(670 The Score) Just two weeks removed from taking the practice field for the first time this year, the Bears are wrapping up their preseason work and readying for the regular season.
The unique format this offseason and preseason has meant less opportunity for roster evaluation -- and more difficult decisions on cuts.
By Saturday at 3 p.m. CT, the Bears and the other 31 NFL teams must cut their rosters from the preseason 80-man limit down to 53. Executives and coaches often call these decisions the most difficult aspect of their jobs, and that will especially be the case this year.
Here's my projection of how the Bears' 53-man roster could look come Saturday. (Note: NFL practice squads expanded from 10 to 16 players this season.)
Quarterback (2): Mitchell Trubisky, Nick Foles
Practice squad: Tyler Bray
Prediction: When the Bears open their season on Sept. 13, it will be Foles leading the team's offense.
Running back (4): David Montgomery, Tarik Cohen, Cordarrelle Patterson, Ryan Nall
Practice squad: Artavis Pierce, Napoleon Maxwell
Prediction: Patterson will play a key role at running back, with Nagy determined to better utilize his talents in the offense.
Receiver (6): Allen Robinson, Anthony Miller, Ted Ginn Jr., Riley Ridley, Javon Wims, Darnell Mooney
Practice squad: Thomas Ives, Reggie Davis
Prediction: The Bears have two emerging players here in Ridley and Wims, both of whom could overtake Miller in targets this season.
Tight end (5): Jimmy Graham, Cole Kmet, Demetrius Harris, Eric Saubert, J.P. Holtz
Practice squad: Jesper Horsted
Prediction: After the Bears received anemic production from their tight ends in 2019, this may well be the team's best position group.
Offensive line (8): Charles Leno, James Daniels, Cody Whitehair, Germain Ifedi, Bobby Massie, Alex Bars, Jason Spriggs, Rashaad Coward, Corey Levin
Practice squad: Rashaad Coward, Arlington Hambright, Lachavious Simmons
Prediction: After a disappointing 2019 season, Bears offensive line starters will be benched this season if they don't perform up to par again.
Defensive line (6): Akiem Hicks, Bilal Nichols, Roy Robertson-Harris, Brent Urban, John Jenkins, Abduallah Anderson
Prediction: After impressing in his first two NFL seasons, Nichols makes a big jump this year.
Outside linebackers (5): Khalil Mack, Robert Quinn, Barkevious Mingo, Isaiah Irving, Trevis Gipson
Practice squad: James Vaughters, Ledarius Mack
Prediction: By the end of the season, the rookie Gipson will be playing a key role in the Bears' edge rusher rotation. He should benefit in learning from Mack and Quinn.
Inside linebacker (4): Danny Trevathan, Roquan Smith, Joel Iyiegbuniwe, Josh Woods
Practice squad: Keandre Jones, Rashad Smith
Prediction: Smith earns Pro Bowl recognition for his play this season.
Cornerback (5): Kyle Fuller, Buster Skrine, Jaylon Johnson, Kevin Toliver, Duke Shelley
Practice squad: Kindle Vildor, Stephen Denmark
Prediction: The rookie Johnson is the Bears' starter opposite of Fuller for the season opener -- and many more games beyond that.
Safety (5): Eddie Jackson, Deon Bush, Tashaun Gipson, DeAndre Houston-Carson, Sherrick McManis
Reserve/suspended: Marqui Christian
Prediction: The Bears signed Gipson in May to be the starter, but it could be Bush lining up alongside Jackson this season.
Special teams (3): K Eddy Pineiro, P Pat O'Donnell, LS Patrick Scales
Practice squad: K Cairo Santos
Prediction: If Pineiro (groin) isn't back kicking with the Bears by the end of this week, Santos will be the kicker for the season opener.
Practice Squad (16): QB Tyler Bray, RB Artavis Pierce, RB Napoleon Maxwell, WR Thomas Ives, WR Reggie Davis, TE Jesper Horsted, OL Rashaad Coward, OL Arlington Hambright, OL Lachavious Simmons, OLB James Vaughters, OLB Ledarius Mack, ILB Keandre Jones, ILB Rashad Smith, CB Kindle Vildor, CB Stephen Denmark, K Cairo Santos
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago's sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.
