Chicago Bears Depth Chart 2026: Who’s Starting, Who’s Rising, and Who Could Still Lose Their Job?

The 2026 Bears depth chart looks different than it did a year ago, and honestly, that’s a good thing for Chicago fans. New faces, real competition at almost every position, and a roster that finally feels like it has some teeth. If you’ve been trying to figure out who’s actually starting, who’s climbing, and who might get cut before Week 1, this breakdown is for you.

Let’s walk through the whole thing, position by position.

What the Latest Bears Depth Chart Tells Us About Chicago’s Roster

Here’s the thing about any unofficial depth chart in August: it’s a snapshot, not a promise. The Chicago Bears depth chart you see during training camp shifts almost weekly. Injuries happen, rookies rise, veterans slip. Still, the current version tells us a lot about where the coaching staff’s head is at heading into the season.

What stands out is how much talent Chicago has added, especially on offense. The quarterback room finally has a clear pecking order, the receiver group is deep, and the defense has some genuine star power up front. Below is a quick look at the projected starters across the roster.

Position	Projected Starter	Top Backup
Quarterback	Caleb Williams	Tyson Bagent
Running Back	D’Andre Swift	Kyle Monangai
Wide Receiver	Rome Odunze	Luther Burden III
Tight End	Colston Loveland	Cole Kmet
Left Tackle	Braxton Jones	Ozzy Trapilo
Center	Garrett Bradbury	Logan Jones
Edge Rusher	Montez Sweat	Austin Booker
Defensive Tackle	Grady Jarrett	Gervon Dexter Sr.
Linebacker	T.J. Edwards	Nephi Sewell
Cornerback	Jaylon Johnson	Terell Smith
Safety	Dillon Thieneman	Elijah Hicks
Kicker	Cairo Santos	—

Chicago Bears Quarterback Depth Chart

Caleb Williams as the clear QB1

No debate here. Caleb Williams is the starting quarterback for the Bears, full stop. Chicago drafted him first overall to be the face of the franchise, and everything about this roster is built around him. So when people ask who is the starting quarterback for the Bears, the answer is easy.

Tyson Bagent vs. Case Keenum for backup leverage

The QB2 spot is where it gets interesting. Tyson Bagent has the edge thanks to his time in the system, but Case Keenum brings years of NFL starts and a calm veteran presence. To be honest, this feels like Bagent’s job to lose, with Keenum offering insurance the coaching staff trusts.

Is Miller Moss a practice squad candidate?

Miller Moss is the developmental arm in this room. He’s most likely a practice squad candidate rather than a lock for the 53-man roster, though a strong preseason could change that math.

Bears Running Back Depth Chart Breakdown

D’Andre Swift’s role in the backfield

So who starts at running back for Chicago? That’s D’Andre Swift. He’s the featured back, the pass-catcher, and the guy who sets the tone. Swift isn’t a bruiser, but his versatility fits what this offense wants to do.

Kyle Monangai’s push for more touches

Kyle Monangai is the name to watch. He runs hard, he’s earned trust, and he could carve out a real role as the change-of-pace back. Don’t be shocked if his touches climb as the season goes on.

Where Roschon Johnson fits now

Roschon Johnson brings size and short-yardage value. His spot on the RB depth chart isn’t guaranteed, and the RB3 battle with Salvon Ahmed and Brittain Brown is one of the quieter camp storylines worth tracking.

Chicago Bears Wide Receiver Depth Chart

Rome Odunze, Luther Burden III, and Kalif Raymond lead the group

Who are the top Bears wide receivers? Rome Odunze leads the way as the No. 1 receiver, with Luther Burden III bringing explosive slot ability and Kalif Raymond adding veteran polish. That primary trio anchors Chicago’s three-receiver sets nicely.

Who wins the WR4, WR5, and WR6 battles?

This is one of the most crowded camp battles on the whole Bears depth chart. Jahdae Walker, Zavion Thomas, Scotty Miller, Ray-Ray McCloud III, and a handful of young names are all fighting for the WR4 through WR6 spots. Only a few will make it.

Why return ability matters for roster spots

Here’s a detail casual fans miss: return duty can save a roster spot. Guys like Zavion Thomas boost their value by contributing on special teams, which often tips the WR6 race in their favor.

Tight End Depth Chart: Colston Loveland vs. Cole Kmet Usage

TE1 expectations

Rookie Colston Loveland is expected to be the primary pass-catching tight end, but Cole Kmet isn’t going anywhere. Think of it less as a competition and more as two starters sharing the field.

Two-tight end and three-tight end packages

What’s interesting is how the Bears can deploy both together. Two-tight end sets let Loveland and Kmet create matchup problems, and three-tight end packages could feature Nikola Kalinic or Stephen Carlson in run-heavy looks.

The TE3 competition

The TE3 spot is a genuine battle between Sam Roush, Kalinic, Carlson, and a couple of camp bodies. Blocking and special teams reps will likely decide it.

