5 predictions ahead of Bears roster cutdown deadline

The 2025 offseason has felt like a marathon for the Chicago Bears considering all of the changes the team has made since January. Now that the preseason has concluded, we're at the final sprint before the regular season can begin. The Bears and the rest of the 31 NFL teams are tasked with trimming their rosters down to 53 players ahead of Tuesday's 3 p.m. CT deadline.

Most of the Bears' roster cuts shouldn't come as a major surprise. These are players who have been fighting for reserve roles on the team all offseason and are normally near the back end of the roster. Cuts have already been coming out over the last few days, with more still on the way. That being said, there are some surprises every now and then around this time. Here are a few final predictions before the Bears set their roster for the regular season.

1. The Bears keep three quarterbacks

Caleb Williams is the undisputed starter at quarterback, while Tyson Bagent's new contract extension makes him a lock for the backup role once again. Those two players aren't going anywhere, but what about Case Keenum or Austin Reed's chances? Reed is destined for the practice squad, having already been released, but Keenum should still stick around. He's a valuable veteran to have in the locker room, and both Williams and Bagent have acknowledged his help. Keenum signed a one-year deal for $2.15 million, and while it's not big money, it's still significant.

Johnson seems to love Keenum, and he knows better than most what a veteran presence can mean for a young quarterback. The Bears will spend a roster spot on Keenum as the third quarterback in what could be his last NFL season.

2. Brittain Brown makes the initial cut

The Bears experienced a few injuries to their running backs during training camp over the last month. Roschon Johnson, Kyle Monangai, and Travis Homer all have missed extensive time for a variety of ailments, which led the Bears to finding a few backs off the street to fill in. One of those players, Brittain Brown, has filled in nicely and was the first reserve off the bench in each of the last two preseason games.

Brown carried the ball 16 times for 73 yards and a touchdown against the Buffalo Bills and led the team with 13 carries for 27 yards against the Kansas City Chiefs. I could see a scenario where Brown claims a roster spot while the Bears put Johnson on injured reserve for the first four games. If Brown does wind up earning a roster spot, it could be short-lived, assuming the Bears look for additional help at the position. For now, he gets the nod for one of the final spots.

3. Bears say goodbye to Kiran Amegadjie

One recent Bears draft pick who may not be as lucky to earn a spot is tackle Kiran Amegadjie, who entered camp in a competition for the starting left tackle position against Braxton Jones and Ozzy Trapilo. A lot has changed since then. Jones is all but locked in as the starter, Trapilo is working as the swing tackle, and Amegadjie was relegated to third string, all in just a few weeks.

The talented 2024 third-round pick has had a rough start to his pro career and is squarely on the bubble to make the team. Amegadjie hasn't impressed late in preseason games, and with 2024 undrafted free agent Theo Benedet catching the eye of the coaching staff, he appears to be the odd man out in the offensive line room. It could come down to a numbers game, and the Bears have Benedet, who can play tackle and guard. I think Amegadjie is on the outside looking in when the rosters are finalized.

4. Ryan Poles makes a trade

Poles may not be wheeling and dealing like Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman, but he sure likes to move pieces around during this time of year to improve the back end of the roster. We saw a few trades go down the last couple of years, particularly for offensive and defensive linemen. With some positions still facing uncertainty, another trade could be in the works.

Over the next day or so, some teams will leak that certain players are set to hit the chopping block. It's also a signal they're available for a small trade, which Poles has been known to do. Someone, whether it's a running back, defensive end, or cornerback, could be coming in via trade over the next few days. This would allow the Bears to not miss out on anyone in particular when players hit waivers.

5. Andrew Billings gets moved

Up to this point, none of the roster predictions have been outlandish or surprising. Until now. The biggest surprise cut could happen to a fan favorite. Defensive tackle Andrew Billings is someone to watch, according to Dan Wiederer of The Athletic. Billings, coming off a torn pectoral last season, put on more weight this offseason and has been primarily working with the second-team defense. He has seen time with the starters with Grady Jarrett out, but perhaps the defensive coaching staff doesn't see a need for a massive nose tackle in the new system.

The Bears are continuing through their roster cuts today, ahead of Tuesday’s deadline. Biggest questions for me revolve around the offensive line depth preferences and the backfield depth. And WR6. And Big Bill.

— Dan Wiederer (@danwiederer) August 25, 2025

Billings was the heart of the Bears' run defense last year, and Johnson even acknowledged that shortly after he became head coach. It's possible the Bears see a path with Jarrett, Gervon Dexter, Shemar Turner, and Chris Williams instead of Billings. He could have some trade value, but it's possible the Bears cut bait entirely. His contract has no guaranteed salary left, so the Bears could save $2.3 million if he's cut. Billings has been one of Poles' better free agent signings, but we'll see if he's in Dennis Allen's plans this year.

This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: 5 predictions ahead of Bears roster cutdown deadline