Meet the 2024 Chicago Bears: 89 thoughts on the roster ahead of training camp

Within minutes, free tickets for the 2024 Bears training camp sold out.

Think anticipation is high?

Caleb Williams. “Hard Knocks.” Pro Bowlers and potential Pro Bowlers on the roster. Position battles, roster battles, new kickoff rules — it’ll all be in Lake Forest at Halas Hall this summer, starting with the first practice on Saturday.

Transactions will be common throughout camp, and we could see some this week, but ahead of Bears players reporting to work, here are snippets on the 89 players on the roster.

Quarterbacks

Caleb Williams: There will be practices where Bears fans leave Halas Hall having seen Williams make incredible throws. There will be practices when he looks like a rookie against a veteran defense. Enjoy the ride.

Tyson Bagent: A year ago, Bagent was the No. 4 QB. Now, he’s one of the more valuable backups in the league.

Brett Rypien: At a team field trip to play golf during the spring, Rypien won the driving contest. What number will be higher, his longest drive or preseason passing yards?

Austin Reed: Let’s see if the undrafted rookie can perform well enough to stick around on the practice squad but also not be so good that another team claims him.

Running backs

D’Andre Swift: In the first episode of the Giants’ offseason version of “Hard Knocks,” Swift got a glowing review, which had to make the Bears feel good.

Khalil Herbert: In six weeks, will we be talking about Herbert the dynamic No. 2 back and kickoff returner or someone who should get traded?

Roschon Johnson: If the Bears can get some leads late in the fourth quarter, he should be the churn-out-the-clock back.

Travis Homer: Every team has a core special teamer who plays in every game but is only recognized by the die-hard fans. That’s Homer.

Ian Wheeler: As one of the few UDFAs with an outside shot at the roster, Wheeler could be a candidate to be featured on “Hard Knocks.”

Khari Blasingame: Keeping the fullback position alive and well in his third season in Chicago.

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Wide receivers

DJ Moore: He was far and away the best performer in the 2023 training camp. I’ll be curious to see where “No. 2 Moore” jerseys rank this summer.

Keenan Allen: After 11 training camps with the Chargers — seven with Philip Rivers and four with Justin Herbert — Allen has his first in Chicago, and with a new QB. For fans attending: simply watch him run routes. There’s a reason he’s been to six Pro Bowls.

Rome Odunze: Imagine being the No. 9 pick and not even being the top-billed rookie in camp. Odunze’s contested catch ability should wow fans this summer.

Tyler Scott: Among a list of “best things to happen” during camp, “Tyler Scott showing vast improvement” would be high up there.

Velus Jones Jr.: We talked all spring about Jones’ added value thanks to the new kickoff rule. Now it’s time for him to show it.

Dante Pettis: An injury kept Pettis out of the spring practices, but he could be in the mix on punt return and as the last wideout to make the team.

Collin Johnson: Speaking of on-the-bubble receivers who missed OTAs and minicamp, here’s Collin Johnson.

Nsimba Webster: Impress your friends at training camp by reminding them Webster is one of seven Bears originally acquired by Ryan Pace.

DeAndre Carter: Carter technically was a Pace acquisition, too, but in 2020 and he’s been on four teams since.

Freddie Swain: Had 25 catches for 343 yards and four touchdowns in offensive coordinator Shane Waldron’s Seahawks offense in 2021.

Peter LeBlanc: Last year’s preseason receiving leader? Daurice Fountain. Here’s guessing it’ll be LeBlanc in 2024.

John Jackson: Jackson’s most important role this summer might be simply being there to help his close friend, Caleb Williams.

Tight ends

Cole Kmet: After 73 catches for the 27th-ranked passing offense, could Kmet challenge Martellus Bennett’s franchise catch record for tight ends (90)?

Gerald Everett: Speaking of Bennett, the Bears haven’t had two tight ends go over 400 yards receiving in the same season since 2015 (Bennett and Zach Miller). Everett should get there.

Marcedes Lewis: Eighteen years ago, Lewis played in his first preseason game. The starting quarterbacks were Byron Leftwich and Daunte Culpepper.

Stephen Carlson: Tied for third on the Bears with five preseason catches last summer.