Bears Offensive Line Depth Chart and Starting Five

Left tackle uncertainty

What does the Bears offensive line look like? Mostly solid, with one question mark. Left tackle is the spot to watch, where Braxton Jones, Ozzy Trapilo, Kiran Amegadjie, and Jedrick Wills Jr. are all in the mix. Jones has the inside track, but this trench battle is far from settled.

Interior line stability

The interior is where this line shines. Joe Thuney at guard is a legit upgrade, Garrett Bradbury anchors the center spot, Jonah Jackson holds the other guard, and Darnell Wright locks down right tackle. That’s a strong protection unit.

Best backup options across the line

Logan Jones, Kyle Hergel, and Theo Benedet give Chicago useful interior line depth. Swing tackle reps in camp will tell us who the real emergency options are.

Chicago Bears Defensive Line Depth Chart

Montez Sweat’s role as the pass-rush anchor

Montez Sweat is the engine of this pass rush. When the defensive line depth chart gets talked about, everything starts with him.

Dayo Odeyingbo, Austin Booker, and edge competition

Dayo Odeyingbo brings size and length opposite Sweat, while Austin Booker is a young riser pushing for snaps. The edge rotation could go three or four deep by Week 1.

Grady Jarrett and Gervon Dexter inside

Inside, Grady Jarrett adds a proven, disruptive presence next to Gervon Dexter Sr. Neville Gallimore and Kentavius Street round out a rotation built to hold up against the run.

Linebacker Depth Chart: Who Has the Edge?

T.J. Edwards and Devin Bush as projected starters

T.J. Edwards and Devin Bush project as the starting linebackers. Edwards is the steady, downhill leader of the group.

The battle for final linebacker spots

The final linebacker room spots are up for grabs among Noah Sewell, Nephi Sewell, D’Marco Jackson, and Ruben Hyppolite II. It’s a real roster bubble situation.

Special teams value and roster survival

Truth is, special teams reps often decide who survives cutdowns here. A linebacker who can cover kicks has a much better shot at sticking.

Bears Cornerback Depth Chart and Secondary Battles

Jaylon Johnson, Tyrique Stevenson, and Kyler Gordon

Who starts in the Chicago Bears secondary? Jaylon Johnson is the shutdown boundary corner, Tyrique Stevenson holds the other outside spot, and Kyler Gordon owns the nickel role.

Malik Muhammad and Terell Smith pushing for snaps

Rookie Malik Muhammad and Terell Smith are both pushing for playing time, adding real depth to the cornerback battle.

Slot, boundary, and nickel roles explained

Quick primer: boundary corners handle the outside, slot and nickel defenders cover the middle in three-receiver sets. Gordon’s versatility inside is a big reason this group is flexible.

Chicago Bears Safety Depth Chart

Dillon Thieneman and Coby Bryant projections

Dillon Thieneman and Coby Bryant look like the projected starting safeties, blending range with physical play.

Cam Lewis, Elijah Hicks, and backup depth

Cam Lewis, Elijah Hicks, and Xavier Woods provide dependable backup depth and special teams value.

Could one surprise name steal a roster spot?

Every year one under-the-radar defensive back sneaks onto the roster. Anthony Johnson Jr. or Gervarrius Owens could be that surprise if camp goes their way.

Special Teams Depth Chart: Kicker, Punter, Returners, and Long Snapper

Cairo Santos and Tory Taylor remain steady

Cairo Santos handles the kicking, and Tory Taylor punts and holds. Both are locks. No drama there.

Return game outlook

The return game features Kalif Raymond, Zavion Thomas, Josh Blackwell, and possibly Luther Burden III. Explosive returners can flip field position fast.

Long snapper competition to watch

Beau Gardner and Luke Elkin are competing at long snapper, a small but real preseason battle.

Biggest Bears Training Camp Battles That Could Change the Depth Chart

Which Bears players are rising in training camp? A few names keep coming up.

Left tackle

Jones vs. Trapilo vs. Amegadjie remains the headline fight.

WR6

The final receiver spot could come down to return ability and one great preseason.

Edge rotation

Booker’s development could reshape how the pass rush is deployed.

Final cornerback and safety spots

Who is on the roster bubble for Chicago? Several young DBs, and cutdown day will be tense.

Biggest Winners and Losers on the Latest Chicago Bears Depth Chart

Winners: Caleb Williams, Rome Odunze, Colston Loveland, and Grady Jarrett all look locked into major roles. Kyle Monangai and Austin Booker are the risers.

Losers: veterans on the bubble and depth players fighting for the last few spots. That’s just the reality of a deeper roster.

Projected Final Thoughts: What Could Change Before Week 1?

How could the Bears depth chart change before Week 1? Plenty. Preseason performances, injuries, and late roster moves always shake things up. The left tackle job, the WR6 race, and the final defensive back spots are the ones most likely to shift.

For now, this unofficial Bears depth chart shows a roster with a clear identity and real competition. And honestly, that’s exactly what Chicago fans have been waiting to see.