Chicago Bears 53-man roster prediction

The Chicago Bears 53-man roster will need to be set by 3 p.m. Central tomorrow, so here’s my final guess as to what they’ll do. I have to admit some of the guys they kept as inactive last night threw me off, but they could have wanted to give younger players an extended look.

Way back in July, most of us gave our predictions for the Bears’ 53-man roster and you can check those out here. I wanted to change mind almost immediately, but I figured I’d wait til preseason was over.

Here’s my latest guess.

Quarterback (2) - Mitchell Trubisky, Chase Daniel

I had the Bears keeping three quarterbacks initially, then I changed my mind, and changed my mind again, and now I’m settling on two. If a young practice squad eligible quarterback that the Bears covet comes free then they’ll add him. Tyler Bray looked solid last night, but I think they gamble that he won’t get picked up by another team and can sign him off the street if an injury occurs to Trubisky orDaniel.

Running back (5) - Jordan Howard, Tarik Cohen, Benny Cunningham, Ryan Nall, Michael Burton

I think the Bears want a true fullback on the roster and I don’t think they trust Nall to be that guy quite yet. I also think they like what Nall adds to the team.

Wide receiver (6) - Allen Robinson II, Anthony Miller, Taylor Gabriel, Kevin White, Josh Bellamy, Javon Wims

Wims had a nice camp and preseason, and Bellamy seems to be a favorite of the coaches with the way they’ve used him this preseason.

Tight ends (4) - Trey Burton, Adam Shaheen, Dion Sims, Ben Braunecker

A good case could be made to keep five at this spot, but I take Braunecker over Daniel Brown for special teams play. The severity of Shaheen’s injury could come into play.

Offensive line (8) - Cody Whitehair, Charles Leno Jr., Kyle Long, James Daniels, Bobby Massie, Eric Kush, Bradley Sowell, Rashaad Coward

Coward has really taken to his new position, and I think Daniels eventually starts, making Kush the top interior substitute.

Defensive line (6) - Akiem Hicks, Eddie Goldman, Roy Robertson-Harris, Jonathan Bullard, Bilal Nichols, John Jenkins

I have Jenkins over Nick Williams because Jenkins is a true back up nose tackle.

Outside linebacker (5) - Leonard Floyd, Sam Acho, Aaron Lynch, Isaiah Irving, Kylie Fitts

I think the Bears would like to upgrade this position as soon as someone comes available.

Inside linebacker (4) - Roquan Smith, Danny Trevathan, Nick Kwiatkoski, Joel Iyiegbuniwe

The Bears haven’t kept more than four at this position in awhile.

Cornerbacks (6) - Kyle Fuller, Prince Amukamara, Bryce Callahan, Cre’Von LeBlanc, Sherrick McManis, Doran Grant

The sixth corner spot is interchangeable. It all depends if the Bears want upside, if they want versatility, if they want a player that projects to nickle or outside, or if they want someone that could play safety in a pinch.

Safety (4) - Eddie Jackson, Adrian Amos, Deon Bush, DeAndre Houston-Carson

Deiondre’ Hall will start the season on the suspended list, but he only makes it back to the roster if the injury to Houston-Carson lands him on injured reserve.

Specialists (3) - Cody Parkey, Pat O’Donnell, Patrick Scales

Ryan Winslow and Tanner Carew would be cheaper than O’Donnell and Scales, but I don’t think they did enough to win the jobs.