CHICAGO -- The Chicago Bears open the 2021 NFL regular season at the Los Angeles Rams on Sept. 12 at SoFI Stadium. The Bears finished 8-8 in 2020, second in the NFC North, before losing to the New Orleans Saints in the wild-card round.
Most of the Bears' training camp focus centered on the quarterback battle between Andy Dalton and Justin Fields, but Chicago has legitimate roster battles at cornerback and wide receiver that carry great significance.
The roster will be cut to 53 players by 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday. Here is a projection:
QUARTERBACK (3): Andy Dalton, Justin Fields, Nick Foles
The Bears are committed to Dalton as their Week 1 starter. Fields is the future. Foles is around unless another team trades for him.
RUNNING BACK (4): David Montgomery, Damien Williams, Khalil Herbert, Ryan Nall
Tarik Cohen has yet to practice as he stills recovers from a torn ACL, and therefore cannot be expected to open the year on the 53. I have Nall with the slight edge over Artavis Pierce.
WIDE RECEIVER (6): Allen Robinson II, Darnell Mooney, Marquise Goodwin, Rodney Adams, Damiere Byrd, Dazz Newsome
Adams made a ton of big plays in the preseason. Javon Wims (already released) and Riley Ridley have not. Newsome is a promising rookie who likely sticks.
TIGHT END (3): Jimmy Graham, Cole Kmet, Jesse James
The top three at tight end are set. Jesper Horsted, who had a very good camp, should be kept around in some capacity.
OFFENSIVE LINE (9): Cody Whitehair, James Daniels, Sam Mustipher, Jason Peters, Lachavious Simmons, Germain Ifedi, Larry Borom, Elijah Wilkinson, Alex Bars
Second-round pick Teven Jenkins is currently unavailable because of back surgery. Peters is a lock to make the team after he signed late in the preseason.
DEFENSIVE TACKLE (6): Akiem Hicks, Eddie Goldman, Bilal Nichols, Mario Edwards Jr., Angelo Blackson, Khyiris Tonga
Goldman had a very suspect training camp. The nose tackle missed time due to a back injury and was on the Reserve/COVID-19 list.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKER (4): Khalil Mack, Robert Quinn, Jeremiah Attaochu, Trevis Gipson
The Bears desperately need Quinn to have a bounce-back season. Mack remains among the game's best pass-rushers.
INSIDE LINEBACKER (5): Roquan Smith, Danny Trevathan, Christian Jones, Alec Ogletree, Joel Iyiegbuniwe
Ogletree had a terrific camp and therefore earned a spot. It's only a matter of time before Smith receives a long-term extension.
CORNERBACK (5): Jaylon Johnson, Kindle Vildor, Artie Burns, Xavier Crawford, Thomas Graham Jr.
Crawford and Graham both had impactful preseasons. Veteran Desmond Trufant failed to make a lasting impression.
SAFETY (5): Eddie Jackson, Tashaun Gipson Sr., Deon Bush, DeAndre Houston-Carson, Marqui Christian.
Bush and Houston-Carson are veteran backups/special-teamers with whom the Bears are very familiar.
SPECIALISTS (3): Cairo Santos, Pat O'Donnell, Patrick Scales
Backup kicker Brian Johnson had a great camp, but the job belongs to Santos. O'Donnell and Scales are mainstays.