The first live action of the season, even if it is just preseason, will take place when the Chicago Bears meet the Kansas City Chiefs at Soldier Field.
There are plenty of topics to keep an eye on going into this game, whether they relate to the team's future, the roster, or the appearance of old pals.
Here are a few topics we'll be watching as the Bears prepare for their preseason opener against the Chiefs.
1 How much we can expect to see the starters
We'll get to watch the Bears' starters for a little period of time, but many NFL teams are resting their starters. The starters will do between 15 and 20 reps in the first preseason game, according to head coach Matt Eberflus; however, this will vary by player and not everyone will participate. Additionally, he mentioned that certain players might suit up between the ages of 10 and 15, among them Justin Fields, the quarterback.
We probably won't get to watch youngsters Kyler Gordon and Velus Jones Jr., as well as David Montgomery and Cole Kmet, who have been out for a few days, because Chicago has been plagued by a lot of injuries over the past week. However, given that the goal of preseason for veterans is to improve their health, perhaps this isn't a terrible idea.
2 Justin Fields' first live action in the new offense
Our first, albeit brief, live look at second-year quarterback Justin Fields in Luke Getsy's playbook will come during Saturday's preseason opener. Fields' continued growth is the most crucial aspect of this campaign and the foundation of the team's long-term success. Despite not having the most eye-catching or healthy supporting cast at the present, Fields could benefit greatly from this new offensive. It's reasonable to conclude that Getsy designed this strategy to counter Matt Nagy's strengths while focusing on Fields' advantages.
This summer, Fields has made little strides as he solidifies his understanding of the offense. And lately, he's been doing it under less-than-ideal conditions since he's been without some of his best wide receivers, including Cole Kmet, Byron Pringle, Velus Jones Jr., and N'Keal Harry. Fields have demonstrated growth in a number of categories, including leadership, footwork, throwing motion, and general decision-making. Now, we'll have the opportunity to see it (shortly) in action.
3 Starting offensive line play
The Bears maintain that the offensive line is far from being established, but they have also made it quite obvious who should start in Week 1. The same offensive line from Chicago has been in practice for the past week: Braxton Jones (LT), Cody Whitehair (LG), Sam Mustipher (C), Michael Schofield (RG), and Riley Reiff (RT). Once Mustipher is well, Lucas Patrick will take Mustipher's spot at the center.
On Saturday, when they will be required to keep Fields upright, we'll get our first glimpse of what seems to be the Bears' starting offensive line. We'll now see how the offensive line fares in game situations. The offensive line has been strong during training camp. Teven Jenkins and Larry Borom, rookies from the previous year, will also be competing for playing time, and they're likely to receive plenty of it with the second-team offense.
4 Position battles to keep an eye on
In Saturday's preseason game, we won't see the starters for very long, so individuals farther down the depth chart will have a chance to shine. The struggles for various positions will be on show, beginning with a very weak wide receiver group. The only player that is guaranteed to make the roster is Darnell Mooney, but Byron Pringle, Velus Jones Jr., and Equanimeous St. Brown are all good bets. Thus, two roster places are still open, and players like Tajae Sharpe, Isaiah Coulter, and Dazz Newsome should get plenty of playing time throughout the preseason to compete for them.
A cornerback roster spot competition is developing elsewhere. Kyler Gordon, Kindle Vidor, Tavon Young, Duke Shelley, and Thomas Graham Jr. are all out injured, similar to the receiving position. As a result, guys like Lamar Jackson and Jaylon Jones, a rookie, have the chance to compete for the starting position. The competition between Matt Adams and Joe Thomas for the starting SAM linebacker spot may come down to preseason play.
5 Matt Nagy's return
You didn't think we'd forget about the narrative, which is perhaps the game's greatest non-factor. Matt Nagy, the former head coach of the Bears, is getting ready to make his first trip back to Chicago since being let go by the team in January. In addition to his poor 6-11 season, Nagy was fired mostly for the way he treated future franchise quarterback Justin Fields. Nagy is currently working as the Chiefs' senior offensive assistant and quarterbacks coach after returning to Kansas City alongside his mentor Andy Reid.
The Soldier Field fans, who didn't have a problem expressing their discontent with Nagy last season before he was dismissed, will be the focus of all eyes, or should I say ears. Even though the Bears have a new coaching staff now, I have a feeling that some supporters will give Nagy one final earful. Just let's assume it's not a coincidence that the NFL chose Chicago for this game or that it would be shown live on NFL Network.
Click here for more trending news