Chicago Bears: 3 surprises from the first 2023 53-man roster

2022 third-round pick Velus Jones Jr. didn’t do much to earn a spot on the 53-man roster on than survive bodily harm. With Dante Pettis on injured reserve, the Bears don’t have another option at put returner at the moment.

Jones struggled with muffed returns during his rookie season. He coughed the ball up in his first preseason game this year. The Bears will keep him for now, but he could be one of the first players that is replaced when waivers become available.

The Cincinnati Bengals made a shocking decision to release wide receiver and skilled punt returner Trent Taylor Tuesday. Taylor could be someone the Bears have an interest in signing this week.

2. The Chicago Bears chose Dominique Robinson over Trevis Gipson

Dominque Robinson admitted this summer that he needed to be better in year two after a disappointing rookie season. His preseason effort left much to be desired. Pro Football Focus gave Robinson good grades for run defense, but he was ineffective as a pass rusher. He had one total pressure in 19 snaps against the pass.

Gipson started the preseason at the bottom of the Bears depth chart at defensive end. He took advantage of every opportunity he had in the preseason. PFF gave Gipson an overall grade of 89.6 in the preseason to Robinson’s 65.5.

Gipson had 14 total pressures, four stops, two sacks, and a forced fumble in the preseason on 68 snaps against the pass and 23 against the run. He was the Bears highest graded defender in the preseason by over 10 points (Vildor was the third highest).

There’s not much more Gipson could have done to make the roster. The Bears staff must have accounted for the fact he was playing against lesser competition in preseason games when they put him. However, one has to wonder why the Bears didn’t bump him up in the preseason finale to see what he had to offer after his play in the first two games.

3. Keeping A.J. Thomas over a few players

The Bears kept a 2022 UDFA safety they kept on the practice squad for most of last season, A.J. Thomas, on the 53-man roster over keeping a few players that were on the bubble. The Bears carry four safeties Tuesday.

The Bears chose to keep Thomas over another linebacker, wide receiver Daurice Fountain (who had an exceptional preseason), and cornerback Michael Ojemudia.

Thomas is a player one would think the Bears could retain on their practice squad after waivers. There were also several other safeties who performed well this month that didn’t make the roster, like Adrian Robert and Bralen Trahan, who they could have been picked up on the practice squad if Thomas was signed elsewhere.