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The Chicago Bears begin OTAs today. Here’s a position-by-position breakdown of their roster.

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Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles spent the last two months reconstructing the roster he inherited from predecessor Ryan Pace.

Poles has been forthright in acknowledging he is not going to fix a 2021 team that went 6-11 in one year. At some positions, he has made upgrades. At others, Poles has added temporary fillers until he has more resources to find the right players.

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The Bears will get a better sense for what they have over the next month as they start organized team activities Monday at Halas Hall.

[ Chicago Bears 2022 schedule: Here’s who they’ll play — and our predictions for each matchup ]

Most players already became acquainted with new coach Matt Eberflus during voluntary minicamp in mid-April or rookie minicamp May 7-9. Over the next five weeks, they will diver deeper into their work with three OTAs sessions of three days apiece and then mandatory minicamp June 14-16.

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Here’s a look at the roster the Bears will field during those practices.

* Indicates 2022 draft pick

Image 1 of 119

Bears quarterback Justin Fields scores in the fourth quarter against the 49ers at Soldier Field on Oct. 31, 2021. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)

  • Key returners: Justin Fields
  • Notable additions: Trevor Siemian and Nathan Peterman
  • Major departures: Andy Dalton, Nick Foles and Ryan Willis

Outlook: Fields’ development obviously is the chief concern at quarterback, and so the most important offseason additions were the coaches who are tasked with helping him take the next step in his second season — offensive coordinator Luke Getsy and quarterbacks coach Andrew Janocko. Their relationship seemingly has gotten off to a good start, with Getsy saying recently that Fields has accepted the challenges they’ve thrown at him and that nobody in the building works harder or cares more than Fields.

But the Bears also had moves to make to back up Fields.

[ [Don’t miss] Chicago Bears release QB Nick Foles after being unable to find a taker for the former Super Bowl MVP ]

Dalton signed a one-year deal with the New Orleans Saints in free agency, and the Bears released Foles after failing to find a trade partner. So the Bears went after a backup in Siemian, the 30-year-old former Northwestern quarterback who started 29 games over seven seasons with the Denver Broncos, New York Jets and Saints. Siemian, who signed a two-year deal, has thrown for 6,843 yards, 41 touchdowns and 27 interceptions with a 81.2 passer rating in his career. The Bears released Willis after rookie minicamp and signed Peterman, who has made four starts in five seasons, to a one-year deal to be the third-string quarterback.

Bears wide receiver Darnell Mooney, right, is taken down by Vikings outside linebacker Nick Vigil during the first quarter on Jan. 9, 2022, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune)

  • Key returners: Darnell Mooney
  • Notable additions: Byron Pringle, Velus Jones Jr.*, Tajae Sharpe, Dante Pettis, David Moore and Equanimeous St. Brown
  • Also on the roster: Isaiah Coulter, Dazz Newsome, Nsimba Webster, Chris Finke and Kevin Shaa
  • Major departures: Allen Robinson, Marquise Goodwin, Damiere Byrd and Jakeem Grant

Outlook: Poles didn’t exactly quiet the Bears fans clamoring for more reliable targets for Fields with his offseason shopping. With Robinson leaving in free agency, the Bears lost a player who has amassed 6,409 receiving yards and 40 touchdown catches in his career. Poles didn’t get a big name to replace Robinson, instead going after a large cast of lesser-known options.

The most important replacements are Jones and Pringle, the former Kansas City Chiefs receiver who totaled 568 receiving yards and five touchdowns in 2021 and, the Bears believe, has potential for more. Jones, the Bears’ third-round draft pick out of Tennessee, had a career-high 62 catches for 807 yards and seven touchdowns as a sixth-year senior and has big value as a returner. Sharpe (1,397 yards, eight touchdowns over five seasons) and Pettis (739 yards, nine touchdowns over four seasons) were May additions to the competition.

Packers inside linebacker De’Vondre Campbell tackles Bears running back David Montgomery in the second quarter on Dec. 12, 2021, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)

  • Key returners: David Montgomery and Khalil Herbert
  • Notable additions: Trestan Ebner*, Darrynton Evans and Khari Blasingame
  • Also on the roster: De’Montre Tuggle
  • Major departures: Tarik Cohen and Damien Williams

Outlook: The Bears already were solid at the position with the return of David Montgomery and Khalil Herbert, who totaled 849 and 433 rushing yards in 2021, respectively.

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Ebner, a sixth-round draft pick, was an interesting addition because of his abilities as a pass catcher and a returner. He had 4,542 all-purpose yards in his career at Baylor. Evans was a waiver pickup from the Tennessee Titans with little playing time over six career games because of injuries, and Blasingame is a fullback.

