Emma: Projecting The Bears' 53-Man Roster
By Chris Emma--
(CBS) It doesn't make much sense that the first round of preseason cuts comes days before the fourth preseason game, in which teams rest the starters to preserve themselves for Week 1.
Players who could be fighting for roster spots with valuable playing time in a real NFL stadium are stuck watching the game on the couch. On Tuesday, teams were forced to cut their rosters from 90 to 75 players.
One agent of a recently cut fringe player referred to this by-law as "brutal."
Like every other team, the Bears would love to have added roster depth for Thursday. They're banged up and will rest key starters. However, they have enough roster concerns and competition that playing time in a preseason game could serve as valuable.
The Bears' roster is down to 75 and will be brought to 53 by the NFL's deadline at 3 p.m. Saturday. Many of the 22 cut players will find their way to a practice squad, and some will even make an active roster later this season.
So how will the Bears' roster round out for Week 1? Let's make a projection.
Quarterback (3) -- Jay Cutler, Brian Hoyer, David Fales
The gruesome compound fracture suffered by Connor Shaw means that Fales is safe with a roster spot. Bears coach John Fox feels that Shaw has a bright future in Chicago, but he will spend this season on the injured reserve list recovering from Saturday's broken leg.
Once a player who could've been cut, Fales is now the third man on the depth chart. The Bears took three quarterbacks into the opener last season, with Jimmy Clausen in Brian Hoyer's place as the backup. If the Bears placed Fales on the practice squad, he would likely be claimed again, as he was twice last season, including once by the Ravens, whose offense is led by former Bears coach Marc Trestman.
It seems as if the Bears are situated with three quarterbacks.
Running back (4) -- Jeremy Langford, Jacquizz Rodgers, Ka'Deem Carey, Jordan Howard
All that's left at the running back position is configuring roles. The Bears seem set with their foursome of Langford, Rodgers, Carey and Howard. Look for Langford to take the majority of carries, with Rodgers serving as the backup. Carey has become a more prominent piece of the rotation recently.
A rookie from Indiana, Howard hasn't claimed a role with this offense. The Bears are still looking to define his place with the offense.
Receiver (6) -- Alshon Jeffery, Kevin White, Eddie Royal, Marc Mariani, Josh Bellamy, Cameron Meredith
Fox referred to the receiver position as the team's deepest on the roster. Health is always the key when it comes to the trio of Jeffery, White and Royal, but all three were active in practice this week.
The Bears like what Mariani, Bellamy and Meredith in regards to depth. Mariani has emerged as a sure-handed target whom Cutler appreciates having, and Meredith has flashed in practice.
Seventh-round pick Daniel Braverman has more to prove and will likely end up on the practice squad.
Tight end (3) -- Zach Miller, Tony Moeaki, Greg Scruggs
With Miller back in the fold after suffering a concussion, the Bears have some stability again at tight end. The Bears are counting on Miller to stay healthy and be productive in the offense, after moving Martellus Bennett out for non-football reasons in the offseason and entrusting Miller to fill the void.
Miller has found new life in his career that's been marred with injuries. Behind him, Tony Moeaki has become the No. 2 tight end, though he's no certainty. Miller and Moeaki project to comprise the Bears' passing arsenal at tight end.
It seems the Bears aren't committed to keeping a fullback, which would leave Greg Scruggs as the de facto fullback and blocking tight end.
Offensive line (9)
Starters: LT Charles Leno, LG Cody Whitehair, C Ted Larsen, RG Kyle Long, RT Bobby Massie
Reserves: Amini Silatolu, Jason Weaver, Cornelius Edison, Garry Williams
It seems as if Long should be ready to go for Week 1 in Houston as he continues to deal with a shoulder injury, with Fox saying Tuesday said that be should at the least be on the practice field for game preparation.
The Bears badly need Long to be part of their offensive line for the opener in Houston. More so, they need him as part of their game preparation so the starting five can begin to develop continuity as a unit. Long has limited time working with Larsen at center and Massie at right tackle.
