Bears roster preview: Sewell, Ogbongbemiga and linebacker depth

As we head toward a new season, Bears Digest is looking at each member of the 53-man roster to recap their 2023-24 season and look ahead to the upcoming campaign. Today, we focus on linebacker depth. Check out our past stories on each member of the offense , punter Tory Taylor , kicker Cairo Santos , the defensive linemen and linebackers Jack Sanborn , T.J. Edwards and Tremaine Edmunds .

The Chicago Bears’ starting linebackers are set and should be one of the best groups in the league. While there’s good potential behind them, the depth has some more questions.

Noah Sewell, a fifth-round pick last year, seems to have the most upside, especially as a pass-rusher and run-stopper. He had nine tackles and a forced fumble last season in 12 games, playing mostly on special teams.

The Bears added Amen Ogbongbemiga as a free agent this offseason after he spent three seasons with the Chargers, mostly on special teams. He’s appeared in 47 games over his three seasons, racking up 36 tackles, two for loss, one sack and two fumble recoveries. He seems like a solid special teamer and backup with a little experience.

Chicago also added Javin White, who had a cup of coffee with the Raiders in 2020 but hasn’t appeared in a game since.

The other current depth options — Micah Baskerville, Carl Jones Jr. and Paul Moala — lack any real experience, although Baskerville at least had last season on the Bears’ practice squad compared to the two rookies.

Overall, it seems like a good group for special teams, with a couple decent developmental options. However, if one of Chicago’s starters gets hurt, the drop-off is steep and could force the team into more nickel personnel instead of turning to one of the backups.

It wouldn’t hurt the Bears to watch the waiver wire at the end of the preseason to possibly pick up another experienced option, but barring health issues, this should be a good group in 2024.