Chicago Bears On The Hottest Seats Going Into Training Camp

Training camp is where the Chicago Bears start the process of getting their players ready for a long and grueling regular season. It’s also where head coach Matt Eberflus and his staff determine who makes the roster and who deserves a starting job. Certain players don’t have to worry about the latter. Justin Fields, D.J. Moore, Darnell Wright, Tremaine Edmunds, and Eddie Jackson are some obvious locks to start. The same can’t be said for other notable names on the roster.

We learned last year it’s never wise to assume anything with this new regime. Nobody saw Braxton Jones coming as the starting left tackle. Don’t think for a second Eberflus will hesitate demoting or cutting guys outright if he feels they don’t give the Bears the best chance to win. Here are guys who shouldn’t feel safe once camp begins in late July.

Plenty of notable Chicago Bears better not get comfortable.

Chase Claypool (WR)

The Bears traded a 2nd round pick to Pittsburgh for Claypool last October. It was easy to understand why. They badly needed help for Justin Fields at wide receiver. Claypool has size, speed, and a solid track record. Unfortunately, his first impression with the team didn’t go well. He missed multiple games with a knee injury and only made 14 catches for 140 yards. D.J. Moore and Darnell Mooney appear set as the top two options for Fields. Claypool has Velus Jones and now Tyler Scott breathing down his neck on the depth chart. It is the final season of his rookie contract. Chicago won’t give him an extension if he can’t answer the bell.

Justin Jones (DT)

Jones wasn’t the Bears’ first choice for the three-technique position last year. Still, he is who they ended up with. His 2022 performance wasn’t anything special, finishing with three sacks and seven QB hits. Yet defensive coordinator Alan Williams insists he remains the starter. That might be true for now, but the competition has increased several levels since last season. Gervon Dexter, Zacch Pickens, and Travis Bell arrived via the draft. DeMarcus Walker also came in as a free agent. All of them will be looking to earn playing time. All of them have the skill set to be a three-technique. Jones must bring his best in camp if he wants to keep that job.

Trevis Gipson (DE)

When talking about disappointments from last season, few loom larger than Gipson. He had seven sacks in 2021. He insisted the shift to defensive end from outside linebacker would yield even better results because it fits his style better. Instead, he finished with three sacks and only one over his final 15 games. That is not the performance needed from a player without direct ties to this new regime. Gipson was fortunate that the Chicago Bears didn’t make any big moves at edge rusher this off-season. Still, there is time. His place on the roster is already questionable. His job will be wide open for somebody else to take.

Jaylon Johnson (CB)

It might confuse some people to hear this. Yes, Johnson has been a solid cover corner for the Bears since he was drafted in 2020. Certain issues are working against him. He missed six games with an injury last year and two the year before. He only has one interception through three seasons and is in the final year of his contract. Last but not least, the Bears added not one but two cornerbacks in the draft in Tyrique Stevenson and Terell Smith. If Johnson can’t stay healthy or can’t produce more takeaways, the team likely won’t feel like giving him a lucrative extension. They now have the pieces necessary to survive the loss.

Cairo Santos (K)

Santos was terrific in 2021. While his field goal percentage was good again last year, he showed worrying issues with extra point attempts. Some of his misses came at really bad times, costing the Chicago Bears opportunities to win. This is why Poles added undrafted rookie Andre Szmyt. He had a strong career at Syracuse, demonstrating the kind of leg strength and clutch kicking a team loves to have. Santos can’t afford any hiccups in training camp or the preseason. This regime believes in competition they will give Szmyt every opportunity to take the job if Santos lets him.