Eleven days remain until Aug. 26, the day the Bears have to reduce their roster to 65 players. So it’s still too early to make Saturday’s second exhibition game against the Denver Broncos a make-or-break proposition for guys in jeopardy of NFL unemployment, but never too early for players to erase doubts coaches may have about them.
Here are 10 Bears–starters, veterans and rookies–who may need to erase those doubts more than others Saturday night in Champaign.
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Maurice Hicks
Running back
Hicks had a poor opening game against Indianapolis with a fumble and a dropped pass and let it affect his practices early this week. When he lets his physical ability and speed take over, no Bears runner has more breakaway potential. The Bears would like nothing more than for Hicks to break some long runs and make him difficult to cut.
Anthony Thomas
Running back
If the “A-Train” wants to end a running-back controversy that has nagged him during training camp, some big runs Saturday would help. Can he hit the hole with authority? If not, Adrian Peterson may get a longer look at No. 1.
Roosevelt Williams
Cornerback
The Bears had so little confidence in Williams that they awarded rookie Charles Tillman the job of nickel back before Tillman’s first mini-camp. Williams has been up and down in camp, but there still are three preseason exhibition games for him to prove he’s not a liability.
Ahmad Merritt
Wide receiver
Fighting for his professional life, again, the perennial “bubble” guy can go a long way to proving his worth as a special-teams player and receiver with a solid effort against the Broncos. Can the Bears keep six wide receivers? If Merritt proves too valuable to cut, yes.
Bobby Wade
Wide receiver
The rookie made a big catch on fourth down in the final game-winning drive last week, but as receivers coach Todd Haley instructed Wade a few days ago, “If you had made the catch on third down, you never would have had to make a catch on fourth down.”
Charles Tillman
Cornerback
The rookie arrived in training camp anointed the starter at nickel back but really hasn’t earned the job. Physically, Tillman’s ready, but
mentally he suffers occasional lapses that result in him looking out of position.
Mike Caldwell
Outside linebacker
Rookie Lance Briggs gets the start at strong-side linebacker in place of the injured Bryan Knight, but Caldwell will get a look, too.
The veteran offers savvy at the position lacking after the loss of
Rosevelt Colvin. While Caldwell doesn’t possess Knight’s physical tools, experience could help him close the gap.
Mike Green
Strong safety
He’s ready for his first action after a groin injury. Green’s job isn’t in jeopardy–yet. If Bobby Gray continues to find the
football, the quicker Green will have to show he can be just as big of an impact player. He’s more solid than spectacular, dependability that coach Dick Jauron appreciates.
Aaron Gibson
Offensive tackle
The job is his, and while Jauron has raved about his progress, the truth is Gibson looked good for one half last week against the Colts and won’t convince skeptics who doubt his endurance until he stays consistent for four quarters.
Bernard Robertson
Offensive tackle
With Terrence Metcalf out for a couple weeks with a broken left middle finger, Robertson gets a look as the backup left tackle–a critical role given starter Mike Gandy’s inexperience. Robertson started at the position a year ago, but there was a reason he was replaced.
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Edited by Phil Thompson (plthompson@tribune.com) and Chris Courtney (cdcourtney@tribune.com)