The Bears have their starting line set with Leno at left tackle and the rookie Whitehair at left guard. Silatolu and Weaver will serve as the backups at guard, Edison is an option at center and Williams should be the swing tackle.
Defensive line (6) -- Eddie Goldman, Akiem Hicks, Mitch Unrein, Jonathan Bullard, Will Sutton, Cornelius Washington
The Bears have created solid depth on the defensive line, with plenty of options for a rotation. Hicks will serve as the starting 5-technique, Goldman will man the nose tackle and Unrein will get the starts on the other end with Bullard seeing plenty of reps too.
It seems that Sutton is set as the second-team nose behind Goldman, though he has plenty to prove after two seasons without a sack. Washington has emerged this preseason and seems to have solidified his place as a sixth defensive lineman at the end.
Washington's play has made 2014 second-round pick Ego Ferguson expendable.
Outside linebacker (4) -- Willie Young, Lamarr Houston, Leonard Floyd, Sam Acho (Pernell McPhee, PUP)
All indications suggest that McPhee will start the season on the physically-unable-to-perform list and miss the first six weeks. February knee surgery failed to prepare McPhee in time for the season, and the Bears don't want to play him at less than 100 percent -- which is what got him into this position last season.
Houston and Young, the Bears' sack leaders of last season, project to start at outside linebacker. First-round pick Floyd should see plenty of time rotating in at outside linebacker, serving as a speed threat off the edge. The Bears are certainly intrigued by his upside.
The veteran Acho will see time in the rotation as well and also serves in a key special teams role.
Inside linebacker (4) -- Danny Trevathan, Jerrell Freeman, Nick Kwiatkoski, John Timu
In recent weeks, Trevathan has nursed a hamstring ailment. However, he suited up for last Saturday's third preseason game and will play through it if needed. Trevathan and Freeman should create a formidable tandem at inside linebacker.
The rookie Kwiatkoski finally returned from a hamstring ailment of his own that stemmed from the first week of training camp. He should stay in place on the depth chart, though he has a lot of catching up to do.
Timu's spot on the active roster seems safe. The Bears will have to decide on Jonathan Anderson's place, which could take away from a spot at cornerback.
Cornerback (6) -- Tracy Porter, Kyle Fuller, Bryce Callahan, Jacoby Glenn, Sherrick McManis, Deiondre' Hall
During the first of these roster projections, I wrote that the Bears had to hope for no injuries at cornerback. Now, their top three are all sidelined and their statuses for Week 1 are up in the air. Porter has a concussion, Fuller is recovering from a knee scope and Callahan is dealing with a hamstring injury.
The Bears would certainly like their starters back, because Glenn and Hall are merely depth pieces at this time. McManis is in jeopardy of being cut if somebody more capable of taking on a role at cornerback and matching his special teams contributions surfaces. Demontre Hurst or De'Vante Bausby pose competition there.
Safety (5) -- Adrian Amos, Harold Jones-Quartey, Chris Prosinski, Deon Bush, DeAndre Houston-Carson
There really never was a competition at safety this preseason. Second-year pro Jones-Quartey came to camp as the starter next to Amos, and he held that title. Unless something surprising happens, these are the starting safeties.
Prosinski is a special teams player who brings a veteran presence to a young secondary. Bush has been hampered by injuries and hasn't been able to prove himself. Houston-Carson has shown flashes but projects to be a special teams player come Week 1.
Special teams (3) -- K Robbie Gould, P Pat O'Donnell, LS Aaron Brewer
One of the tightest competitions on the Bears is at long snapper, where Brewer and Patrick Scales are competing for the role in special teams. The Bears let both return in the first round of roster cuts. This one may come down to the wire.
Gould has struggled during the preseason, but the Bears have yet to bring in competition at kicker.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago's sports scene and more for CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670 and like his Facebook page.
