Durkin: What To Watch For During Bears-Browns

By Dan Durkin--

(CBS) With rosters trimmed down to 75 players, the final preseason game will primarily affect bottom-of-the-roster decisions as teams get down to their final 53-man rosters by 3 p.m. on Saturday.

The Bears have concerns with the top of the roster, let alone the bottom. However, starters will play sparingly Thursday night when they host the Cleveland Browns (7 p.m., FOX). Here are a few positions to key in on during the game.

Special teams

Losing running back Senorise Perry for the 2015 season due to a foot injury is a big hit to the Bears' special teams units. Last season as an undrafted rookie, he led the team with 17 special teams tackles. He started the season as the team's primary kick returner and became an integral part of the coverage units.

This preseason, Perry had logged 36 special teams snaps. Other players who have played double-digit special teams snaps in each preseason game are inside linebackers Jon Bostic and John Timu.

Timu in particular has seen his special teams snap total climb in each game. If he continues to make plays on special teams, he could force the team to consider keeping five inside linebackers -- Shea McClellin, Christian Jones, Mason Foster and Bostic being the others.

Of the three phases, the Bears' special teams have been the most consistent this preseason, with strong efforts in coverage and the return game. Given the state of the offense and defense, winning the field position battle will be critical if the Bears want to have a chance to stay in games.

Backup quarterback

The Bears claimed quarterback Zac Dysert after he was recently waived by the Denver Broncos. Undrafted rookie Shane Carden was waived to make room for Dysert.

The 25-year old Dysert was selected in the seventh round of the 2013 draft and spent two years working within Adam Gase's offense. Thus, he theoretically has the most experience with the terminology and concepts of all the current Bears quarterbacks and may be called upon to play the majority of the game against the Browns.

With incumbent backup Jimmy Clausen in the concussion protocol and David Fales -- a second-year holdover from the previous regime -- still working his way back from an offseason illness, Dysert has a chance to stick on the final 53-man roster and be active against the Packers in the season opener, depending on Clausen's progress.

At 6-foot-3 and 231 pounds, Dysert has the size scouts covet at the position. At Miami of Ohio, he became the school's all-time leading passer with 12,013 passing yards, surpassing Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

Dysert has surprising mobility for his size and a compact, over-the-top delivery. He has shown accuracy and anticipation on intermediate routes. He must improve upon his tendency to stare down his primary read and break the pocket at the first sign of pressure. He offers the Bears a young, developmental quarterback who they previously lacked.

Dan Durkin covers the Bears for CBSChicago.com and is a frequent contributor to 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter @djdurkin.