Bears player on roster bubble with most at stake in 2026 NFL preseason finale

With roster cut down day looming, the Chicago Bears will have plenty of decisions to make. How players on the bubble perform in their preseason finale vs. the Tennessee Titans will play a pivotal role in who gets the final spots.

At cornerback, Jaylon Johnson and Tyrique Stevenson are locked in as starters. Kyler Gordon is as well, but he may open the year on the Physically Unable to Perform List. As a fourth-round pick, Malik Muhammad is also safe, while Josh Blackwell and Jaylon Jones are key contributors on special teams.

Assuming the Bears carry seven cornerbacks, three players are battling for one spot – Dontae Manning, Beanie Bishop Jr. and Terrell Smith. In Courtney Cronin of ESPN’s latest 53-man roster prediction, she has Manning winning the battle.

“Given the lack of a timeline for Kyler Gordon’s return from PUP, it’s possible the Bears move him to reserve/PUP during cuts, where he must remain for the first four games,” Cronin wrote. “Muhammad has been the Bears’ nickel in Gordon’s absence. Manning snags the final spot over Beanie Bishop Jr., who will serve a suspension for the first three games, and Terell Smith, who continues to struggle to stay healthy.”

For Manning, the preseason finale will be crucial. He is coming off of a brutal performance against the Cincinnati Bengals. A bounce back against the Titans could put him in much stronger graces.

Dontae Manning must earn Bears roster spot

Against the Bengals, Manning let up six catches for 87 yards and two touchdowns, via Andrew Freeman of 247Sports. Cincinnati targeted him 11 total times, spying a weakness. Another performance like that would have his roster chances looking grim.

However, as Cronin points out, Bishop is suspended for the first three games while Smith has battled through injuries. Manning may look like the only option.

But as teams around the league begin cutting their roster down, cornerbacks will become available. If the Bears deem the position a serious need, they will be scouring the waiver wire intently. Manning will have to earn his spot rather than see it handed to him.

The cornerback has yet to appear in an NFL game, making the preseason finale all the more important. He won’t be facing off with the Titans’ top offense, at least not for long. But this is Manning’s best opportunity to prove he can hang at the NFL level.

Chicago’s defense has been a point of contention all offseason. Throughout the 2026 campaign, the Bears are looking to prove they’re better than the consensus opinion. How Manning fares to close out training camp will determine if he comes along for the journey.

The post Bears player on roster bubble with most at stake in 2026 NFL preseason finale appeared first on ClutchPoints.