Preseason opener unfolds at Soldier Field

The Bears host the Dolphins in a preseason opener that focuses on depth chart battles at key spots.

Bears and Dolphins open preseason at Soldier Field with position battles

The Bears opened Sunday’s game with mostly non-starters, as Caleb Williams did not start and other Bears starters were sidelined. The Dolphins played a few veterans, though Tyreek Hill was out, leaving room for younger players to show what they can do on offense and special teams. On the field, Bears rookie and depth players took the stage in early drives, while Kyle Monangai rushed for 30 yards on six carries and Tyson Bagent completed 12 of 18 passes for 90 yards with a touchdown and an interception. The two teams kept trading scores late in the game, reaching a 24-24 stalemate in the fourth quarter. The contest highlighted ongoing roster battles at left tackle and for the backup quarterback role, with both teams using the game to evaluate options for the weeks ahead.

This preseason opener was less about the final score and more about who can step into the bigger roles when the games start to count. The Bears are testing depth behind a still-developing offensive line and a quarterback room that likely will feature multiple contributors this season. The Dolphins, meanwhile, used the night to rotate players and assess how backups handle game speed when a star like Hill is sidelined. The result is a field full of candidates who could shape the roster decisions as teams trim to 53 players. The questions this game raises will guide coaching staffs through August and into September.

Highlights

Rosters will keep evolving as teams refine their plans for Week 1.