At long last, Chicago Bears football is back this weekend with the start of their preseason slate. It's been six months since the Bears last played a game at Soldier Field, which of course ended in a heartbreaking loss to the Los Angeles Rams during the divisional round of the playoffs. But it's a new season filled with hope and optimism, led by head coach Ben Johnson and quarterback Caleb Williams. The Bears are entering the 2026 season hoping to defend their NFC North title, and it all begins with the groundwork being laid during training camp and the preseason. Now that the team has gotten two dozen practices under the belt, it's time to face a different team for once to see how they stack up. At least when it comes to the reserves. Most of the starters are not expected to see action on Saturday, including Williams. That means backups and third stringers will take the spotlight on the lakefront. Even though we won't see the starters, there are still plenty of individuals worth watching. Here are the players we'll be keeping an eye on when the Bears take the field.
1. QB Tyson Bagent June, July, Bagent. Okay, maybe it doesn't have the same ring as Tom Izzo and March, but Tyson Bagent comes alive when the preseason begins. The Bears' backup quarterback hasn't taken a meaningful snap since midway through the 2023 season, so this is his chance to shine. And he usually does. Bagent will be looking to carve up the Browns' defense and once again show he's one of the 32 best quarterbacks in the league. 2. QB Miller Moss We haven't seen or heard much from undrafted rookie quarterback Miller Moss throughout camp, but he should see a series or two late in the game. Moss joined the Bears after playing for USC, where he backed up Williams, and Louisville. He was once seen as one of the better quarterback prospects but failed to meet expectations. We'll see if his pro career can get off to a good start. 3. RB Salvon Ahmed Salvon Ahmed has been turning heads during training camp and now has the opportunity to showcase his blazing speed against one of the better defenses in the NFL. Ahmed, who hasn't played in any sort of game since 2024, is looking to make his way back to the NFL. He should see an ample amount of carries on Saturday afternoon. 4. WR Kaden Davis No one has lit up Bears training camp quite like wide receiver Kaden Davis. The veteran pass catcher has dazzled with multiple highlight plays ever since camp began and could put himself even more on the map with a big day against the Browns. Davis has connected with the Bears' backup quarterbacks and that rapport will be put to the test. The fan favorite of camp is a prime candidate to make the play of the day. 5. OT Kiran Amegadjie The Bears' left tackle competition has yet to be resolved as Braxton Jones, Jedrick Wills, and Kiran Amegadjie all vie for the starting job. Jones is still working his way back from an injury suffered a week ago, so it will be Amegadjie who gets the first crack on Saturday. The former third-round pick has yet to show he can be a consistent solution at the position, but maybe a strong performance against the Browns turns some heads. 6. C Logan Jones It's been a quiet camp for rookie center Logan Jones. The second-round pick out of Iowa appears to be firmly behind veteran Garrett Bradbury for the starting center job, so this will give us a look at how he's performing in Johnson's offense. Jones is considered the center of the future and hopefully he can have a strong outing against the Browns by directing traffic and holding up with his blocking. Plus, it will be the first time a Bears player wearing No. 54 will appear in a game since Brian Urlacher back in 2012. 7. DT Jordan van den Berg Rookie defensive tackle Jordan van den Berg made a strong impression over the last week, so much so that he started seeing time with the starting defensive line. The Bears may have found a diamond in the rough when they selected him out of Georgia Tech in the sixth round and we finally get a closer look at what he brings to the table. Don't be surprised to see him completely blow up a play with his high motor and strength. 8. CB Malik Muhammad The rookies should get plenty of run on Saturday, including cornerback Malik Muhammad. Thanks to a number of injuries in the Bears secondary, Muhammad has been seeing time both at nickel and outside corner. We'll see where the Bears opt to play him against the Browns, but we'll get a good idea of how Muhammad is developing early into his career. 9. S Dillon Thieneman While many of the team's starters won't suit up, don't be surprised to see first-round pick Dillon Thieneman play a series or two. Thieneman has been tested early in camp and it will be interesting to see how he handles facing a different offense for once, both in run and pass defense. Though it may only be for a few plays, Thieneman will be one to watch on defense early in the game. 10. S Skyler Thomas Thanks to the injuries to Coby Bryant, Cam Lewis, and Elijah Hicks, undrafted rookie safety Skyler Thomas has a chance to make a name for himself beginning this weekend. Thomas was seeing first-team reps at one point and has started to make plays as camp has gone on. With the Browns quarterbacks struggling throughout camp, turnovers could be aplenty for the Bears secondary. Follow Bears Wire on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: 10 Bears players to watch in preseason opener vs. Browns