The final Chicago Bears 53-man roster was what most people expected on Tuesday. However, there were a few quirks. For one, they’re carrying three quarterbacks. That isn’t the usual procedure in previous years. They’ve also gone heavy on the offensive line with ten bodies. Otherwise, there were no shocking names cut. However, there was something that stood out. More precisely, it was the moves they didn’t make. That was the running back position. The only three listed were D’Andre Swift, Roschon Johnson, and Kyle Monangai. The latter two have been out with injuries for the past two weeks. Travis Homer just went on IR as well. People have wondered if this meant a move might be coming. GM Ryan Poles finally provided an answer.

In short, the answer is yes. While the team remains unconcerned with the overall health prospects of Johnson and Monangai, he admitted the running back configuration should look considerably different as the team shifts toward preparations for Minnesota.

Ryan Poles is never one to play the misdirection game.

When he says something, you can take it on reasonable faith that it’s genuine. If he says the Bears are planning some adjustments at running back, it is true. After all, the team unloaded every other option on the roster. Ian Wheeler, Brittain Brown, and Royce Freeman were cut. That means all three didn’t meet the standards head coach Ben Johnson was looking for, or somebody else became available that the team has an eye on. The Bears hold the 10th overall spot in the waiver wire pick order. Ryan Poles has been active on it in the past. He may also be working the phones for a possible trade. Everything depends on timing, who’s available, and luck. There will likely be answers within the next 48 hours as waivers come down. Poles stated the scouts and coaches would hunker down inside Halas Hall until then.

When training camp began in July, the Chicago Bears had a three-man race planned for left tackle. It would be Braxton Jones against two recent draft picks: Kiran Amegadjie and Ozzy Trapilo. Amegadjie never had much chance last season as he missed camp with a quad injury. This was his chance to show everybody why the team took a chance on him in the 3rd round. Unfortunately, another injury tripped him up as he built some steam. By the time he returned, the landscape had changed.

Trapilo moved back to right tackle, and Theo Benedet had become the primary competition for Jones. Amegadjie returned to practice, but any momentum he had was gone. It got to a point where some wondered if the Bears might cut him. They didn’t. Still, nobody was sure what his purpose would be on the roster since Trapilo looked like the favorite for the swing tackle spot. GM Ryan Poles provided an answer to that question on Tuesday, and it wasn’t the one many people expected.

Moving Kiran Amegadjie inside says a lot about how coaches view him.

While a tremendous athlete for his size, there were frequent instances where he struggled with handling speed on the edge. Ben Johnson and his staff may feel that keeping him at tackle exposes too many weaknesses. On the other hand, Kiran Amegadjie has great size and lots of power. Those can be big assets on the interior. Poles insists the decision is more about getting the young blocker to expand his versatility. In reality, it is the best way for the Bears to hide his faults. He’ll be more useful at guard until he improves his footwork and hand techniques. Getting to work with Joe Thuney will be a blessing. There is nobody more polished and dependable in the NFL.

One thing is clear. The Bears’ tackle preferences have significantly shifted since Johnson arrived. Whatever Amegadjie had to offer wasn’t good enough.

The Chicago Bears revealed the final 53-man roster at 3:00 CST. There were some fun revelations. After his stellar showing in Kansas City, preseason hero Jahdae Walker made the team. Ben Johnson has elected to carry ten offensive linemen into the season, perhaps still unsatisfied with the left tackle situation. They’re also going with five defensive tackles, which is one more than last season. However, the most notable development came at the running back position. Chicago is going with three names: D’Andre Swift, Roschon Johnson, and Kyle Monangai.

There are a few issues with that. Last year, the Bears carried four running backs. Travis Homer, their special teams ace, just went on Injured Reserve. On top of that, both Johnson and Monangai have missed significant time with injuries. Yet the team still decided to cut guys like Ian Wheeler, Royce Freeman, and Brittain Brown. That suggests Johnson and GM Ryan Poles are planning to make a move at running back over the next couple of days. Chicago is 10th in the waiver wire picking order and may also have opportunities on the trade market.

The Chicago Bears should have some interesting options.

Running backs are probably among the more fruitful position groups on the waiver wire this time of year. It is all about finding the right fit, not necessarily the biggest name. This is where the Bears having Eric Bieniemy as their running backs coach is such a bonus. He’s always had a sharp eye for the position, having played it in his youth and coached it for years. He helped Kansas City land hidden gems like Kareem Hunt, Damien Williams, and Isaiah Pacheco. His experienced eye should help Johnson find somebody who can be a quality contributor for the Chicago Bears. Much depends on whether another team decides to claim somebody they want. That is where not having a higher spot in the pick order can be tough. Answers should be coming in the next 24-48 hours.

A new coaching staff always leads to different decisions regarding the construction of a roster. Ben Johnson is getting his first taste of that as the Chicago Bears whittle down theirs to 53 in preparation for the season. Many guys have been released already. One area fans have remained curious about is quarterback. Caleb Williams is the starter. After signing his extension, Tyson Bagent is the backup. It was unclear whether the Bears planned to carry two or three quarterbacks on the main roster.

Johnson provided that answer on Tuesday. He confirmed the team will carry three, ensuring veteran Case Keenum stays with the team for the upcoming season. This is a departure from standard procedure for the Bears. Typically, they’ve carried two quarterbacks on the main roster while stashing a third on the practice squad. Johnson believes Keenum has too much value to do that. The veteran is an excellent locker room presence and sounding board for Williams. Having him on the sideline will be a huge benefit.

