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What conclusions can we draw from the release of the initial depth chart?
The Cleveland Browns get set to take on the New York Jets on Thursday Night as they participate in the Pro Football Hall of Fame game. And on the heels of their preseason opener, the Browns have released their initial depth chart.
While it is unofficial and predominantly standard, there are a few key items that cause an eyebrow to raise from this depth chart. Here we discuss four things that stood out as the Browns are through one week of training camp and get set to take on the Jets.
The special teamer will miss a substantial amount of time
Leaving practice earlier this week, linebacker Matthew Adams is now in a walking boot and will miss “weeks” with a calf injury. While the linebacker room lacked a significant upgrade this offseason, Adams signed with the Cleveland Browns this offseason as the team brought in an influx of special teams aces.
Entering training camp as a fringe player already, Adams will have to prove in a limited amount of time that he deserves a spot on the final 53-man roster.
#Browns Stefanski said LB Matt Adams will be out for weeks with a calf injury. He’s in a boot
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) July 27, 2023
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The ace special teamer left practice early on Tuesday
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Cleveland Browns training camp continues down in West Virginia as linebacker Matthew Adams left practice early with an injury on Tuesday. Notably, he was able to walk off the field himself meaning the injury may not be severe though there isn’t more information available currently.
Adams was an underrated signing this offseason but as a special teamer and not a traditional linebacker. The Browns brought in Special Teams Coordinator Bubba Ventrone to fix the awful unit the team has had the past few seasons. It would be a big blow to that unit if Adams is forced to miss significant time.
#Browns LB Matthew Adams walked off the field with trainer.
— Fred Greetham (@FredGreetham9) July 25, 2023
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The Browns continue to pursue special teams aces.
As the Cleveland Browns continue to add special teams aces, they have added another linebacker in Matthew Adams. Overlapping with special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone with the Indianapolis Colts, Adams has a chance to be a leader as the Browns transition to their new coordinator. Adams joins Michael Ford and Jordan Kunaszyk as high-quality special teamers that the Browns have signed thus far throughout NFL free agency.
This now makes a dozen players the Browns have signed throughout the first week and a half of free agency. And they are not done yet as the wide receiver position still has to be upgraded as well.
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Ryan Poles made many low-risk moves for the Bears last year in free agency. Here’s how we graded his signings.
The 2023 free agency period is almost here and the Chicago Bears are sure to be active with what should be an exciting offseason. With the most available cap space in the NFL, the Bears should be able to pay top dollar to the free agent of their choice. It’s a big difference from where the team was last offseason during Ryan Poles’ first year as general manager.
Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus took a more conservative approach to free agency, focusing on quantity with one and two-year deals as they had to manage millions of dollars in dead cap. None of their 2022 signings broke the bank, ensuring they had plenty of flexibility this offseason after they had a chance to evaluate the team.
Now that nearly a full year has passed since last free agency began, we graded each significant free agent signing the Bears made in 2022.
Jack Sanborn burst onto the scene with the Bears linebackers last season, but what will the rest of the group look like in 2023?
The 2023 offseason is officially in full swing, and the Chicago Bears are gearing up for what should be one of the busiest springs in recent memory.
Armed with $98.6 million in cap space, general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus will have plenty of opportunities to improve the team roster in free agency, while also needing to make key decisions on which players they should let walk.
Here at Bears Wire, we’re going position by position to break down where Chicago stands entering the 2023 offseason. Next up on defense is the linebacker position, which could look a lot different from last season.
Following the first seven practices of training camp, we’re taking a look at how some of the Bears’ top position battles are shaking out.
The Chicago Bears have wrapped their first full week of training camp with seven practices, including two with pads, in the books.
There’s been plenty of competition at multiple positions on the roster, including some shake-ups along the offensive line and at cornerback, as well as some interesting names emerging at wide receiver.
There are no shortage of roster battles we’ve been monitoring at the start of the summer, and there have been some interesting developments through the first portion of camp.
Following the first seven practices of training camp, we’re taking a look at how some of the Bears’ top position battles are shaking out.
We’re taking a look at the most intriguing position battles heading into Bears training camp later this month.
The Chicago Bears are set to report to training camp on July 26, and there will be no shortage of position battles to watch as camp and the preseason unfolds. There are not only starting jobs on the line but roster spots, as well.
With a new regime in place, there’s been some notable roster turnover this offseason, which includes a lot of players on one-year, prove-it deals. But there’s also plenty of young talent on the roster looking to establish themselves as long-term starters.
Here’s a look at the most intriguing position battles heading into Bears training camp later this month, from offensive line to defensive end to wide receiver.
Former Colts LB Matthew Adams is reuniting with Matt Eberflus in Chicago.
Former Indianapolis Colts linebacker Matthew Adams signed with the Chicago Bears, the team announced Saturday.
A seventh-round pick with the Colts during the 2018 NFL draft, Adams will be reunited with former defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, who took over as head coach this offseason.
While Adams didn’t see a ton of work on the defensive side of the ball during his career with the Colts, he was a mainstay on special teams and wound up becoming a core player in that phase of the game.
The Colts opted to re-sign special teams captain Zaire Franklin over Adams this offseason, which made sense considering Franklin also played more on the defensive side as the third linebacker behind Darius Leonard and Bobby Okereke.
In four seasons with the Colts, Adams recorded 55 tackles, and six tackles for loss.
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Former Colts LB Matthew Adams reunites with new Bears HC Matt Eberflus in Chicago.
The Chicago Bears are signing former Indianapolis Colts linebacker Matthew Adams to a one-year deal, the team announced. Adams will reunite with his former defensive coordinator and new head coach Matt Eberflus.
Adams, a former seventh-round pick in 2018, has served primarily as a special teams contributor during his career. He’s played in 58 games with nine starts, but those came in the first two years of his career.
In his career, Adams has totaled 55 tackles, six tackles-for-loss, one fumble recovery and two QB hits.
Adams has experience playing under Eberflus during their time in Indianapolis, so he has a good understanding of Chicago’s new defensive scheme.
While Adams doesn’t figure to compete for a starting job, he’ll serve as key depth at linebacker alongside newcomers Joe Thomas and Noah Dawkins.
We have signed Matt Adams to a one-year contract.
Welcome to the Windy City, @all_in_adams!
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) April 9, 2022
Adams joins defensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad as the second Colts defensive player to follow Eberflus to Chicago this offseason.
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