The two veterans the Bears added last week, defensive end Yannick Ngakoue and tight end Marcedes Lewis, practiced with the team for the first time Tuesday. Both players will gradually progress toward a full workload, and it seems unlikely either would play Saturday in the preseason game against the Titans.
The Bears need Ngakoue ready especially quickly because he is their top pass rusher, and coach Matt Eberflus recently emphasized how important it is for his starting defense to practice together as much as possible because of all the new players. The team revamped its roster on defense after allowing the most points in the NFL last season.
Linebacker Jack Sanborn returned after missing about a week with an injury, which he downplayed as minor.
“It’s better to be smart than anything,” he told the Sun-Times. “I feel comfortable now... and now it’s just getting out there, getting reps, getting the camaraderie built with everybody.”
Bears cornerback Kyler Gordon, safety Jaquan Brisker, linebacker Tremaine Edmunds and defensive end DeMarcus Walker — all starters — were on the sideline Tuesday, and safety Eddie Jackson wasn’t at practice but is not believed to be injured. The Bears have given Jackson veteran rest days during camp.
Running back Roschon Johnson also remained out with an injury.
First depth chart
Good teams typically know who their starters are, so it’s a step in the right direction for the Bears that the release of their first depth chart was largely unsurprising.
Most notably, they’re going with an all-veteran defensive line. Ngakoue and Walker were first-string ends, while Justin Jones and Andrew Billings are at tackle ahead of prized rookies Gervon Dexter and Zacch Pickens. The Bears drafted Dexter in the second round (No. 53 overall) and Pickens in the third (No. 64).
Wide receiver Velus Jones was listed as the punt and kick returner, rewarding his good start to camp as he tries to bounce back from a turbulent rookie season.
“Velus has been growing,” special teams coordinator Richard Hightower said. “He’s tracking the ball really well up to this point... He has definitely shown that he deserves to be where he is on that chart.”
The depth chart gave no clarity on some of the more compelling position battles.
The Bears listed just two cornerbacks, Jaylon Johnson and Gordon, even though they’ll use three most of the time. Rookies Tyrique Stevenson and Terell Smith are in a tight competition for that spot and are both listed as second string.
Newcomers
Amid their injuries, especially on defense, the Bears signed two players: linebacker Barrington Wade and tight end Lachlan Pitts.
Wade, 25, starred at Niles North before going to Iowa. As an undrafted free agent, he bounced among the Ravens, Broncos and CFL. With no clear path in the NFL, he recently had an XFL tryout.
Then his hometown team called.
“It’s like a dream come true, something I’ve been thinking about since I was a little kid,” he told the Sun-Times. “It’s crazy.”
Pitts, 25, went undrafted out of William & Mary this year. He had 28 catches for 543 yards and five touchdowns as a senior.
The Bears waived tight end Jake Tonges with an injury designation and waived kicker Andre Szmyt to make room for the additions.
Patrick Finley contributed to this report.
