Four Bears on roster bubble as preseason opener vs. Titans arrives originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
Last season was a prove-yourself season for everyone on the Bears’ roster. General manager Ryan Poles arrived and immediately stripped the roster down to the studs to begin a lengthy rebuild.
Almost every member of the 2022 Bears spent last season playing for their job, hoping to prove to Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus that they could be part of the long-term solution in Chicago.
Things are different this August.
Poles injected talent into the roster this offseason, forcing some notable names from last season’s 3-14 team down the depth chart.
As a result, a few notable Bears appear to be squarely on the roster bubble entering Saturday’s preseason opener against the Tennessee Titans at Soldier Field.
TREVIS GIPSON, DE
When the Bears traded Robert Quinn midway through last season, the company line was that Gipson could step up and fill the No. 1 pass rusher hole vacated by Quinn.
That didn’t happen.
Gipson finished the season with just three sacks and only 30 total pressures.
He entered training camp as the expected No. 2 edge rusher opposite free-agent acquisition DeMarcus Walker.
But that’s not how things have played out in camp.
Gipson opened camp running with the second-team defense as Rasheem Green got the nod opposite Walker. When Walker left the first padded practice with an injury, Gipson seemed like the likely candidate to take his first-team reps.
Once again, that was not the case.
Dominique Robinson has gobbled up most of the first-team reps in Walker’s absence, with Terrell Lewis also getting a small share.
Add in the signing of Yannick Ngakoue, and it appears Gipson will need an excellent preseason to secure a roster spot.
The Tulsa product has had some nice moments in camp, but he enters the first preseason game in the DE 5/6 category. The Bears could keep all six edge rushers, but there’s a good chance it comes down to Gipson or Lewis.
KINDLE VILDOR,…
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