Bears finalize initial 53-man roster, cut LB Jack Sanborn, WR Kaden Davis: reactions

What you see today when it comes to the Bears ' 53-man roster will be different as soon as tomorrow. And it will change again.

Things are always fluid with the construction of NFL rosters – especially when you're a young team like the Bears with a coaching staff entering its second season together.

With that said, there's still plenty you can glean from the team's initial 53-man roster for the 2026 season, whether it's certain strengths, glaring weaknesses or surprise decisions.

Caleb Williams, Tyson Bagent, Case Keenum

Adam Jahns: The Bears have one of the best young starters in the league, one of the best young backups in the league and one of the most experienced mentors in the league. Not bad at all. The Bears used to dream about QB rooms like they have right now under head coach Ben Johnson .

Mark Carman: One year ago things were "fra-gee-lay" between Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams behind the scenes. Now they are on the same track, being supported by Tyson Bagent, who many, including Ben Johnson, believe should be a starter in the league. Keeping Case Keenum around for his mentorship was a solid choice as well.

Greg Braggs Jr.: The starter is on the cover of Madden, Ben Johnson thinks the backup is a top-32 QB in the league and the third-string is better than the Vikings' starter. QB coach J.T. Barrett is probably better than half the QBs in my lifetime. What a room.

D'Andre Swift, Kyle Monangai, Roschon Johnson

Jahns: With a roster spot to secure, Johnson had arguably the best outing of his career against the Titans: 46 offensive snaps, 15 carries, 52 yards, a touchdown, two catches, 11 yards. He also excelled in pass protection. Rookie receiver Zavion Thomas doesn't get to show his speed on his 97-yard touchdown catch without Johnson sliding over to pick up a blitzer.

Patrick Norton : Johnson making the roster shouldn't come as a shock to anybody. He's a valuable special-teamer and well-liked within the locker room despite his lacking offensive contributions. Don't be surprised to see Salvon Ahmed brought back to the practice squad. He could get some action with a game-day elevation to the active roster if Kyle Monangai is unable to go in Week 1 after hyperextending his knee earlier in the preseason.

Carman: One of the key question marks the Bears have entering the season is the health of Monangai. There is a significant drop-off between Monangai and Johnson. Ben Johnson might have to rely on D'Andre Swift a little more than he would like in the early going. Swift has looked up to the task, primed for perhaps his best season yet vying for a new contract.

Braggs: If Colston Loveland didn't exist, D'Andre Swift would probably be the Camp MVP this year. He has looked really good. I would give my life for Kyle Monangai. But Roschon Johnson making this team surprised me. Was not expecting that. Hey, if you live up to the challenge put by Ben, that's all right by me.

Rome Odunze, Luther Burden III, Kalif Raymond, Zavion Thomas, Jahdae Walker

Adam Hoge: This is the most talent the Bears have had at wide receiver since the Brandon Marshall-Alshon Jeffery days, and this group probably has a higher overall ceiling. But it is a young group, so the continued development of Odunze, Burden, Thomas and Walker throughout the season will be interesting to watch. Raymond already has had a big impact as the veteran in the room, but how many catches will he actually have in the regular season?

Norton : It's not worth acting surprised for a few hours that Kaden Davis didn't make the initial roster. The shock would come if he isn't invited back to the practice squad — or even the active roster once safety Coby Bryant is placed on injured reserve.

Carman: Who will step up and take the No. 1 receiver spot? The gambling markets are betting on Burden, as is Burden, who is his usual confident self. Thomas had a stellar end to the preseason and Walker is likely to make a jump as well. Can Odunze stay healthy and be the guy the Bears drafted him to be?

Braggs: Burden is in for a monster year. But if anybody's selling stock on Odunze, I'll buy it. Raymond may end up being the most crucial pickup of the entire offseason if the clear mentorship he's shown this summer pays off the way I think it will. Walker continues to intrigue me with star potential. The dude is a psycho.

Colston Loveland, Cole Kmet, Sam Roush, Hayden Large

Norton : Hayden Large was one of the UDFAs that ALLCITY draft expert Fran Duffy considered a challenger for the initial roster back in April. Versatile as a blocking threat out of the backfield, he's a piece Ben Johnson should enjoy deploying.

Carman: The biggest sure thing on the roster is this room. Loveland becoming the best tight end in football is on the table. He will get a chance to do it as Caleb seems more comfortable with him than anyone else. Roush is not ready yet, but it seems like he will contribute. Kmet is Mr. Reliable and deserves to play on a winner as much as anyone in the Bears locker room.

Braggs: Colston Loveland has a chance to be one of the best players in the NFL. End scene.

Tackles: Darnell Wright, Braxton Jones, Theo Benedet, Ozzy Trapilo

Interior: Joe Thuney, Jonah Jackson, Garrett Bradbury, Logan Jones, Luke Newman, Jordan McFadden

Hoge : The bad news is that the Bears' wide-open left tackle competition didn't really work, but the good news is that Jones – once again the winner by default – is healthier than he was a year ago when he struggled to get through full games. The even better news is that Trapilo is coming. I wouldn't be shocked if he gets involved in team drills this week.

