The Chicago Bears will officially set their roster for the start of the 2025 season on Tuesday, and several key decisions have been revealed.
Head coach Ben Johnson, speaking just hours before the deadline to establish the 53-man roster, was asked about the team’s quarterback spot, as well as left tackle and the health status of Pro Bowl cornerback Jaylon Johnson.
On Tuesday, Johnson revealed that quarterback Case Keenum will be on the team’s 53-man roster, meaning that the Bears will carry three quarterbacks to begin the season, along with Caleb Williams and Tyson Bagent.
“I feel strongly about that room, and really like the makeup, the chemistry, and the growth that we’ve seen over the course of the spring and in the summer so far,” he said.
Johnson was also asked about the status of Jaylon Johnson, who has not practiced during training camp after making the Pro Bowl each of the last two seasons.
He declined to say whether Johnson would be on the field against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 1, but he did confirm that the cornerback would be on the 53-man roster, indicating he will be activated from the Non-Football Injury list, a designation that would have cost him the first four games of the year.
“(Week 1) has been the target date, but we’ll see,” the coach said.
Johnson also addressed the competition to be the Bears’ starting left tackle, but declined to name a starter for the Week 1 game.
It remains likely that Braxton Jones will get the start protecting William’s blind side, though Ozzy Trapilo and Theo Benedet had both gotten opportunities at the spot during the preseason.
While the Bears have not yet begun announcing their final cuts, reports from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler indicated that they will release 2023 fourth-round draft pick Tyler Scott and third-round pick Zacch Pickens.
Scott has appeared in 28 games for the Bears, with 18 catches for 173 yards in those contests. He was primarily limited to special teams duty last year, getting just one reception one target. The Bears brought in several wide receivers this season, including second-round pick Luther Burden II, Devin Duvernay and Olamide Zaccheaus.
That trio, along with undrafted free agent Jahdae Walker, likely spelled the end of Scott’s tenure with the Bears.
Pickens started three games for the Bears last season, with one sack and 19 combined tackles in nine total games. He was dogged by a groin injury during the preseason, and potentially finds himself out of the mix for Dennis Allen’s defense.
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