The Bears on Tuesday released their first unofficial regular season 53-man depth chart in advance of Sunday night's opener against the Rams in Los Angeles.
Here are a few items of note:
• Receiver Nsimba Webster is listed as the No. 1 punt returner ahead of receiver Damiere Byrd.
The Bears claimed Webster off waivers from the 49ers last Wednesday. He entered the NFL with the Rams in 2019 as an undrafted free agent from Eastern Washington. In 21 games the past two seasons with Los Angeles, Webster averaged 6.3 yards on 32 punt returns and 22.4 yards on 18 kickoff returns. The 5-10, 180-pounder played just eight snaps on offense and had no receptions.
Webster was waived by the Rams July 21 and claimed by the 49ers. He was then waived by San Francisco last Tuesday as part of final cuts.
Last week general manager Ryan Pace described Webster as "not only a good returner, but also a really good four core special teams player. He's a really good gunner, he's really good on kickoff coverage."
• Rookie sixth-round running back Khalil Herbert is listed as the No. 1 kickoff returner, ahead of Webster.
In preseason action, Herbert averaged 19.9 yards on eight kickoff returns with a long of 25 yards. A full-time returner last year at Virginia Tech for the first time in five college seasons, he averaged 26.9 yards on 16 kickoff returns.
• Second-year pro Kindle Vildor is listed as a starting cornerback opposite Jaylon Johnson. Vildor's main competition for the job was veteran free-agent acquisition Desmond Trufant, who was released as part of final cuts. Duke Shelley and Artie Burns are the Bears' second-string cornerbacks.
• Rookie fifth-round pick Larry Borom will back up veteran Jason Peters at left tackle, while veteran Elijah Wilkinson is the Bears' second-string right tackle behind Germain Ifedi. Alex Bars is the backup at both guard positions.
Coach Juan Castillo wants Borom to focus on one position as part of his transition into the NFL.
"He's young, so what I'm trying to do is keep him on one side and Elijah on the other side," Castillo said. "I think that makes it easier."
Roster move: The Bears on Tuesday signed linebacker Josh Woods to their practice squad. Woods was waived by the team Tuesday.
Senior writer Larry Mayer ranks the Bears' top 10 Week 1 wins he's witnessed since he began covering the team in 1992.
(10) Bears 19, Lions 14
Sept. 12, 2010 in Chicago
Jay Cutler passed for 372 yards, including a game-winning 28-yarder to Matt Forte with 1:40 remaining. With :24 to play, Calvin Johnson nearly snared the go-ahead TD, but officials ruled he did not complete the process of the catch, enabling the Bears to escape with the win.
(9) Bears 27, Lions 24
Sept. 6, 1992 in Chicago
In a seesaw game that featured four lead changes in the fourth quarter, Tom Waddle caught a 6-yard TD pass from Jim Harbaugh on fourth-and-goal with just :01 remaining to lift the Bears to the victory.
(8) Bears 27, Vikings 23
Sept. 8, 2002 in Champaign
The Bears erased a 23-13 fourth-quarter deficit, ultimately winning the game on Jim Miller's 9-yard touchdown pass to David Terrell with just :28 to play. Marty Booker had eight catches for 198 yards and one TD.
(7) Bears 41, Colts 21
Sept. 9, 2012 in Chicago
The Bears intercepted Andrew Luck three times in his first NFL game, Jay Cutler passed for 333 yards and two TDs—including a 42-yarder to Alshon Jeffery—and Michael Bush added a pair of 1-yard TD runs.
(6) Bears 24, Bengals 21
Sept. 8, 2013 in Chicago
In Marc Trestman's first game as coach, the Bears scored 14 unanswered points to erase a 21-10 deficit. The go-ahead TD came on Jay Cutler's 19-yard pass to Brandon Marshall midway through the fourth quarter.
(5) Bears 30, Falcons 12
Sept. 11, 2011 in Chicago
Brian Urlacher registered an interception and returned a fumble for a touchdown, Julius Peppers and Henry Melton each recorded two sacks and Jay Cutler passed for 312 yards and two TDs.
(4) Bears 29, Colts 13
Sept. 7, 2008 in Indianapolis
In the first regular season game played at Lucas Oil Stadium, Matt Forte rushed for 123 yards, including a 50-yard touchdown in his NFL debut, and the Bears defense held Peyton Manning and the Colts to one TD.
(3) Bears 27, Lions 23
Sept. 13, 2020 in Detroit
Trailing 23-6 entering the fourth quarter, Mitchell Trubisky threw three touchdown passes, including a game-winning 27-yarder to Anthony Miller with 1:54 remaining to lift the Bears to the victory.
(2) Bears 22, Cowboys 6
Sept. 2, 1996 in Chicago
The Bears opened the season by stunning the defending Super Bowl champion Cowboys on Monday Night Football, holding Dallas without a touchdown and generating four takeaways.
(1) Bears 26, Packers 0
Sept. 10, 2006 in Green Bay
Devin Hester made his NFL debut a memorable one, returning a punt 84 yards for a touchdown for the Bears, who dealt Brett Favre the first home shutout loss of his Hall of Fame career.
