Chicago Bears QB Nick Foles in jeopardy of not making Week 1 roster

Previewing the Bears’ upcoming training camp, ESPN’s Jeff Dickerson wrote that Foles is in danger of not making the team’s 53-man roster when Week 1 kicks off in September.

“From an experience and ability standpoint, Foles is worthy of a spot on Chicago’s 53-man roster. Throughout the offseason, the Bears spoke and acted as if they expected Foles to be on the team. Still, the possibility exists that Foles could play elsewhere in 2021. The Bears are unlikely to simply release Foles, but the veteran is logical trade bait if another team suffered an injury at quarterback in the preseason. Foles is, after all, the Bears’ No. 3 quarterback behind Andy Dalton and Justin Fields, so it’s fair to label him as expendable. “

The Bears explored a Foles trade several times this offseason but there was minimal interest. When he refused to return to the Philadelphia Eagles, his former team backed out on a deal and Chicago realized it was stuck with the veteran quarterback.

If he became a free agent, there would certainly be interested clubs. While he’s no longer a starting-caliber passer, teams could do so much worse for their backup quarterback. If an injury strikes, Foles still has enough skills and veteran experience to provide stability for a few games.

The problem, especially for Chicago, is the contract. Foles carries a $6.66 million cap hit for the 2021 season, a figure the Bears can’t afford to pay a third-string quarterback. Cutting him would also leave the franchise with a $7.6 million cap charge.

Chicago will certainly keep him on the roster through training camp, waiting to see if an injury makes another team get desperate. But when it’s time to finalize that 53-man roster, don’t be surprised if Foles is one of the biggest names released on cut day.