Don’t tell almost half the players on the Chicago Bears roster that the preseason finale doesn’t matter. For many, it represented their last chance to stay on the team. Or at the very least have a shot with somebody else if they’re cut. Before the game, Director of Player Personnel Josh Lucas openly said 4-6 spots could still be determined by what happened on the field that night in Nashville.
It appears a number of players took that challenge to heart. In a 27-24 win for the Bears, a few particular names stood out in a positive way. Guys that at one point were considered long shots to make the final 53 but may have forced coaches to reconsider after the way they performed in this game.
Was it enough? It is quite possible.
These Chicago Bears may have saved their jobs in Tennessee
Jesper Horsted
The preseason hero of 2019 returned to claim his crown in 2021. Horsted has a flair for the dramatic that followed him from college. Sure enough, he was at it again in this game. First came a huge touchdown catch from Justin Fields near the end of the first half. One where he twisted his body around to make a tough grab. Then he capped things off in the 4th quarter with a ridiculous one-handed grab that he took 55 yards for another touchdown. Horsted finished the evening with 104 yards and three touchdowns. He caught every pass thrown in his direction. It isn’t certain if the Bears will carry four tight ends. If they do, that fourth spot is undeniably his.
Tre Roberson
He had some nice moments against Miami in Week 1 but kind of disappeared last week against Buffalo. Not this time. Roberson had probably the best two-play defensive sequence of the night. First was when he blew up a wide receiver screen for a loss of yardage. He read the play perfectly and made a strong tackle without help. Then on the next snap, Titans QB Logan Woodside was heavily pressured, throwing a poor pass that went right into Roberson’s arms. The cornerback then returned it for a pick-six. The Bears’ first points of the game. Considering how poorly other corners were in this game like Artie Burns, Duke Shelley, and Thomas Graham Jr.? Roberson has a serious shot to make it.
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Joel Iyiegbuniwe
Things were looking bleak for Iyiegbuniwe when Alec Ogletree arrived a few weeks ago. The veteran dominated from the outset and locked up one of the top four inside linebacker spots. Along with Christian Jones, it seemed like the Bears had their guys set. However, that doesn’t seem to be the case. Jones struggled a lot against Buffalo and again in Tennessee. At the same time, Iyiegbuniwe had a great night. He made two big tackles for minimal gains, both of them hard stuffs. Then he made a great play in coverage to prevent a touchdown. Combined with his continued value on special teams, it appears he may have saved himself. It will be interesting to see how many inside linebackers the Chicago Bears carry.
Rodney Adams
After two solid outings in the preseason, all Adams had to do was not completely blow it. He didn’t. While his three catches for 15 yards won’t look like much, he continued to show his ability to get open. He’d have had better numbers if one of the catches had counted when it was overturned because he was narrowly out of bounds. The guy earned his way onto the roster and there really isn’t anybody else who did much to challenge him. Not Riley Ridley, not Chris Lacy, and not Jon’Vea Johnson. Unless the Bears decide to go after somebody else of note, he should stay in navy blue when the dust settles.