[ Rookies Velus Jones and Trestan Ebner may be gearing up for a special competition to be the Chicago Bears kick returner ]

The release of Cohen came after he missed most of the last two seasons while dealing with personal trauma and a knee injury — ACL and MCL tears and a tibial plateau fracture, according to his essay in The Players’ Tribune — that was more serious than the Bears ever revealed publicly.

Bears tight end Cole Kmet catches a ball in front of Lions inside linebacker Alex Anzalone (34) on Nov. 25, 2021, at Ford Field in Detroit. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)

  • Key returners: Cole Kmet
  • Notable additions: Ryan Griffin and James O’Shaughnessy
  • Also on the roster: Rysen John, Chase Allen and Jake Tonges
  • Major departures: Jimmy Graham, Jesse James, J.P. Holtz and Jesper Horsted

Outlook: The Bears certainly hope to see more growth from Kmet in his third season after he totaled 60 catches for 612 yards in 2021. The rest of the Bears tight ends group last season — Graham, James, Holtz and Horsted — combined for just 23 catches.

Griffin comes in as a 10th-year veteran who has 2,158 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns in his career. O’Shaughnessy is a Naperville North product who has 1,108 receiving yards and three touchdowns over seven seasons.

Bears offensive lineman Lucas Patrick talks to reporters during a news conference on March 18, 2022, in Lake Forest. (Nam Huh/AP)

  • Key returners: Cody Whitehair, Teven Jenkins, Larry Borom andSam Mustipher
  • Notable additions: Lucas Patrick, Braxton Jones*, Zachary Thomas*, Doug Kramer*, Ja’Tyre Carter*, Dakota Dozier and Julien Davenport
  • Also on the roster: Lachavious Simmons, Dieter Eiselen, Jean Delance and Willie Wright
  • Major departures: James Daniels, Jason Peters, Germain Ifedi, Elijah Wilkinson and Alex Bars

Outlook: There are several questions to be answered on the line after Poles added only one certain starter. That player is Patrick, who will take over at center after starting 28 games at guard and center over the last two seasons with the Green Bay Packers.

Whitehair will be back at left guard, but right guard and both tackle positions aren’t solidified. Jenkins and Borom very well could start at tackle in their second seasons, with Borom lining up on the left side and Jenkins on the right during voluntary minicamp. Mustipher and Dozier are options to replace Daniels at right guard.

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Poles also drafted four Day 3 offensive linemen, and it will be worth watching to see if any emerge as candidates for significant playing time in their rookie seasons.

[ Chicago Bears Q&A: Will it be difficult to evaluate QB Justin Fields without more offensive additions? Is the roster more or less talented now? ]

Bears outside linebacker Robert Quinn pressures Giants quarterback Mike Glennon on Jan. 2, 2022, at Soldier Field. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)

  • Key returners: Robert Quinn, Trevis Gipson, Angelo Blackson, Mario Edwards Jr., Khyiris Tonga and Jeremiah Attaochu
  • Notable additions: Justin Jones, Al-Quadin Muhammad and Dominique Robinson*
  • Also on the roster: Carson Taylor, Auzoyah Alufohai, Micah Dew-Treadway, LaCale London, Charles Snowden and Sam Kamara
  • Major departures: Khalil Mack, Akiem Hicks, Eddie Goldman and Bilal Nichols

Outlook: It could be argued no group took a bigger hit to its talent, depth and leadership than this one after the Bears traded Mack, released Goldman and parted with Nichols and Hicks. But the group was deep to begin with, and Poles also invested in it with the additions of Jones at tackle and Muhammad and Robinson on the edge.

Making the move from outside linebacker to defensive end in Eberflus’ 4-3 scheme, Quinn returns after one of the best seasons of his career during which he set a Bears single-season record with 18 ½ sacks. Gipson looks to make an even bigger impact in his third season after he had seven sacks in 2021. Attaochu missed most of last season because of a torn pectoral muscle.

[ [Don’t miss] How Khalil Mack’s 4 years with the Chicago Bears unfolded, from a stunning beginning to the sudden end ]

Meanwhile, Muhammad rejoins Eberflus after a six-sack season in 2021 in Indianapolis, and Robinson comes in as a work in progress after only two years on defense in college.

On the interior, Jones was one of the Bears’ bigger free-agent acquisitions. Blackson returns after the best season of his career statistically in 2021, and Tonga and Edwards could be key rotational pieces for Eberflus, who has said he likes to use his defensive linemen in waves.

