Bears pregame: Regular starters sitting vs. Dolphins
Receivers DJ Moore and Rome Odunze and tight end Cole Kmet were among the starters who didn't play in the Bears’ preseason opener Sunday at Soldier Field.
Offensive starters sitting out were quarterback Caleb Williams; running back D’Andre Swift; Kmet; receivers Moore, Odunze and Olamide Zaccheaus; and offensive linemen Joe Thuney, Drew Dalman, Jonah Jackson and Darnell Wright.
Defensive players sitting out where linemen Montez Sweat, Grady Jarrett, Gervon Dexter, Andre Billing and Dayo Odeyingbo; linebackers Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards; safeties Jaquan Brisker and Kevin Byard; and cornerback Kyler Gordon. Gordon has a hamstring injury.
The left tackle battle will continue apace — Braxton Jones started and rookie Ozzy Trapilo is expected to play.
The Bears put Williams through a warmup hours before kickoff. Head coach Ben Johnson said Williams was likely to play in the preseason at some point this month. He would likely be in a week against the Bills, as starters rarely play in the third preseason game.
Sunday also marks Johnson’s first game, preseason or otherwise, as the Bears head coach.