Tommy Sweeney: A blocking tight end, Sweeney could challenge for a fourth tight end spot if special teams requires it.

Brendan Bates: He had only 26 catches in college, but our Dane Brugler wrote Bates “is a better pass catcher than his production would indicate.”

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Offensive linemen

Braxton Jones: After not missing a snap as a rookie, Jones missed six games last season. With a third-round pick potentially behind him, 2024 will be about staying healthy and proving he can be the long-term guy.

Teven Jenkins: Speaking of durability, that’s priority No. 1 for Jenkins. If he has a strong — and healthy — summer, could Jenkins get a new contract done before the season?

Ryan Bates: Likely the clubhouse leader for the top competition of camp (center), Bates is also an option at right guard because …

Nate Davis: … We don’t really know what to expect from Davis. He missed time in the spring. The Bears are hopeful he’ll be good to go and the player they signed to a nice contract.

Darnell Wright: He’s quietly is the most reliable starter on the line. We could get a glimpse in camp of how much Wright improved in the offseason, and if he’s on a Pro Bowl track.

Coleman Shelton: Part II of the center competition, Shelton offers plenty of value as someone who snapped to Matthew Stafford the past few seasons and spent 2019-20 with Waldron.

Kiran Amegadjie: After missing all of OTAs and minicamp, Amegadjie’s training camp will be a hot topic. Check back in during the preseason and we’ll see how ready he is.

Matt Pryor: He played multiple positions during OTAs, including reps with the starters. Pryor has the versatility to be offensive lineman No. 6, 7 or 8.

Larry Borom: Trivia — who has the 18th-highest cap hit on the 2024 Bears? Answer: Borom. Is he valuable enough to stay on the roster with that salary?

Ja’Tyre Carter: Another versatile backup, Carter played in 10 games with two starts last season. He can play either guard spot or left tackle.

Doug Kramer: A fan favorite, the Hinsdale native has battled injuries the past two camps and appeared in only two games.

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Jake Curhan: With 29 games and nine starts in Waldron’s Seahawks offense, don’t forget about Curhan when projecting your 53.

Aviante Collins: One of the Bears’ 2023 leaders in preseason snaps.

Jerome Carvin: At Tennessee, Carvin started 21 games at left guard, 17 at right guard and five at center.

Bill Murray: Will narrator Liev Schreiber make a “Caddyshack” reference if Murray appears on “Hard Knocks”?

Theo Benedet: Since my word count is running high, read this profile of Benedet.

Defensive ends

Montez Sweat: From 2022 to 2023, Sweat had 20 1/2 sacks. All other Bears defensive ends combined for 16 1/2 in that same span.

DeMarcus Walker: Come Week 1, will Walker be starting opposite Sweat, or will it be Yannick Ngakoue or Emmanuel Ogbah or another vet? Walker did close 2023 strong.

Dominique Robinson: The new kickoff rules might help Robinson, who has the body type and athleticism for it. He has only two career sacks.

Austin Booker: How quickly can Booker get in the rotation? Few, if any, will “look the part” more than Booker in camp.

Jacob Martin: Caught my eye in OTAs, but hasn’t had more than eight QB hits in a season — and that came in 2018.

Daniel Hardy: The last Bear to have played for Montana State? Zach Minter, 2013. (This is why you subscribe).

Khalid Kareem: Played 26 snaps in his Bears debut … which was his only appearance last season.

Jamree Kromah: The undrafted rookie from James Madison is a candidate to lead the Bears in preseason sacks.

Defensive tackles

Gervon Dexter: It’s been the offseason of writing about Dexter’s Year 2 potential. The Bears believe in him, now we get to see it.

Andrew Billings: “Juggernaut” had outstanding run-stuffing numbers last season, earning an extension.

Zacch Pickens: The attention on Dexter has taken away from a third-rounder who’s also entering Year 2. Let’s call him a camp “sleeper.”

Byron Cowart: Granted, it was five years ago, but Cowart was good enough to catch Bill Belichick’s eye and spent a few seasons with the Patriots.

Michael Dwumfour: Had a half-sack in his NFL debut (2021 with the Texans).

