Bears name preseason opponents

Chuck Pagano will return to Indianapolis for the most meaningful game of the preseason.

The Bears’ new defensive coordinator, who served as the Colts’ head coach from 2012-17, will travel to Lucas Oil Stadium for his new team’s third preseason game.

That contest is typically considered the dress rehearsal for the season, though it might not be so with the Bears in 2019. Last year, head coach Matt Nagy rested his starters in the Bears’ third preseason game, a home game against the Chiefs. The Bears, though, had the luxury of playing five preseason games last year. This season, like all but two NFL teams, they’ll play four.

The Bears could hold joint practices with the Giants, as they have in three of the past four years during Week 2 of the preseason, but have yet to make any announcement.

The NFL announced its preseason opponents on Tuesday but did not specify dates or times for the games. The Bears will open the exhibition season at home against the Panthers and finish it at Soldier Field against the Titans. In between, they’ll travel to the Giants and Colts for the second and third games, respectively.

The Bears will announce specifics for the preseason games — which will air on Fox 32 — in the next few weeks. The NFL’s regular season schedule will be announced later this month.

Opponents

The Bears announced their preseason opponents — but no dates or times for their games — on Tuesday:

Week/Date range/Opponent/Location

1/Aug. 8-11/Panthers/Soldier Field

2/Aug. 15-18/Giants/MetLife Stadium

3/Aug. 22-25/Colts/Lucas Oil Stadium

4/Aug. 29/Titans/Soldier Field