The Chicago Bears will treat their third and final preseason game of 2022 against the Cleveland Browns on Saturday as a dress rehearsal for Week 1. As a result, players on the Bears' roster bubble will have fewer opportunities to make a lasting impression on general manager Ryan Poles and coach Matt Eberflus.
It's fair to say that most of the Bears' starting jobs are locked up at this point. The offensive line is settling into Larry Borom at right tackle and Teven Jenkins at right guard, which, by the way, is pretty surprising considering the signings of Riley Reiff and Michael Schofield on the eve of training camp. Don't be surprised if one of those veteran linemen are let go.
The pecking order at wide receiver is pretty obvious with Darnell Mooney, Byron Pringle, Velus Jones Jr., and Equanimeous St. Brown leading the way.
Rookie defensive backs Kyler Gordon (cornerback) and Jaquan Brisker (safety) should begin the year as starters, with Brisker's status dependent on his health.
Still, there are plenty of back-of-the-roster spots up for grabs. Here are four Chicago Bears players who need a strong outing against the Cleveland Browns to solidify their position on the active roster.
WR Dante Pettis
Pettis' opportunity to make plays this summer has been limited, but he should see a lot of playing time against the Browns with all of Chicago's injuries at wide receiver. Velus Jones Jr., Byron Pringle, N’Keal Harry and Tajae Sharpe won't play.
Pettis was once viewed as a gifted playmaker and legitimate NFL starter. He's failed to live up to the hype he created during his rookie season in 2018 and is now at a career crossroads. He'll either rise to the occasion on Saturday or leave Chicago with little hope to resurrect his pro career.
LB Jack Sanborn
If I were a betting man, I'd wager heavily on Sanborn making the final roster. He's been the best player on Chicago's defense over two preseason games. He's also been a force on special teams. Sanborn has become 2022's training camp breakout star, and he's playing like a guy who has a legit future as a starter on defense. Still, nothing is guaranteed. If he looks overmatched against the Browns, he could be destined for a practice squad gig.
DL Trevon Coley
Coley, like Sanborn, has been a standout in the preseason. He has a history of production in the NFL but hasn't played much football over the last two years. Coley was a late addition to the Bears' roster and will need another splash play or two to secure a final roster spot. He leads all Chicago Bears defenders with three sacks this summer and has been hard to miss as a disruptive player when his number's been called. I like his chances to be in a Bears uniform in Week 1; he just needs to seal the deal on Saturday.
RB Darrynton Evans
Evans, a former third-round pick of the 2020 NFL Draft (Tennessee Titans), is a talented running back with home-run hitting ability. But his preseason performance has been average at best with 15 carries for 59 yards. With David Montgomery and Khalil Herbert locked into the primary running back roles, Evans is in an active-roster battle with rookie Trestan Ebner, who despite being banged up has looked more impressive so far. If Evans doesn't snap off a few chunk plays, he'll be moving on.