Carman: It is now or never for Braxton Jones, who is getting an opportunity that very few thought he would get. It feels like the Bears are holding on for Ozzy Trapilo but when will that be? Jones seemed very confident in his return to play early in camp before getting hurt. How far did that set him back? Meanwhile, Bradbury was not pushed at all by Jones early, but Jones is at least starting to find his way.

Braggs: When Cole Kmet says the transition at center has been seamless from Drew Dalman to Bradbury, I believe him. That is the most important storyline for the offensive line this offseason, of which there were many. They proved last year they can maneuver around a murky left tackle situation, and that was last year with an offense less prepared. Not worried about that unit one bit. Pretty nice, huh?

Edge: Montez Sweat, Austin Booker, Dayo Odeyingbo, Jamree Kromah, Daniel Hardy

Interior: Grady Jarrett, Kentavius Street, Neville Gallimore, Jordan van den Berg, Jayden Loving

Jahns : The Bears' decision to trade Gervon Dexter Sr. is rooted in the past and the future. He was drafted in the second round in 2023 to fill a role in former coach Matt Eberflus' defense – and he was in the final year of his contract. A second contract with the Bears was unlikely.

Dexter was a solid but not a sensational player. His role and importance appeared to be diminishing during training camp, though. Street and van den Berg started to rotate in with the first team weeks ago. It didn't stop, either.

Instead, Loving – an undrafted rookie – also started to impress more and more.

Hoge : This is a much better interior group than the Bears had last year, with a solid group of veterans mixed in with two rookies who are already outperforming their draft status.

But the outside pass rush remains eerily similar to last year, especially because Booker is dealing with an injury again.

Braggs: Ben Johnson is trying to sell me on the depth of the interior line. I'm still in wait-and-see mode. Let's see how they stop the run. Still have little belief they'll be able to get to the QB consistently. It's mostly the same unit as last year and they didn't upgrade. Is Jordan van den Berg the truth? We're about to find out. He was fun to watch at camp. Let's see how he handles a counterpunch from the NFL.

T.J. Edwards, Devin Bush, D'Marco Jackson, Keyshaun Elliott

Norton: If there's a group almost certain to look different before Week 1, it's this one. Maybe Jack Sanborn comes back after some post-cutdown roster maneuvering.

Braggs: Easily the least talked about unit on the Bears on either side of the ball and definitely the unit that should be talked about more. They appear to have quality depth. TJ Edwards looks healthy. D'Marco Jackson looks empowered. And Devin Bush looks like a heat-seeking missile at times.

Jaylon Johnson, Tyrique Stevenson, Malik Muhammad II, Clark Phillips III, Josh Blackwell

Jahns: Smith appeared to be making a late push after missing part of camp with an injury. It included making two pass breakups in the Bears' preseason win against the Titans.

But the arrival of Phillips changed Smith's place on the team. Phillips has the versatility to play outside at cornerback and inside at nickel back, where Muhammad appears to be the starter as a rookie right now.

Hoge : Phillips was primarily an undersized outside corner in Atlanta so it will be interesting to see if the Bears have different plans for him. It's a shame Smith couldn't stay healthy because he certainly showed starting potential when he was able to play. Don't forget about Cam Lewis. If something were to happen to Johnson or Stevenson, they could kick Muhammad outside and put Lewis in the slot.

Braggs: This unit is cursed, plain and simple. Murphy's Law: anything that can go wrong will go wrong. I had a close eye on Jaylon Johnson during camp. He was getting beat quite a bit from my eyes against a tough Bears offense but it sounds like he had good showings in the joint practices. I think we need to have reasonable expectations for rookies starting on this defense, including Malik Muhammed who's already been asked to do so many things at camp with all the injuries to that group.

Dillon Thieneman, Cam Lewis, Xavier Woods, Elijah Hicks, Coby Bryant, Skyler Thomas

Jahns: This feels like a position that changes often this season as the Bears try to make up for the loss of Bryant. That could mean the competition between Lewis, Woods and Hicks continues into the season. Or it could mean that other players are added to the mix.

Carman: Is Thieneman ready to be a No. 1 safety? Logic tells me no. At least he will have veteran leadership around him to help him progress. This is one of the weaker safety rooms in the league with Coby Bryant out.

Hoge : Where would this room be if Thieneman didn't fall to No. 25? The Bears really need him to be in the defensive rookie of the year conversation.

Braggs: I thought Thieneman finished camp strong. His play recognition started to speed up and he started to get in some windows. Next step? Trusting your eyes and taking away the football. I was hopeful Cam Lewis could be what Kalif Raymond is to the offense. And he could still be that, but with the injury to Bryant, it feels like he won't be able to thrive as a smaller role guy and now will be asked for bigger responsibilities.

Kicker Cairo Santos, punter Tory Taylor, long snapper Beau Gardner

Carman: Does Beau know long snapping? The Bears don't seem sold that he does. I don't think there is much room for error for the rookie. Taylor had an improved preseason. Will it translate? Santos distance seems to have gained a yard or three.