The Chicago Bears beat those where there were a lot of players who stood out — either in a good way or bad.
With Tuesday’s second roster cut — which will see GM Ryan Poles cut the roster from 85 to 80 — there were a handful of players who improved their chances of a spot on the 53-man roster with strong preseason performances against the Seahawks. And there were others who might have hurt their chances.
Following Chicago’s win in Week 2 of preseason, here’s a look at which roster bubble players helped and hurt their cause.
Helped out: RB Darrynton Evans
Steph Chambers/Getty Images
Running back Darrynton Evans put in another strong preseason performance and he feels like a safe bet to secure a roster spot. Evans scored one of Chicago’s two offensive touchdowns – a 1-yard score on the opening second-half possession. Evans led the Bears with 39 rushing yards on 8 carries (4.9 average) and one touchdown. He added two receptions for 7 yards.
Injured: OT Shon Coleman
Steph Chambers/Getty Images
There are concerns about the depth of Chicago’s offensive line and it showed up against the Seahawks. It wasn’t a good night for offensive tackle Shon Coleman, who immediately penalized and was hit in the same game. Coleman also committed a false start – which actually counted – and was Chicago’s first penalty all of the preseason. To be fair, Coleman generally had a rough preseason with a tendency to get hit, which included giving up a sack in the opener.
Assisted: LB DeMarquis Gates
Steph Chambers/Getty Images
Linebacker DeMarquis Gates has had a strong start to the preseason, which is all the more impressive considering he’s relatively new to the Bears. After an impressive display against the Chiefs, Gates put in another strong showing on defense. He completed 5 total tackles, including 2 tackles-for-loss, and remains a solid contributor for special teams. While Gates might have a hard time securing a roster spot, his preseason performance makes him a prime candidate for the practice team.
Injured: WR Nsimba Webster
AP Photo/Caean Couto
At first glance, wide receiver Nsimba Webster seemed to have improved his chances with four catches for 25 yards and a 58-yard kickoff return. Considering that special teams are one of the best ways to create the roster, Webster appeared to have stocked up. And yet Webster had an outrageous drop, something a bubble player fighting for a roster simply can’t afford.
Assisted: DT Trevon Coley
AP Photo/Stephen Brashear
Defensive tackle Trevon Coley continues to add to his stock with another strong preseason effort. After accumulating two sacks in the preseason opener, Coley recorded a sack for the second straight week. With most of the league yet to play his second preseason game, Coley sits atop the sack rating at 3.0 through two weeks. He finished the game with 2 tackles, including 1 for a loss, 1 sack, and 1 QB hit.
Helped: S Elijah Hicks
Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
When it comes to final roster spots, it’s the special teams’ contributions that can go a long way. That’s why it mattered when rookie safety Elijah Hicks scored a touchdown on a muted punt against the Seahawks. Hicks, who has five tackles in total, is one of those players in the roster bubble who will benefit immensely from a strong performance last season. And the fact that he’s doing this on both defense and special teams is remarkable.
Helped and injured: WR Isaiah Coulter
AP Photo/Stephen Brashear
Wide receiver Isaiah Coulter helped and hurt his chances of earning a roster spot in this second preseason game. On the one hand, Coulter led the Bears in three receptions with 39 yards. He should have had another impressive 10-yard catch in third and eighth, but it was ruled incomplete and Matt Eberflus didn’t question him. But on the other hand, Coulter couldn’t redeem an onside kick attempt by the Seahawks. Coulter’s best way to earn a roster spot is by contributing to Special Teams. Those are games he has to make.