The Bears regular season opener is less than a week away. That marks the transition point away from expectations and toward tangible results, as the Bears must now prove worthy of all the preseason hype.

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There was plenty of it following an offseason where Keenan Allen added was in trade, D’Andre Swift was signed in free agency, Jaylon Johnson was extended and Caleb Williams was drafted. Those big swings highlighted a larger initiative to bolster depth and add the talent required to compete for the NFC North title.

There are some issues, however, left to work out. That’s not unusual. No roster is perfect or should be considered so, especially at this unproven stage.

That’s why, as with other teams, the Bears have some questions remaining as we head towards Sunday’s opener against the Tennessee Titans at Soldier Field. Honestly, most of these won’t be known until we start playing games and we see these Bears in action, but they’re worth pondering over the coming days.

1. How will defensive line rotation shake out?

The Bears made some moves near preseason’s end, adding end Darrell Taylor and tackle Chris Williams to their defensive front in trade. GM Ryan Poles was on the hunt to make additions there and received quality talent at a decent price after failing to get Matthew Judson from New England.

The are issues inside and out, but the rotation at end remains in question. We know Montez Sweat can be a three-down presence and believe he’ll take the lion’s share of defensive snaps. Everything else is up in the air.

There are six defensive ends on the roster – Jacob Martin is also on IR and designated to return – a number that might come down when long snapper Scott Daly is added to the roster prior to playing Tennessee.

Who’s active? Who plays where and how much? Taylor hasn’t been here long but could make an instant impact rushing the pass rusher in the sub package. DeMarcus Walker is a first-team player and should still be a factor, possibly more-so in the base defense.

Who plays most in that second wave is an unknown. It’ll be some combination of Dominique Robinson, Austin Booker and Daniel Hardy, depending on who is active and available. Unproven commodities dot the depth chart’s back end, but the preseason proved there’s talent back there.

The Bears are also thin at tackle. There are just three bodies there, though Walker can help by sliding inside. Health must be preserved to help stop the run and pass.

If the Bears can generate pressure off the edge and the interior, especially while rushing four, that makes this defense a truly dangerous unit. We’ll see if that’s able to happen early on.

2. How will the early-season offensive line look?

Poles said last week that Bears offensive line is as deep and talented as it has been since he arrived in 2022. That might be an asset considering the issues up front. Chicago has mixed and matched somewhat in recent practices, especially at the guard spot.

The season’s first injury report – it’s coming Friday – will be telling. So will the participation levels for important members of this front. That could offer hints about line starters and depth.

This position group has had rough injury luck in recent seasons, with tons of starting variations in an area where continuity is king. The Bears could use some consistency while trying to open rushing lanes and protect Caleb Williams. Time will tell if they get it.

3. Can a rookie QB avoid high volume rookie mistakes?

Williams has said time and again that he doesn’t get nervous. Will that truly be the case on Sunday afternoon, when he realizes a dream of becoming an NFL starting quarterback, while shouldering sky-high expectations within Chicago and across the league?

A regular-season debut is a big moment, but letting nerves go could help him focus on difficult tasks ahead. The first game is tough on anyone from a football perspective, knowing they must deal with unscouted looks common in the opener. While Williams can do spectacular things, avoiding major mistakes might be a better quality to employ at this stage. That said, Williams is a rookie. Young quarterbacks make mistakes, a statement true even of those who would achieve greatness.

That’s why the Bears have been so adamant that Williams rely on his teammates and pick his spots trying to be special. That’s a recipe for success, one that could generate enough production to whether the inevitable setbacks of a signal caller working his way through the league. Williams has an excellent set of skill players to make his life easier. He has a good play caller in Shane Waldron. The USC alum has been set up for success and support should he stumble. That’s a good place for a No. 1 overall pick to be.

The Bears kickoff the season on Sunday, September 8 at noon vs. the Titans. Tune in to the Marquee Sports Network App immediately after the game for The Official Bears Postgame Live presented by United Airlines. For more information on how to watch, click here: https://www.marqueesportsnetwork.com/shows/bearspostgame/.