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The Chicago Bears are gearing up for the start of training camp under first-year head coach Ben Johnson, where there are plenty of expectations heading into the 2025 season.
The Bears have no shortage of talent on the roster, and there are some intriguing roster battles set to unfold this summer. Which means there are some veterans who could be out of a job. After all, Johnson made it clear that there's no depth chart right now and all jobs will need to be earned in training camp.
Here are some Bears veterans who could see some competition for their job this summer.
Braxton Jones is entering the final year of his rookie contract and coming off a fractured fibula that has his future in jeopardy. With Jones sidelined, there's a competition brewing at left tackle between Jones, rookie Ozzy Trapilo and second-year pro Kiran Amegadjie. While Jones has been the starter since his rookie season, new head coach Ben Johnson made it clear they're looking for the best starting five -- and it could include a new face at left tackle. It certainly doesn't help that Jones has been sidelined all offseason as he recovers from injury, which has allowed Trapilo and Amegadjie, who have been rotating with the starting offense, to get a head start in the position battle.
There's been plenty of speculation about Cole Kmet's future with the Bears after they drafted Colston Loveland with the 10th overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft. While Kmet will be a valuable part of this offense this season -- especially as Ben Johnson utilizes 12-personnel -- his future looks uncertain beyond 2025. If Loveland takes off early as a rookie, it wouldn't be a surprise to see him surpass Kmet on the depth chart and as a focal point in the passing game. After all, Chicago didn't use a top-10 pick on Loveland for him not to be an integral part of this offense moving forward. But the question is how quickly Loveland might take Kmet's job, especially as we've yet to see him on the practice field as he recovers from shoulder surgery.
Tyrique Stevenson was in the headlines for all the wrong reasons last season for his role in the Hail Mary loss to the Washington Commanders, and he wasn't the same player after. With a new coaching staff in place, Stevenson will get a fresh start and a chance to prove himself worthy of the starting job opposite Jaylon Johnson. While Stevenson is penciled in as the starter heading into training camp, that job is certainly up for grabs with a pair of young players waiting in the wings in Terell Smith (who nearly beat Stevenson for the starting job when both were rookies in 2023) and rookie Zah Frazier (who caught defensive backs coach Al Harris' eye during the pre-draft process). Stevenson is going to need a strong training camp and preseason to hold off Smith and Frazier, and he'll have to continue to earn the job throughout the regular season.
Tyson Bagent has been defying odds since his rookie season, where he beat out veterans P.J. Walker and Nathan Peterman as an undrafted free agent to win the backup quarterback job in 2023. Since then, Bagent has been QB2 behind Justin Fields and now Caleb Williams. But that could change with the arrival of journeyman Case Keenum, who was brought in to serve as another voice in the quarterback room for Williams while also competing for the backup job. During the offseason, it was Keenum taking reps with the second-team offense, which could very well be an indication that he's got the edge in the competition. While it feels like Keenum is guaranteed a roster spot -- as Williams' mentor -- Bagent could make things interesting if he can make Chicago consider carrying three quarterbacks on the roster.
There were questions about D'Andre Swift's future following a disappointing first season in Chicago and reports of interest in top running backs in the 2025 NFL draft. After the Bears didn't make a big move at running back, it feels like Swift will get an opportunity to redeem himself as he's reunited with his former offensive coordinator in head coach Ben Johnson. While Swift is entering training camp as the lead back, that doesn't mean he can't lose his job. Chicago drafted rookie Kyle Monangai in the seventh round, and he feels like the biggest threat to challenge Swift for reps this season. Regardless, Swift is going to need a strong season if he hopes to live up to his contract and return in 2026.
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears training camp: Veterans who could lose their jobs
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The Bears have no shortage of talent on the roster, and there are some intriguing roster battles set to unfold this summer. Which means there are some veterans who could be out of a job. After all, Johnson made it clear that there's no depth chart right now and all jobs will need to be earned in training camp.
Here are some Bears veterans who could see some competition for their job this summer.
LT Braxton Jones
Braxton Jones is entering the final year of his rookie contract and coming off a fractured fibula that has his future in jeopardy. With Jones sidelined, there's a competition brewing at left tackle between Jones, rookie Ozzy Trapilo and second-year pro Kiran Amegadjie. While Jones has been the starter since his rookie season, new head coach Ben Johnson made it clear they're looking for the best starting five -- and it could include a new face at left tackle. It certainly doesn't help that Jones has been sidelined all offseason as he recovers from injury, which has allowed Trapilo and Amegadjie, who have been rotating with the starting offense, to get a head start in the position battle.
TE Cole Kmet
There's been plenty of speculation about Cole Kmet's future with the Bears after they drafted Colston Loveland with the 10th overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft. While Kmet will be a valuable part of this offense this season -- especially as Ben Johnson utilizes 12-personnel -- his future looks uncertain beyond 2025. If Loveland takes off early as a rookie, it wouldn't be a surprise to see him surpass Kmet on the depth chart and as a focal point in the passing game. After all, Chicago didn't use a top-10 pick on Loveland for him not to be an integral part of this offense moving forward. But the question is how quickly Loveland might take Kmet's job, especially as we've yet to see him on the practice field as he recovers from shoulder surgery.
CB Tyrique Stevenson
Tyrique Stevenson was in the headlines for all the wrong reasons last season for his role in the Hail Mary loss to the Washington Commanders, and he wasn't the same player after. With a new coaching staff in place, Stevenson will get a fresh start and a chance to prove himself worthy of the starting job opposite Jaylon Johnson. While Stevenson is penciled in as the starter heading into training camp, that job is certainly up for grabs with a pair of young players waiting in the wings in Terell Smith (who nearly beat Stevenson for the starting job when both were rookies in 2023) and rookie Zah Frazier (who caught defensive backs coach Al Harris' eye during the pre-draft process). Stevenson is going to need a strong training camp and preseason to hold off Smith and Frazier, and he'll have to continue to earn the job throughout the regular season.
QB Tyson Bagent
Tyson Bagent has been defying odds since his rookie season, where he beat out veterans P.J. Walker and Nathan Peterman as an undrafted free agent to win the backup quarterback job in 2023. Since then, Bagent has been QB2 behind Justin Fields and now Caleb Williams. But that could change with the arrival of journeyman Case Keenum, who was brought in to serve as another voice in the quarterback room for Williams while also competing for the backup job. During the offseason, it was Keenum taking reps with the second-team offense, which could very well be an indication that he's got the edge in the competition. While it feels like Keenum is guaranteed a roster spot -- as Williams' mentor -- Bagent could make things interesting if he can make Chicago consider carrying three quarterbacks on the roster.
RB D'Andre Swift
There were questions about D'Andre Swift's future following a disappointing first season in Chicago and reports of interest in top running backs in the 2025 NFL draft. After the Bears didn't make a big move at running back, it feels like Swift will get an opportunity to redeem himself as he's reunited with his former offensive coordinator in head coach Ben Johnson. While Swift is entering training camp as the lead back, that doesn't mean he can't lose his job. Chicago drafted rookie Kyle Monangai in the seventh round, and he feels like the biggest threat to challenge Swift for reps this season. Regardless, Swift is going to need a strong season if he hopes to live up to his contract and return in 2026.
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears training camp: Veterans who could lose their jobs
Continue reading...