7 Bears players who made a strong case for a roster spot

The NFL roster cut deadline is just around the corner, where Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles will have to make some important decisions.

As the Bears and all other teams across the NFL continue to make cuts to get to their official 53-man roster, there will be plenty of surprises, but there will also be names who overcame their spot on the bubble and earned their roster spot.

With that in mind, here are seven names who have made a strong case to be part of the Bears' 53-man roster despite being on the bubble throughout training camp and preseason.

1. RB Velus Jones Jr.

The position change may have been the secret to unlocking Velus Jones Jr. and his talent. After not panning out as a wide receiver, he was moved to running back and the move certainly appears to have paid off. With 25 carries for 158 yards, two touchdowns, and an average of 6.3 yards per carry this preseason, Jones has undoubtedly made his mark. The top running backs are locked in, but the emergence of Jones in this room will allow the offense to get even more creative than expected. Showcasing his ability as another weapon should force the team's hand to put Jones on their roster, along with his special teams contributions as a kickoff returner.

2. CB Reddy Steward

A man who recently captivated the audience not just on "Hard Knocks" but with his on-field play, as well. Undrafred rookie cornerback Reddy Steward had an impactful preseason, totaling 14 tackles, two interceptions, including a house-call touchdown in the finale against Kansas City, which should put him on the roster. There are players who will find their name on the 53-man roster because of their performance at the end of the preseason. Steward fits the bill and he fits this Bears defense. He wasn't just a standout in the finale -- he made plays every given chance -- the Chiefs game just happened to be his stamp of approval.

3. WR DeAndre Carter

For not much more than depth and special teams purposes, receiver DeAndre Carter still deserves his praise because of who he potentially beat out. Coming into the final preseason game against the Chiefs, many thought it would be Dante Pettis who would make the cut, and that still might be the case, but Carter should receive the nod. With his biggest impact coming in the return game as a punt returner, Carter should etch a role out for himself on this team, at the very least to begin the season.

4. DE Daniel Hardy

Daniel Hardy has appeared to be, along with Austin Booker, the answer to the call of a standout pass rusher opposite of Montez Sweat. In the preseason, Hardy continuously produced in the preseason. Compiling 14 tackles and 3.5 sacks, which was among the best in the entire league this preseason. The major X-factor to Hardy's place on the team is dependent on if there is enough space after the two trades the Bears made. Over the weekend, the team traded a 2025 sixth-round pick for edge rusher Darrell Taylor from the Seattle Seahawks and another 2025 sixth-round pick to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for defensive tackle Chris Williams and a 2025 seventh-round pick. When it comes to Hardy, he's proved he could play, but depending on other cuts on the roster, he may have a hard time to make the final roster. He should make the roster, and if he doesn't make it in Chicago, it wouldn't be a shocker if he was picked up immediately by another team.

5. LB Noah Sewell

With his biggest issue being health and staying on the field, Noah Sewell may have just made the cut getting on the field against Kansas City. Only recording one tackle isn’t the performance many would think is enough to seal a roster spot, but Sewell really just needed to get on the field. As a fifth-round pick just last year, it would be tough to cut him from the team this early, and he may have saved his spot by playing in the finale.

6. S Tarvarius Moore

The Bears secondary is incredibly deep both at the corner and safety positions. For safety Tarvarius Moore, his 10 tackles and one pass defended in the preseason don’t jump off the paper, but with his six-tackle game in the finale, he could’ve sealed the deal on his roster spot. There’s no such thing as “too much depth,” and Moore, just like the other defenders on this list, could make his impact even greater on special teams.

7. LB Amen Ogbongbemiga

Players like linebacker Amen Ogbongbemiga are made to thrive in the preseason, and he did just that. The ultimate opportunist absolutely performed above and beyond the entire preseason, compiling 20 tackles, with two passes defended, and one interception. Simply put, Ogbongbemiga was a playmaker and wherever the ball was, he wasn’t very far behind. All of those numbers and his special teams contributions are what should give him the nod to make the 53-man roster, where he could be a player deeper on the depth chart to watch in case he was called upon.

This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: 7 Chicago Bears players who made a strong case for a roster spot