The Chicago Bears open the 2020 regular season on Sept. 13 at the Detroit Lions. The Bears finished the 2019 regular season 8-8 and in third place in the NFC North. The Bears return 19 starters from that team as well as coach Matt Nagy and coordinators Chuck Pagano (defense) and Chris Tabor (special teams).
Here's a 53-man roster projection:
QUARTERBACK (2): Nick Foles, Mitchell Trubisky
The situation at quarterback is cut-and-dried. Either Foles or Trubisky is the starter. The other will be the backup. Veteran Tyler Bray is expected to be on the practice squad.
RUNNING BACKS (4): David Montgomery, Tarik Cohen, Cordarrelle Patterson, Ryan Nall
Montgomery is out with a groin injury, but should return in September. Patterson spent all of camp at running back, a position he's played sparingly throughout his NFL career. Nall is a versatile fourth running back/fullback who blocks well. Look for the Bears to also keep rookie Artavis Pierce on the practice squad.
WIDE RECEIVERS (6): Allen Robinson, Anthony Miller, Ted Ginn Jr., Riley Ridley, Javon Wims, Darnell Mooney
Fifth-round pick Mooney has looked good in camp. He is pushing hard for a spot on the 53, and could provide Chicago will more speed in the slot. The top of the depth chart is set, headlined by Robinson, who's also been slowed by an injury in camp.
TIGHT ENDS (4): Jimmy Graham, Cole Kmet, Demetrius Harris and J.P. Holtz
The Bears revamped their entire tight end position by signing Graham and Harris, drafting Kmet (second round out of Notre Dame) and releasing Trey Burton and Adam Shaheen. Holtz probably grabs a spot on the 53 because he's a jack-of-all trades tight end/H-Back.
OFFENSIVE LINE (8): Cody Whitehair, Charles Leno Jr., Bobby Massie, James Daniels, Germain Ifedi, Jason Spriggs, Rashaad Coward and Alex Bars
The offensive line has a lot to prove. The only new starter is Ifedi, who takes over at right guard for the retired Kyle Long. Spriggs suffered an injury in camp. The Bears also have to figure out what to do with seventh-round picks Arlington Hambright and Lachavious Simmons.
DEFENSIVE LINE (6): Akiem Hicks, Bilal Nichols, Roy Robertson-Harris, Brent Urban, Abdullah Anderson and John Jenkins
The Bears suffered a key loss when starting nose tackle Eddie Goldman opted out because of concerns related to COVID-19. Nichols, Robertson-Harris and Jenkins have all worked at nose in training camp. Hicks missed time with a quad injury. The Bears badly need Hicks to have a healthy and productive season after dealing with an elbow injury much of last year.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKER (5): Khalil Mack, Robert Quinn, Trevis Gipson, Isaiah Irving and Barkevious Mingo
A former NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Mack is looking for a bounce-back season after a mediocre 2019. Quinn -- guaranteed $30 million by Chicago this offseason -- participated in only individual drills for the majority of camp. The Bears believe Quinn is an upgrade over former first-round pick Leonard Floyd, who now plays for the Los Angeles Rams. James Vaughters is another proven linebacker in the mix.
INSIDE LINEBACKER (4): Danny Trevathan, Roquan Smith, Josh Woods and Joel Iyiegbuniwe
The Bears' depth at inside linebacker took a hit when Nick Kwiatkoski and Kevin Pierre-Louis departed in free agency.
CORNERBACK (6): Kyle Fuller, Jaylon Johnson, Buster Skrine, Kevin Toliver II, Duke Shelley and Stephen Denmark
The Bears placed veteran Artie Burns on injured reserve with a knee injury. They hope that Johnson, a second-round pick out of Utah, is ready to start by Week 1. Denmark and rookie fifth-rounder Kindle Vildor are both young cornerbacks the Bears would like to develop.
SAFETY (5): Eddie Jackson, Tashaun Gipson Sr., Deon Bush, Sherrick McManis and DeAndre Houston-Carson
Veteran Jordan Lucas also opted out due to COVID-19. McManis and Houston-Carson are valuable special teams contributors. The top three safeties are set with Jackson, Gipson Sr. and Bush.
SPECIALISTS (3): Eddy Pineiro, Pat O'Donnell and Patrick Scales
Pineiro gets the nod even though he battled a groin injury. The Bears likely will keep veteran Cairo Santos -- or another kicker to be named later -- on the practice squad for protection.