Ben Johnson doesn’t seem concerned about thinning other areas.

The primary reason teams usually carry just two quarterbacks is so that they can use that extra roster spot elsewhere. They can retain an extra offensive lineman, pass rusher, or defensive back. Considering the attrition at those positions, it makes sense. Still, Ben Johnson understands that strength at quarterback is more important than anything. Having two quality backups behind Williams, one of which went to an NFC championship game, can’t be understated. Now, even if injuries slam Chicago, they have a much better chance of surviving them to remain competitive. Most teams never get a chance like this. Letting it slip away only to retain an extra blocker, rusher, or special teams player makes little sense.

Matt Eberflus had everything in front of him. The Chicago Bears were 3-2 going into the bye week, including three wins in a row. They’d just come from behind on the road to take the lead with seconds remaining in Washington. All they needed was not to allow a touchdown, and they’d be rolling towards a potential playoff berth. Everybody remembers what happened from there. Some inexplicable defensive calls by Eberflus, capped by allowing a free 13-yard completion on the second-to-last play, allowed Washington to execute a Hail Mary touchdown.

Chicago spiraled to 10 straight losses while the Commanders rode that momentum to the NFC championship game. People have wondered when Eberflus lost the locker room. Most point to that sequence against Washington. However, one NFL executive thinks it was actually after it. Losing that way is brutal. Yet some head coaches have survived such setbacks because of how they handled the aftermath. Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune was told that Eberflus’s lack of reaction to it in the post-game press conference was the breaking point for Bears players.

His unwillingness to take or demand accountability would never change.

One league source who monitored the commotion from a distance quickly came to understand why players lost faith in Eberflus’ direction from that point forward.

“These dudes have their phones in their hands before they even get in the shower,” the source said. “So what you say (publicly) matters. And that’s not to say you always have to tell the full truth. But you don’t have to lie.

“Because you have to be fully honest about what everyone saw with their own eyes on Sunday. Please don’t try to convince me to not believe my lying eyes.”

Matt Eberflus clearly recognized his mistake, too.

He backtracked at his next press conference later that week by insisting he made mistakes in that game. It was too little, too late. Chicago came out lifeless in the next two games, getting blasted by New England and Arizona. A blocked field goal against Green Bay, an overtime loss to Minnesota, and the timeout fiasco in Detroit were the final killing blows after that. Matt Eberflus became the only head coach in Bears history to get fired midseason. Whatever you may feel about the guy, it was earned. So many things that went wrong for the team last season can be traced to his decisions, be it the poor game management, the tone-deaf press conferences, and the horrible offensive coordinator hires. He has nobody to blame but himself.

The Chicago Bears are less than two weeks away from their home opener against the Minnesota Vikings. With that in mind, it’s fair to wonder if the team might look to bolster its pass rush. So far, it has looked underwhelming throughout training camp and the preseason. Yes, the regular season is what ultimately matters, but it’s still concerning considering many expected this group to show more progress by now.

One name that could (and should) be on the Bears radar is veteran edge rusher Za’Darius Smith. He spent last season with the Cleveland Browns and Detroit Lions, giving him some familiarity with head coach Ben Johnson. Smith remains productive, posting 67 total pressures and 10 sacks in 2024, per PFF. Even at 32 years old, he’s proven he still has plenty left in the tank.

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, free agency activity has begun to pick up this week, and Smith is one of the top names drawing interest. Fowler noted that multiple contending teams have already checked in on him as he continues training while waiting for the right situation. That raises the possibility of the Bears making a move if GM Ryan Poles sees value in adding him and Smith shares mutual interest. Bringing in a proven pass rusher like Smith could significantly raise the floor of Chicago’s defensive line heading into 2025.

Insider Believes Chicago Bears Have Some Roster Changes Planned

Chicago Bears fans who’ve followed the team for the past decade will know the name Eric Kendricks. From 2015 to 2022, the All-Pro linebacker was a massive thorn in their side as a member of the Minnesota Vikings. While physically gifted in many ways, Kendricks was best known for his outstanding intelligence. He was the brains of the Vikings’ defense, always getting them in the proper alignments. There was nobody who caught him off guard in that respect.

Well, almost nobody.

Kendricks appeared on Good Morning Football for NFL Network and admitted that one person haunted his dreams as a player: Ben Johnson. In the past three years, the linebacker has faced the new Chicago Bears head coach four times. Each experience was worse than the previous. Kendricks managed to keep it to just 24 points in the first meeting. In the second, Johnson hung 34 on the Vikings. When the linebacker joined the Chargers a year later, Detroit put up 41 on them. Kendrick moved again last season to Dallas. The Lions crushed them 47-9. One can understand why he hates Johnson and isn’t happy he’s running the Bears.

Eric Kendricks is an opinion you can trust.

Few players understand football at a fundamental level like he does. If he tells you a coach is uniquely gifted at making life hell for a defense, you’d better listen. One thing he said that stuck out was Johnson’s ability to adjust quickly. Most coaches usually enact adjustments on offense during halftime. Johnson can do it between quarters and even between drives. That showcases an ability to diagnose what a defense is doing and craft countermeasures on the fly. Things like that can give defenders nightmares because it forces them to think. Once you get a defense thinking, you’ve already won half the battle. Eric Kendricks can take solace in one thing. Since he’s still a free agent, he won’t have to worry about facing Johnson again this year. His former team won’t be so lucky.