Bears inside linebacker Roquan Smith tackles Cardinals running back James Conner on Dec. 5, 2021, at Soldier Field. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)

  • Key returners: Roquan Smith
  • Notable additions: Nicholas Morrow, Matt Adams and Joe Thomas
  • Also on the roster: Noah Dawkins, Caleb Johnson, Jack Sanborn, Christian Albright and C.J. Avery
  • Major departures: Danny Trevathan, Alec Ogletree, Christian Jones and Joel Iyiegbuniwe

Outlook: Smith is the face of the Bears defense in his fifth season. The biggest question with him — along with whether he will play middle or weak-side linebacker — is whether Smith will get a contract extension done in the coming months.

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Morrow is an intriguing addition to pair with Smith after the Bears parted with 32-year-old Trevathan. Morrow was on the rise with the Raiders before he missed all of 2021 with an ankle injury and is looking to get back to where he was. Adams comes in as a player familiar with Eberflus after playing under him during four seasons with the Indianapolis Colts.

Bears cornerback Kyler Gordon stretches during rookie minicamp on May 6, 2022, at Halas Hall in Lake Forest. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)

  • Key returners: Jaylon Johnson, Kindle Vildor, Duke Shelley and Thomas Graham Jr.
  • Notable additions: Kyler Gordon*, Tavon Young and Greg Stroman Jr.
  • Also on the roster: Michael Joseph, BoPete Keyes, Lamar Jackson, Allie Green IV and Jaylon Jones
  • Major departures: Artie Burns, Xavier Crawford and Marqui Christian

Outlook: Poles used two second-round draft picks to improve a secondary that had six of the Bears’ eight interceptions in 2021. That includes using the 39th pick on Gordon, who comes off an All-Pac-12 season at Washington to be the likely starter opposite Johnson.

Gordon also can play nickel, an important position in Eberflus’ defense, but coordinator Alan Williams said they’ll start him off focusing on playing outside corner. Poles signed a nickel option in Young, who started 24 games with four interceptions and 16 passes defended in four seasons with the Baltimore Ravens. Young has a significant injury history but played in all 17 games in 2021.

[ 7 questions for 7 positions as the Chicago Bears prepare for OTAs — the next step in the offseason program ]

Vildor, Shelley and Graham return as competition after all saw time on defense in 2021.

Penn State safety Jaquan Brisker reacts against Michigan during a game on Nov. 13, 2021, in State College, Pa. (Barry Reeger/AP)

  • Key returners: Eddie Jackson and DeAndre Houston-Carson
  • Notable additions: Jaquan Brisker*, Dane Cruikshank and Elijah Hicks*
  • Also on the roster: Jon Alexander and A.J. Thomas
  • Notable departures: Tashaun Gipson, Deon Bush and Teez Tabor

Outlook: A significant storyline on the defense this season is whether the new staff can help Jackson rebound after what he said was one of the worst seasons of his career.

After Brisker had five interceptions, 14 pass breakups and 9 ½ tackles for a loss in 34 games (21 starts) at Penn State, the rookie could be poised to take over the starting role that Gipson occupied the last two seasons.

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[ [Don’t miss] Column: Chicago Bears haven’t had 2 rookie DBs start Week 1 in 51 years. Could Kyler Gordon and Jaquan Brisker end that streak? ]

Houston-Carson made the most of his opportunities in 2021, and his return ensures important veteran leadership for the group. Cruikshank is a key depth addition after he played in 44 games, with four starts, in four seasons with the Tennessee Titans.

Bears kicker Cairo Santos makes the game-winning field goal against the Lions at Ford Field on Nov. 25, 2021, in Detroit. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)

  • Key returners: K Cairo Santos, LS Patrick Scales, KR Khalil Herbert and PR Dazz Newsome
  • Notable additions: P Trenton Gill*, KR/PR Velus Jones Jr.*, KR/PR Trestan Ebner* and P Ryan Winslow
  • Also on the roster: LS Antonio Ortiz
  • Major departures: P Pat O’Donnell and KR/PR Jakeem Grant

Outlook: Santos is back for his third season after following up a Bears-record-breaking 2020 season by making 26 of 30 field-goal attempts and 27 of 28 extra-point attempts in 2021. The Bears let O’Donnell go in free agency and instead used their final of 11 draft picks on Gill, a punter from North Carolina State. He and Winslow, who has been around the league since 2018 and signed with the Bears in February, could compete.

The Bears lost Grant, a Pro Bowl returner in 2021, but drafted Jones and Ebner as intriguing return options.

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