The Latest Breaking News from Matt Eberflus

With the season opener about a week away, the Sun-Times’ Patrick Finley breaks down the Bears’ biggest questions.

The Bears claimed seven players off waivers this week, including Alex Leatherwood and Armon Watts. We grade the new additions:

Plenty of intrigue swirls around Justin Fields, Roquan Smith and others as the Bears kick off the season and their rebuild under GM Ryan Poles and coach Matt Eberflus.

With Week 1 arriving and the Chicago Bears promenading around the track on their way to the NFL starting gate, rookie general manager Ryan Poles certainly has great conviction in one thing: He hired the right coach. Especially for this team in this moment.

Sports Illustrated predicts the Bears will finish dead-last in NFC North with the Lions finishing just behind the Packers in 2022.

Bears rookie Jaquan Brisker practiced for the first time in 2 weeks after suffering a right thumb injury, and he's on track to play Week 1.

The Bears have 15 rookies on the 53-man roster, but their first-year head coach sees that as opportunity rather than a challenge. “You have to play ’em,” he said, “because the experience they get in that first season, it’s invaluable.”

Despite a key loss, the Packers are still the strong favorite in a division otherwise stocked with teams in transition.

CHICAGO — When the Chicago Bears let go 23 players Tuesday to reach an original 53-man squad, Matt Eberflus said roster churning is something that would continue all season.

CHICAGO — Ryan Poles has danced around the word “rebuilding,” calling it a “super sensitive” term. But roster moves are more instructive than words, and the first-year Chicago Bears general manager reinforced one of the organization’s plans with his cuts to form the initial 53-man roster.

It’s a lot to ask of Eberflus, but that’s the job. If the Bears have a good defense amid the rebuild this season, that’ll give them a lot of confidence in his future.