The following is the final of eight position previews in advance of training camp.
OTHER POSITION PREVIEWS: Linebackers | Defensive Line | Offensive Line
After making major upgrades to their defensive front seven during the offseason, the Bears are hoping that their secondary produces more impact plays this year.
Last season the team's defensive backs didn't make many plays on the ball, combining for just four interceptions, three forced fumbles and no fumble recoveries.
A look at the Bears position by position. In the final of eight position previews in advance of training camp we check out photos of the defensive backs in action.
DB Tracy Porter
DB Adrian Amos
DB Bryce Callahan
DB Kyle Fuller
DB Sherrick McManis
DB Chris Prosinski
DB Harold Jones-Quartey
DB Demontre Hurst
DB Deiondre' Hall
DB Deon Bush
DB DeAndre Houston-Carson
DB De'Vante Bausby
DB Kevin Peterson
DB Taveze Calhoun
DB Jacoby Glenn
The most pleasant surprise last season was the emergence of veteran cornerback Tracy Porter, who will head to training camp looking to pick up where he left off in 2015. Appearing in 14 games with 13 starts, he led the defense with 22 pass breakups.
Porter's most impressive outing came in a rainy Thanksgiving night win over the Packers at Lambeau Field when he recorded his only interception of the season and became the first NFL player to break up four Aaron Rodgers passes in a game.
Kyle Fuller will open training camp at the other cornerback position. The 2014 first-round draft pick from Virginia Tech led the Bears with just two interceptions last season while also registering 56 tackles and 15 pass breakups.
Other cornerbacks expected to challenge for playing time in training camp and the preseason include veteran special-teams standout Sherrick McManis, rookie fourth-round pick Deiondre Hall, De'Vante Bausby, Jacoby Glenn and Taveze Calhoun.
The competition at safety figures to be wide open. Adrian Amos returns after leading the Bears with 108 tackles while starting all 16 games as a rookie. But the 2015 fifth-round pick from Penn State did not produce any turnovers last year and is not a lock to start in 2016.
Harold Jones-Quartey showed some promise last year as a rookie. After losing his starting job early in the season, he made the most of a second chance, generating two takeaways with a forced fumble and an interception in a win over the Buccaneers in Tampa.
Chris Prosinski also returns after contributing last season. Claimed by the Bears off waivers from the Eagles last Sept. 29, he appeared in the final 13 games with five starts, registering 32 tackles, one sack and one forced fumble.
Also back this season is Bryce Callahan, who served as the Bears' primary nickel back after earning a roster spot as an undrafted free agent from Rice last year.
The Bears added depth and competition to the safety position in the draft, selecting Deon Bush in the fourth round and DeAndre Houston-Carson in the sixth.
Bush played in 45 games with 32 starts over four seasons at Miami, recording 168 tackles, four interceptions, 13 pass breakups, nine forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.
"He's a good athlete, also a very physical player," general manager Ryan Pace said after the draft. "The fact that he throws his body around and plays with toughness, plays with instincts and plays fast on the field, he's another guy we were fired up to get."
Houston-Carson appeared in 45 games over four seasons at William & Mary, registering 293 tackles, 11.5 tackles-for-loss, 10 interceptions and 34 passes defensed. He also excelled on special teams, blocking nine kicks.
"He's another versatile player," Pace said after the draft. "He can play corner, he can play safety. We see him as a safety right now. He's a very physical player; hits with explosiveness. He's a very good special-teams player as well."
