3 non-rookie Chicago Bears to watch in Saturday’s preseason opener against the Cleveland Browns
The Chicago Bears kick off its preseason action on Saturday against the Cleveland Browns. We still don’t know which starters are expected to play and all eyes will obviously be on the rookies in the preseason. So, let’s break down three non-rookie players to watch not currently in starting positions.
The Chicago Bears kick off preseason action on Saturday against the Cleveland Browns, and the biggest question surrounding the game remains unanswered. Bears head coach Ben Johnson has yet to announce which starters will play, including quarterback Caleb Williams, who has expressed a desire to suit up.
It’s worth noting there is no joint practice scheduled ahead of this game, which is typically when starters receive the majority of their simulated game reps in lieu of preseason playing time. Chicago does have two joint practices on the schedule over the next two weeks leading into the matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals and Tennessee Titans.
The Bears held a heavy practice on Tuesday before taking Wednesday off, and they’ll be back on the field Thursday to prepare for Saturday’s game. With the starter situation still to be determined and everyone already eager to see the rookies, let’s shift the focus to three non-rookies you should watch who figure to see extended playing time on Saturday.
Jedrick Wills Jr. gets to face his former team with a starting job on the line
First up is offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr., who will be battling for the left tackle job in a game against the team that originally drafted him. The former Cleveland Browns first-round pick spent the last year outside the NFL rehabbing from a serious knee injury and trying to get back into form. Chicago brought him in on a one-year flyer to evaluate where he is physically, and the coaching staff has been cautious with what they’ve put on his plate throughout training camp.
Still, Wills has been impressing. He’s been rotating in with the first-team offense alongside Braxton Jones and Kiran Amegadjie and proving to be a viable option for the starting position. With Jones still dealing with a day-to-day injury he suffered last Thursday, Wills should be in line to start against his former team. It’ll be worth watching how he looks in a live game environment for the first time since Nov. 3, 2024.
“Jedrick is starting to slowly get back to what he was before, obviously dealing with a pretty significant knee injury,” GM Ryan Poles explained on Hoge and Jahns. “But, we’ve seen him get stronger, more explosive, and more consistent. His anchor is still there.”
Salvon Ahmed gets a chance to make his case for the RB3 role
The second player to watch is running back Salvon Ahmed, who has history with running backs coach Eric Studesville going back to their time in Miami. Ahmed looked good early in training camp when Kyle Monangai was sidelined, but the running game has been excellent across the board throughout camp. D’Andre Swift is locked in as the starter with Monangai serving as the RB2.
The big question in the backfield is who earns the RB3 spot on the 53-man roster if the Bears decide to keep three running backs. Ahmed has a case for the role, as does Roschon Johnson, and the two have been going back and forth throughout camp.
Ahmed is the more compelling name to watch. We know what Johnson can do after spending a couple of years in Chicago. What does Ahmed look like? He’s another player who suffered a major injury last year during training camp with the Indianapolis Colts. This will actually be his first NFL game action since Nov. 19, 2023 (even longer of a wait than Wills) and he should get plenty of opportunities in this one.
Kaden Davis has a chance to prove himself even more to the coaching staff
The last player to watch is wide receiver Kaden Davis, who has been standing out in practice making highlight plays and highlight catches with the first-team, second-team, and third-team offense. He’s building a strong repertoire with all three quarterbacks.
Everyone will talk about Jahdae Walker as a player to watch given his chemistry with quarterback Tyson Bagent, and he should be fun to watch if the starters are sitting. But Davis is the one to monitor that will actually see extended playing time. He’s been a preseason standout in the past, and even made some highlight plays last preseason with the Browns.
Even if Davis doesn’t crack the initial 53-man roster, which is still possible if the Bears keep six receivers, he could prove himself as a practice squad player the staff trusts. If injuries happen at the wide receiver position during the year, Davis could be a guy Chicago calls up knowing he can deliver. Saturday’s game is his opportunity to prove that.
