must shine in 2026 NFL preseason

Enzo Flojo, ClutchPoints · ClutchPoints

Fri, Jul 31, 2026 ·

5 min read

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After aggressively reshaping the Chicago Bears ' roster over the offseason, general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson have assembled one of the deepest rosters in franchise history. However, that depth also creates painful decisions when cutdown day arrives. Every preseason snap now carries enormous weight, especially for players buried in tightly contested position battles. For those fighting on the roster bubble, August is about proving they deserve to be part of it. Three Bears, in particular, enter the preseason facing enormous pressure to separate themselves before the final 53-man roster takes shape.

Aggressive offseason

The Bears spent the offseason making bold decisions designed to accelerate their championship aspirations. Trading veteran wide receiver DJ Moore to the Buffalo Bills created financial flexibility. It also opened a prominent role for Luther Burden III alongside Rome Odunze and Colston Loveland . Defensively, Chicago reinforced multiple position groups by adding veterans Devin Bush , Coby Bryant , Neville Gallimore , and Cam Lewis.. The draft further strengthened the roster with the additions of safety Dillon Thieneman and center Logan Jones.

Training camp has reflected that aggressive approach. Caleb Williams has looked increasingly comfortable directing Johnson's offense. Dennis Allen's defense has embraced a more physical, attacking mentality. Even with several contributors managing injuries early in camp, the Bears possess enough depth that no reserve player can afford a quiet preseason.

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RB Roschon Johnson

Injuries limited Roschon Johnson 's impact during the 2025 season. That restricted both his availability and his opportunities. While he worked through those setbacks, the Bears' backfield hierarchy evolved.

D'Andre Swift remains firmly established as the lead running back. Behind him, Kyle Monangai has emerged as another trusted contributor. That creates a difficult numbers game for everyone else competing for touches. It also leaves Johnson fighting directly with Brittain Brown for what could be the final running back spot.

Fortunately for Johnson, he still possesses qualities coaching staffs value. His pass protection remains among his greatest strengths. His physical running style continues to make him an effective option in short-yardage situations. Those attributes give him a foundation, but they will not guarantee a roster spot.

The preseason must become his showcase. Johnson needs to display the explosiveness that was largely absent during his injury-shortened campaign. Just as importantly, he must embrace every opportunity on special teams, where roster battles are often decided. If Johnson proves he can contribute in multiple phases while protecting Williams on passing downs, his chances of surviving final cuts improve significantly.

WR Scotty Miller

Chicago's receiver room has quietly become one of the NFC's deepest. Odunze and Burden headline the group. Kalif Raymond , Zavion Thomas, and Jahdae Walker also occupy important roles within the offense. That leaves very few openings. Scotty Miller impressed coaches during offseason practices with polished route running and dependable hands. However, training camp success doesn't always translate into meaningful preseason production.

Now comes the difficult part. The Bears need Miller to create splash plays when the lights come on. Stretching defenses vertically has always been one of his strengths. He must capitalize on every deep-ball opportunity during exhibition games. At the same time, he cannot limit himself to offensive contributions alone.

Return duties may become equally important. With younger receivers like Kaden Davis and Maurice Alexander also competing for valuable roster spots. Miller needs to demonstrate that he offers dependable production on both offense and special teams. One explosive preseason performance could dramatically alter his outlook. A quiet August could have the opposite effect.

CB Jaylon Jones

Seasoned defensive back Jaylon Jones has consistently earned respect for his reliability and willingness to play multiple positions. During offseason practices, he even handled meaningful work in the slot. His versatility remains valuable.

The problem is that Chicago now has more options than ever before. Jaylon Johnson continues leading the cornerback group. Tyrique Stevenson remains a significant contributor. Offseason additions such as Coby Bryant have intensified competition throughout the secondary. Younger players like Malik Muhammad and Dallis Flowers are also pushing aggressively for reserve roles and special teams responsibilities.

That leaves Jones needing to prove his value every time he steps onto the field. Coaches will closely evaluate whether he can transition smoothly between outside corner and nickel responsibilities. His work on special teams could ultimately become the deciding factor. Experienced veterans often survive roster cuts because they eliminate coaching headaches. Jones must demonstrate exactly that.

Shaping Chicago's final roster

The Bears have reached the point where difficult roster decisions are a byproduct of organizational progress. That is exactly where successful franchises want to be.

Roschon Johnson, Scotty Miller, and Jaylon Jones all possess NFL experience. They have shown they can contribute when given opportunities. Unfortunately for them, experience alone no longer guarantees security on this roster.

Johnson must reestablish himself in a crowded backfield. Miller needs to prove he can still provide explosive value. Jones has to remind the coaching staff that versatility remains one of the most valuable traits.

For the Bears, these competitions represent healthy signs of a roster moving in the right direction. For Johnson, Miller, and Jones, however, the preseason represents a final opportunity to prove they belong on a team with legitimate playoff ambitions.

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