The dress rehearsal third preseason game Friday night finds the Bears worrying more about fine-tuning for the regular season and getting over injuries than conducting battles for starting jobs.
The only real question about starting positions are left tackle and left guard, and it's a stretch at this point to consider either one undecided. There are roster spots at stake, but these are marginal players whose only real role in the regular season will be special teams or being a member of the inactives on game day.
The game means more only in that a poor showing by either quarterback Jay Cutler, his offensive line, or a Brian Urlacher-less defense will lead to opening day angst.
Team Goals
1. Being physical and establishing the run are big in this game because the Bears haven't really done it so far. Washington crowded the line and stopped Chicago's run game last week, and the Denver game was such an offensive fiasco that they really didn't get a look at the rushing attack.
2. Defensively, it's important for Nick Roach to show he can cover the deep middle because Brian Urlacher's status for the opener remains in question due to his knee injury. Covering that area of the field will be all the more difficult without injured safety Chris Conte (shoulder).
3. On special teams, punter Ryan Quigley needs to make a mark because it's possible the Bears will need to have two punters active on the roster in the regular season due to a hip flexor injury suffered by regular punter Adam Podlesh.
Starting battles
1. Left tackle: J'Marcus Webb starts the dress rehearsal and holds the edge over Chris Williams. Although coach Lovie Smith says otherwise, it's unlikely the fourth game will mean anything in this starting battle. If Williams is going to steal this spot away, he'll need two things: an excellent game against Osi Umenyiora and a flop by Williams.
2. Left guard: This position may or may not be open still. Chilo Rachal is only in the hunt with incumbent Chris Spencer because offensive coordinator Mike Tice decided to use his left tackles and guards in pairs. So while Williams has challenged at left tackle, it gave Chilo Rachal a chance to make a statement. When Chris Spencer suffered through a poor first game, it opened the door even more for Rachal, who has 15 pounds and a couple inches of height in the tale of tape. Rachal looked very physical and aggressive last week, but Spencer has always had that in his game, too.
Roster battles
1. Tight end/fullback: It's possible injured Matt Spaeth could drop onto the bubble with another big game from Evan Rodriguez and Kyle Adams. However, Spaeth is the best blocking tight end and is needed more. The odd man out right now looks to be fullback Tyler Clutts, meaning the Bears would go without a fullback and with Adams blocking in the I.
2. Cornerback: Rookies Isaiah Frey and Greg McCoy haven't displayed enough to make veteran Jonathan Wilhite expendable, so some big plays by the reserves are necessary.
3. Defensive tackle: Brian Price hasn't locked up fourth DT, although it would be a surprise if the Bears gave up a late-round draft pick for him and then cut him. With starter Stephen Paea hurt, it means more opportunity for Nate Collins and John McCargo to build a case for keeping a fifth defensive tackle. They'll have to make an awfully good case for this to happen considering DE Israel Idonije can always move inside to tackle.
4. Wide receiver: Dane Sanzenbacher and Rashied Davis battle it out on special teams and in the offense for a sixth wideout spot that may or may not exist.
Follow Bears reporter Gene Chamberlain on Twitter @CBSSportsNFLCHI.