Bears Wrestle With Roster Cuts: Is Roschon Johnson on the Chopping Block?

Training camp is almost over, and the Bears’ front office is already scanning the roster for the final 53-man roster. It’s that tense time of year when every player feels the heat, especially the guys on the bubble. Among them? Rookie safety Roschon Johnson, who, according to several insiders, could be the next name on the cut list.

Johnson arrived in Chicago after a solid junior‑college stint at Arkansas‑Pine Bluff, where he posted impressive tackling numbers and showed a nose‑for the ball. Drafted in the later rounds last spring, he’s been a quiet worker in practice, but the NFL transition is never a cakewalk, and the margin for error is razor‑thin when you’re fighting for a spot as a late‑round pick.

Now, he’s up against a crowded safety group that includes veterans like Eddie Jackson, younger arms like Julian Basham, and the promising rookie Keisean Nixon. The competition has been fierce; the coaching staff has praised Jackson’s instincts, while noting that Basham’s athleticism has been a bright spot. Johnson’s performance has been respectable—solid in the run‑fit drills, decent in the coverage work—but a few missed assignments in the latest scrimmage have raised eyebrows.

Head coach Matt Eberflus, when asked about the depth chart, said, “We’re evaluating everyone. The goal is to have the best possible mix of experience and upside. Some players will move on, and that’s just part of the business.” It’s a diplomatic line, but it underscores the reality: the Bears can’t carry every hopeful on the roster, and the safety position is a particular area of focus.

If Johnson does get the boot, there’s still a chance he could land on the practice squad, where he’d continue to develop under the same defensive scheme. Alternatively, other teams with thin secondary depth might sniff out his potential, giving him another shot elsewhere. Either way, his future in the league isn’t necessarily over—just redirected.

Fans have already taken to social media, some defending the rookie’s hustle, others urging the team to stick with veterans. It’s a classic debate: do you gamble on youth, or do you play it safe with proven hands? Whatever the final decision, the Bears will head into the regular season with a safety unit that reflects the choices made in these final, nerve‑wracking days of camp.