Keith Randolph Jr.: The Illini grad is among the UDFAs with the best chance to make the team, thanks in part to a thin DT room.

Dashaun Mallory: The Bolingbrook native was the No. 2 defensive tackle in the state in 2017. He made the Bears after his rookie minicamp showing.

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Linebackers

Tremaine Edmunds: In the first six games, Edmunds had five splash plays. In his final eight, he had 13. Takeaways are fickle, but this defense knows the system now. Edmunds should get off to a faster start.

T.J. Edwards: Let’s play this game again. Edwards had seven splash plays in the first seven games last season. In the final 10, he had 24.5.

Jack Sanborn: Still one of this regime’s best finds, Sanborn could get some love from “Hard Knocks.” If you haven’t heard, he’s local.

Noah Sewell: An underrated “player to watch” this camp. Sewell is an outstanding athlete. If he stays healthy, what’s his ceiling?

Amen Ogbongbemiga: Tied for second in the NFL last season with two fumble recoveries on special teams.

Micah Baskerville: The Bears are pretty deep at linebacker, so Baskerville is likely destined for the practice squad.

Carl Jones Jr.: In high school, Jones played quarterback as a junior, had 296 yards rushing and 589 receiving as a senior, and played safety. Athlete.

Paul Moala: Made the team after a tryout in rookie camp. Played for Notre Dame, Idaho and Georgia Tech.

Cornerbacks

Jaylon Johnson: What can Johnson do for an encore? “I still got a lot to prove to myself, to any and everybody,” he said after signing his contract. “It’s not hard for me to stay motivated.”

Tyrique Stevenson: The fiery Stevenson should be a “Hard Knocks” star at practice. More importantly, we’ll find out if he has star potential at corner.

Kyler Gordon: I’ll bang the drum this summer that Gordon could be a Pro Bowler this year and establish himself as one of the game’s top nickel corners.

Terell Smith: The Bears could do much worse than having Smith as their No. 4 corner. Six passes defensed and three TFL last season.

Josh Blackwell: Injuries limited him last season, but Blackwell is a valuable special teamer and backup nickel.

Jaylon Jones: A solid No. 5 corner, Jones led the Bears with seven special teams tackles in 2023.

Greg Stroman: Veteran had a career game against his former team (Washington) in prime time. Reliable reserve.

Leon Jones: His rookie camp showing earned him a roster spot.

Reddy Steward: Nine career picks at Troy. Those ball skills could get him on the practice squad.

Safeties

Jaquan Brisker: What’s Brisker’s ceiling? Is he a Pro Bowl safety or just a solid safety? We’ve seen the flashes. His practice noise will get him some love on HBO.

Kevin Byard: From 2017-22, he had five seasons with at least four interceptions. He turns 31 next month but hasn’t missed a game in his career.

Jonathan Owens: Does “Hard Knocks” send a camera to Paris to follow Simone Biles’ husband as he cheers her on at the Olympics?

Elijah Hicks: The addition of a few vets may knock Hicks down the safety depth chart, but he does have plenty of experience in this defense.

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Quindell Johnson: Appeared in nine games as a rookie last season and had a pick against Kansas City.

Tarvarius Moore: Didn’t play in 2023, but spent 2018-21 in Richard Hightower’s special teams scheme in San Francisco.

Adrian Colbert: For those of you who play “Immaculate Grid,” Colbert has been on the 49ers, Dolphins, Giants, Browns, Jets and Bears.

Douglas Coleman III: Had four sacks, three picks and two touchdowns for the Ottawa Redblacks in 2023.

Special teams

Cairo Santos: Had a career-high touchback percentage last season … just in time for the kickoff rule change. More importantly, he was nearly automatic (35-for-38) on field goals.

Tory Taylor: Jockeying with Caleb Williams for the main attraction of training camp. The punts really are a sight to see.

Patrick Scales: Training camp No. 10 for the longest-tenured Bear.

Corliss Waitman: Led the league with 96 punts for the Broncos in 2022.

Cameron Lyons: Spent the 2023 preseason with the Giants.

(Photo of Jaquan Brisker, left, Jaylon Johnson and Tremaine Edmunds: Michael Reaves / Getty Images)



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