Injuries will have a significant impact on the final roster numbers, with the team uncertain about punter, middle linebacker and safety. Brian Urlacher is expected to return healthy, but there's no guarantee. Punter Adam Podlesh's hip-flexor and the season-ending neck injury suffered by rookie S Brandon Hardin all might give the roster a different look. The offense has remained free of injuries through much of camp and may be relied on early.
Stock rising: CB Isaiah Frey could parlay an interception against the Giants into a roster spot with a big game against Cleveland, and S Mark LeGree had only been with the team less than a week but showed a good nose for the ball and tackling ability. WR Joe Anderson put on some highlight film moves that pushed him into the battle for the last receiver spot.
Stock falling: WR Dane Sanzenbacher hasn't done enough to protect that roster spot he won last year against a number of talented challengers -- special teams ability is important, but ultimately a receiver has to be a receiver. Armando Allen had some nice catches against the Giants, but no more than his competitor, Lorenzo Booker, and he hasn't displayed much special teams ability. Ricky Henry's mean streak earned him coaches' attention, but his lack of versatility will be costly.
QB -- In (3): Jay Cutler, Jason Campbell, Josh McCown. Analysis: The team already cut Matt Blanchard, and the only question is whether he will be brought back as a practice squad player. It doesn't appear there is a big need for this. The win over the Giants proved encouraging because Campbell played better than in previous outings and appears to know the offense well enough now to be the opening-day backup.
RB -- In (3): Matt Forte, Michael Bush, Booker. Out: Armando Allen. Analysis: The team already cut Harvey Unga and Kahlil Bell, so the battle comes down to Booker and Allen in the final preseason game for the third spot. Booker is probably not as good in the passing game as Allen, but the difference isn't drastic. And he has numerous other advantages, including real game experience in NFL offenses with Miami, Philadelphia and Minnesota. He also is a more accomplished special teams player.
FB -- In (0). Out: Tyler Clutts. There hasn't been a big emphasis on getting Clutts reps in the offense and, in fact, it continues to seem like they've been preparing to use Kyle Adams at the H-back spot much of the time while going without a traditional fullback. It may take an injury to change this.
TE -- In (4): Matt Spaeth, Kellen Davis, Adams, Evan Rodriguez. Keeping one more than is necessary seems a luxury, but it would seem unlikely that the starter, Davis, will get cut, and Sapeth is the best blocker. Rodriguez is the fourth-round pick with the highest ceiling, but Adams has been a find since arriving last year and also is the best special teams player of the four. Tice views him as a Jim Kleinsasser type, the former 6-3, 270-pound Viking under Mike Tice who moved around from fullback to H-back and tight end. Remember, Tice likes using tight ends. He was one once.
WRs -- In (6): Brandon Marshall, Devin Hester, Earl Bennett, Alshon Jeffery, Eric Weems, Joe Anderson. Out: Rashied Davis, Brittan Golden, Sanzenbacher. The short, leaping catch, and spin move on the next play for a TD that Anderson made against the Giants may have vaulted him to roster status. Certainly, the Bears will try to bring him back as a practice-squad player. Film of those moves will open eyes of receiver-starved teams in the league and it might be harder to get him back to the practice squad after waiving him. Sanzenbacher has looked better than last year by not dropping passes, but his skills are common. Golden has excellent speed and is possibly a practice squad type.
OL -- In (8): Roberto Garza, Chris Williams, J'Marcus Webb, Gabe Carimi, Chris Spencer, Lance Louis, Edwin Williams, Chilo Rachal. Out: Ricky Henry, James Brown, Cory Brandon, A.J Green. Analysis: Chris Williams hasn't really jumped up and seized the starting tackle spot even though it has been dangled there by Webb with his inconsistent play. As a result, it wouldn't be a shocker if the Bears found a veteran castoff or potential backup on waivers who could play swing tackle more effectively than Williams. Until that player would know the offense, they could always revert back to Lance Louis as a backup tackle since he did it last year. Edwin Williams vs. Ricky Henry becomes the big interior fight for a roster spot. Williams plays both center and guard and Henry doesn't.
DL -- In (9): Julius Peppers, Shea McClellin, Israel Idonije, Corey Wootton, Stephen Paea, Henry Melton, Matt Toeaina, Brian Price, Nate Collins. Out: Cheta Ozougwu, Chauncey Davis. Analysis: The intriguing player now looks like Ozougwu, who has managed more big plays than all reserves -- if not starters. He'll need a big final game to change minds about veterans. It may not be enough, and D-line isn't a position where they're likely to keep more than nine -- and possibly only eight due to the versatility of starters and reserves. Although Price hasn't shown much, they're willing to wait until he gets into better shape and climbs past the personal problems he had in Tampa. For this reason, they may also keep Collins, who would not be eligible in Week 1 due to a violation of the league's substance abuse policy. Davis has been around since last season and lacks the big-play ability they need at end.
LB -- In (7): Urlacher, Lance Briggs, Nick Roach, Geno Hayes, Blake Costanzo, J.T. Thomas, Dom DeCicco. Out: Patrick Trahan, Jabara Williams, Xavier Adibi. Urlacher's knee injury still looms over this group and the numbers needed. Six would be sufficient if not for the injury. DeCicco has had a groin injury but is running again. If the team had no intention of keeping him, it's likely he'd have been gone by now. So it's up to Trahan, Williams and Adibi to make the plays they haven't to date.
DB -- In (10): Charles Tillman, Tim Jennings, Kelvin Hayden, D.J. Moore, Isaiah Frey, Chris Conte, Major Wright, Craig Steltz, Anthony Walters, LeGree. Out: Jonathan Wilhite, Greg McCoy. Analysis: Brandon Hardin's season-ending injury and a solid effort by LeGree could earn the recent acquisition a roster spot. With Conte suffering from a shoulder injury and Walters also hurting, the Bears can't afford to go with four safeties. At corner, Frey made a big INT in the last game and showed he's capable of the big play that veteran Wilhite hasn't produced to date.
Special teams -- In (3): Robbie Gould, Podlesh, Patrick Mannelly. Out: Ryan Quigley. The treatment Podlesh has been getting for his hip-flexor could have him ready for the start of the season. If not, then look for the the Bears to go with one fewer defensive back or lineman and keep Quigley for at least one week as Podlesh's replacement.
Follow Bears reporter Gene Chamberlain on Twitter @CBSSportsNFLCHI.
