The Chicago Bears are now 1-1 this preseason after defeating the Tennessee Titans and falling to the Indianapolis Colts. 

We've learned quite a bit about this team in just two weeks. Several starting spots have seemingly been claimed, while a few players have played their way out of a job. 

However, there are a few burning questions that we still don't have answers to. 

Who will secure the QB2 role?

Going by preseason play alone, PJ Walker has not played well enough to secure the backup job. Veteran Nathan Peterman and UDFA rookie Tyson Bagent have both outperformed Walker. 

Walker was expected to earn the job easily after getting $2M in guarantees and having starting experience. However, Peterman and Bagent have both impressed this preseason and seem likely to get jobs somewhere if not in Chicago. 

Bagent may be playing himself onto the roster. Against the Colts, Bagent was nearly perfect, completing 9/10 passes for 76 yards and a 98.3 rating. Peterman was also impressive, completing 10/18 passes for 115 yards and a touchdown. 

Walker, on the other hand, struggled mightily in limited snaps. The veteran completed just one pass for six yards and was sacked twice. This marks the second game in a row that Walker has been outplayed by his competition. This battle will likely come down to the last snap of the preseason. 

Can Roschon Johnson win the RB1 job outright?

The Bears have a three-headed monster at RB featuring Khalil Herbert, D’Onta Foreman, and the rookie Johnson. Herbert has been considered the leader so far, but Johnson could be making it a contest. 

Johnson has received the most work of the three this preseason and has looked solid. Against the Colts, Johnson took seven carries for 32 yards. The rookie also caught a pass for 11 yards and held his own as a pass blocker. 

While all three guys will likely see plenty of snaps, Johnson clearly has the highest ceiling. Can he show enough to become the main back by Week 1? I wouldn't be surprised, especially if he shows he can be a receiving threat as well.

Can Tyrique Stevenson hold on to the starting role?

Stevenson started off on fire, becoming the talk of camp earlier this summer. The rookie was thought to be the leading contender for the CB2 role opposite Jaylon Johnson. 

That may still be the case, but Terrell Smith has been giving Stevenson a run for his money. What was interesting about the Colts game is that Smith played significantly fewer snaps than his counterparts. This could signify that the coaching staff has seen enough from the rookie to feel confident. 

Stevenson, meanwhile, played almost half of all defensive snaps and didn't look great. Against the Titans, Stevenson gave up a 30-yard completion and dropped an INT. Against the Colts, Stevenson committed an obvious penalty by throwing Kenyan Drake to the ground out of bounds.

Stevenson has the highest ceiling, but he may not win the job immediately. The CB2 competition is still wide-open. 

4 winners and 3 losers for the Bears after second preseason game

Pointing out who impressed and who disappointed during the Bears’ loss to the Colts.

Featured image via © Jamie Sabau | 2023 Aug 12