Matt Eberflus on playing Bears starters vs. Browns: ‘We’ll see’

Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus was non-committal when he was asked Saturday whether he’d play Chicago’s starters in Week 3’s preseason finale against the Cleveland Browns.

“We’re still working through that,” he said. “We had one conversation so far about that, and .?.?. we’re not ready to make the proclamation of what’s going to happen in that game yet.”

Regardless of how much (or little) Bears coaches have spoken about the topic, it’d be a complete shock if players like Justin Fields and Darnell Mooney step onto the field Saturday night.

“I don’t know,” Eberflus said. “Maybe this way. Maybe that way. We’ll see.”

The final preseason game of the summer is usually reserved for guys on the roster bubble. Players who need one more chance to make a big impression on general manager Ryan Poles and the Chicago Bears front office. Guys like linebacker Jack Sanborn or wide receiver Isaiah Coulter. That’s who the third preseason game is for, not starters. The risk of injury is simply too high, even if running back David Montgomery said there’s some value in getting hit by another team.

“Just getting hit and actually getting tackled,” Montgomery said Sunday. “Seeing different looks. Getting the pace of the game — it’s completely different from practice.”

The Chicago Bears’ next round of roster cuts will come by Tuesday’s 4 p.m. EST (3 p.m CST) deadline. Poles has to trim the roster from 85 players to 80. The final 53-man roster is due on August 30.