The Countdown to Cutdown Day
The Chicago Bears will finalize their 53-man roster by Sunday, Aug. 30, a process that promises swift changes for the team. According to Sports Illustrated, once Chicago executes its initial cuts, the front office will immediately scan the waiver wire for additional help, meaning the initial roster could evolve quickly.
In this context, Sports Illustrated offers a projection of five players who have transformed their status from roster-bubble contenders to near-locks, alongside three players who might be considered mildly surprising cuts.
Five Bubble Players Who Have Secured Their Spots
Jordan van den Berg — The rookie entered training camp as a candidate for a cut because of his late-round draft status and lackluster showings during OTAs and minicamp. However, according to Sports Illustrated, van den Berg completely turned around his prospects with strong training camp performances and especially impressive play in the second preseason game. The outlet suggests the only question now about van den Berg is not if he stays, but how large a role he takes early in the season.
Salvon Ahmed — Ahmed has worked behind the incumbent running back Roschon Johnson in both preseason games, but as Sports Illustrated reports, he has outperformed Johnson in every instance, a pattern that also emerged during training camp. Ahmed has been one of Chicago's standout performers overall. The decision regarding his roster spot appears to clarify the running back puzzle.
Kaden Davis — Despite being blanked in the second preseason game, Davis started with the first-team offense on the opening series, which Sports Illustrated says is a good indicator for his chances. He previously had a strong Week 1, leading all Bears pass-catchers in targets, and his readiness to contribute on special teams as a returner could seal his spot.
Jackson Sanborn — Sanborn has demonstrated great consistency during training camp, particularly alongside Ruben Hyppolite. While Hyppolite has risen the ranks of late, Sports Illustrated says Sanborn is the more reliable performer and a solid special teams contributor, thus earning his lock.
Xavier Woods — The safety’s spot appears solidified, per Sports Illustrated, due to Coby Bryant being out for most or all of the season, and even if Elijah Hicks returns from the PUP list, Woods’s athletic value keeps him secure.
Three Surprise Cuts
The outlet also identifies three players who might face the surprising end to their Bears tenure.
Roschon Johnson: A Bubble That Could Burst
Roschon Johnson, who has played in 36 games over the past three years in Chicago, entered the 2026 preseason as a projected cut according to ESPN’s Courtney Cronin, as reported by Heavy. Cronin’s exact prediction, made on August 24, was that Johnson will not make the initial 53-man roster, with Safyon Ahmed taking over as the No. 3 running back.
Heavy’s report quotes Cronin as saying: “Swift had arguably the best training camp of any offensive skill player,” he wrote. “He and Monangai, along with the rushing attack that ranked third in 2025. Ahmed emerges over former fourth-round pick Roschon Johnson.”
Johnson’s performance this preseason has been underwhelming. In Week 2 against the Bengals, he ran for only 42 yards on 12 carries and a 1-yard reception. Cumulatively, Johnson has averaged just 3.8 yards per carry over 20 contact points, an output some observers call “paltry,” as noted in Heavy’s analysis. However, the team’s head coach, Ben Johnson, claimed after the second preseason game that he has been impressed with Roschon Johnson’s growth on special teams. This could be a saving grace, along with an injury to Kyle Monangai, that might keep him around.
Ruben Hyppolite the Victim of a Numbers Game
Ruben Hyppolite, a fourth-round pick in his second year, has shown flashes but not consistency, per Sports Illustrated. All the while, the Bears may have an alternative in elite Hicks—but it also could come down to losing his job if Keyshaun Elliott returns from the PUP list soon, adding another challenger.
Terell Smith’s Logjam of Looming Cornerbacks
Terell Smith has amassed significant snaps with the Bears in 2023 and 2024 but now stands on uneasy ground. Sports Illustrated notes that Chicago’s cornerback room is crowded with the likes of Jaylon Johnson, Tyreek Stevenson, the Kyler Gordon, Malik Muhammad, and a healthy Josh Blackwell. Injury time in recent weeks, and the tallim includes another fellow from free agency, and his swing could see him displaced by under.
The Bears, after all, have demonstrated a willingness to work with their initial 53.
What Awaits the Bears?
Once the roster is unveiled, the Bears will immediately turn to the waiver wire, as Sports Illustrated notes. While the initial 53 could change quickly, these projections from Sports Illustrated and Heavy provide a glimpse into Chicago’s internal assessments as cutdown day approaches.