Chicago Bears Set for Fourth and Final Preseason Game

When the Cleveland Browns march into Soldier Field Thursday night, the stadium will not lack the energy that a regular season game brings. However, even though this is typically looked at as the "scrub game," there are still a few reasons to watch this game.

Here they are:

1. The WR battle: How many will the Bears keep?

It has been the most talked about position this preseason, mostly because of newcomer Roy Williams replacing fan favorite Johnny Knox as starting wide receiver. It seems that the top four wideouts have already been chosen with Williams, Devin Hester, Earl Bennett, and Knox as the guys that will see the field the most.

NIU grad Sam Hurd appears to be the fifth guy because he has special team experience, something that a fifth wide receiver is expected to do. Some NFL teams carry six wide receivers, and this leads many to speculate that Dane Sanzenbacher may be a guy that can contribute. If the Bears are thinking of keeping Sanzenbacher, look from him to play special teams Thursday night. If he can make an impact there, then he may have a shot at making this team,  because at 5-foot-11, he's not going to scare a whole lot of opponents.

2. The Chester Taylor saga lives another week: How many carries will he get?

Chester Taylor apparently thought he was cut on Monday. After talking to head coach Lovie Smith about why he didn't play a lot against the Titans in the "dress rehearsal" preseason game, Taylor got the impression that his services were no longer needed. Coach Smith said that there was no reason that Taylor should've left as he is still part of the team.

Make no mistake, most fans know that Taylor's days in a Bears uniform are over. Unless Marion Barber's calf injury is worse than believed to be, expect him to be cut on Saturday when the team's roster is cut to 53.

The interesting part of the game for him would be if the Bears try and showcase him, perhaps as a courtesy to help him in the free agent market or even in hopes of trading him for something like a seventh round pick—though, that is not likely.  The Bears also may play him sparingly to take a look at some of the other running backs they have on the roster and give them a chance to make a team somewhere. 

3. How will the backup QBs look?

One of the signatures of the Mike Martz offense is the quarterback takes a lot hits. And last year was no exception. If quarterback Jay Cutler suffers another year like the last, the backup quarterback may play a bigger role than most Bears fans desire.

Caleb Hanie has been on the Bears for a few years now and despite a gutsy effort in the NFC championship game, he hasn't won over the coaching staff. Hanie has looked so-so in preseason play and even fell to third-string on the depth chart at one point.

If he plays well Thursday, it may make Bears fans feel a little better if he has to come in again in a pinch.

Nathan Enderle is the rookie from Idaho who hasn't seen much playing time this preseason. If the Bears are going to keep a third string quarterback, Enderle has to make sure he executes Thursday night. As long as he doesn't do anything to lose the position, I don't think the Bears have much of a choice but to keep him, given the amount of punishment their signal callers have taken in recent history.