5 players who deserve a spot on Bears' 53-man roster

NFL teams are preparing to trim their rosters down to 53 players by Tuesday's deadline, and there are plenty of important decision for the Chicago Bears to make.

There was plenty of activity this offseason as the Bears looked to overhaul the roster, not just to upgrade the talent but to find fits with this new coaching staff led by head coach Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Dennis Allen.

Having just three preseason games and training camp to evaluate the entire roster, there were some standouts this year, especially over the past two games as the Bears shut out the Buffalo Bills two weeks ago and scored 19 unanswered points to defeat the Kansas City Chiefs jut a few days ago.

Injuries that create holes at certain positions may lead to surprising names being left off the roster, but there are some names that stand out above the rest who have earned their roster spot this season. Here's a look at five players who deserve a spot on the Bears' initial 53-man roster.

WR Jahdae Walker

Jahdae Walker all but sealed his roster spot when he caught the game-winning touchdown pass against the Chiefs in the preseason finale. Walker began the preseason by being the team's leading receiver (three receptions, 41 yards, one touchdown) in the opening game against the Miami Dolphins, and then capped off the team's comeback win over Kansas City to close out the preseason. He may very well be the sixth wide receiver on the depth chart, but Walker produced when given the opportunity so he should be on the roster.

OL Luke Newman

Luke Newman saw significant action with the starters at left guard while veteran All-Pro Joe Thuney rested this preseason, and he played well while also showing versatility to play the right guard position, as well. Newman's place on this list may not be all that surprising for his play, but the sixth-round pick could force the team to move on from 2024 third-round pick, Kiran Amegadjie. With Theo Benedet and Ozzy Trapilo projected to be the top backup tackles, Newman's versatility and production could see the Bears abort their plans with Amegadjie who has had a tough road since entering the league.

EDGE Daniel Hardy

Daniel Hardy is likely going to be the biggest beneficiary of the injury to Austin Booker, who was on fire this preseason. Hardy, who has one sack and one forced fumble this preseason, was praised by head coach Ben Johnson for his performance against the Chiefs, which included a strip sack so his final impression could be the lasting one. Hardy could be one of the last edge rushers to make the roster, but it's hard to bet against his chances after listening to his head coach praising him.

CB Nahshon Wright

With Jaylon Johnson nursing an injury throughout the preseason, there was a big focus on the position battle for the second outside corner spot. Tyrique Stevenson has been battling with Nahshon Wright for the job, and Wright may get his opportunity due to the season-ending injury suffered by Terrell Smith. Wright has familiarity with defensive backs coach Al Harris, and that should help him grow his role in the secondary as the season progresses.

RB Kyle Monangai

Kyle Monangai's inclusion on this list is a credit to the work he's shown in limited opportunities, and he may have just put himself higher on the depth chart than expected. Monangai is a seventh-round pick of this year's draft, and with Roschon Johnson battling a foot injury and Travis Homer unable to make a major impact, Monangai may come out of the preseason as the team's top backup behind veteran D'Andre Swift. Monangai has received plenty of praise from rookie minicamp through the preseason, and while most seventh-round picks have an uphill battle to make the roster, Monangai may have done more than just that this year, he may have a real role as a rookie.

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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears roster cuts: Which under-the-radar players deserve a spot