The Chicago Bears’ schedule pretty much leaked before the official announcement. It will be packed with primetime and holiday games, with many of their toughest matchups in the first half. That said, they get a bye week right in the middle of the season, have one of the shortest travel schedules in the league, and host two of the final three divisional games to end the season. Nobody can say they’ve been treated unfairly. What wasn’t known was how their preseason would shape up this year.
Even though the games don’t matter on the scoreboard, they always serve as great proving grounds for competition and offer a taste of where the team’s preparation is at. This year will offer an interesting slate. The Bears will open the action at home against the Cleveland Browns. Their team just gutted its coaching staff and has questions at quarterback. Then it’s a visit to Cincinnati, where the defense will get to test its mettle against Joe Burrow and that loaded Bengals offense. Lastly, they’ll head to Tennessee for their first look at former #1 pick Cam Ward.
The Chicago Bears will have an overlooked opportunity.
Keep in mind that two of those teams, the Browns and Titans, just changed coaching staffs. That means there is a considerable chance that they might end up making some unexpected cuts before the season in September. By playing against them in the preseason, the Bears will have an opportunity for a close-up look at some of the players they choose to unload. It makes for a great way to pounce on any waiver wire options to help shore up the bottom of their roster going into the season.
We’ll also see where the defense is in its rebuilding. Cincinnati torched them last year for 42 points. Even if it’s just for one quarter, seeing them take on that loaded passing attack will tell a lot about their overall progress as a unit. Has the speed upgrade truly helped, or do the problems run deeper? Last but not least, we’ll see how Caleb Williams is progressing in year two of this offense. The Bears won’t call many creative plays, but it will be interesting to see if there’s any progress in his pocket management.
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There are also several position battles to settle.
It starts at left tackle. Braxton Jones and Jedrick Wills are considered the two favorites to step in for the injured Ozzy Trapilo this season. A wide open competition was declared from the start, and both young men have starting experience. It will come down to who’s healthier and who puts together a more consistent training camp. This could boil down to how they perform in the preseason, where brief matchups against Myles Garrett and Boye Mafe will help clarify things for the coaches.
You’ll also have Tyrique Stevenson vs. Malik Muhammad at cornerback, D’Marco Jackson vs. Jack Sanborn and Keyshaun Elliott at middle linebacker, Garrett Bradbury vs. Logan Jones at center, and Kalif Raymond vs. Zion Young at returner. These are some really important spots the Chicago Bears need to figure out. The coaches haven’t been shy about carrying things all the way through the preseason. It’s possible that it will be the case again.
