For the Titans, Cam Ward is expected to play vs. Bears. The starting offense has played in both previous game to not much success. However, it’s about bonding and making chemistry stronger.

The starters will clearly play on a snap count. Hence, expect just one or two offensive series out of them. Then, the backups will likely enter the game against the Chicago Bears to finish it off.

Is Caleb Williams playing vs Titans?

On the other hand, the Bears will rest Caleb Williams and the starters for this final preseason game. The Bears are 1-1 in preseason. For the game vs. Titans, Tyson Bagent will be the quarterback if recovered. He was dealing with an injury. If Bagent can’t play, it’ll be Case Keenum and Miller Moss.

Bagent is a reliable backup and in 2026, he’s completed 13/22 passes for a 59.1% completion, 169 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. His QBR rating is 79.5 during the preseason.

Joint practices between these teams were heated

There were quite a lot of heated moments during the joint practices. Namely, Titans WR Wan’Dale Robinson got hit badly which prompted a multi-man fight. Head coach Robert Saleh even condemned the play and called it cheap.

The Bears were also frustrated with Carnell Tate, who was unstoppable. However, on the other hand, Bears HC Ben Johnson was having his way with the Titans defense. His playcalling was exceptional.

However, fans will not get to see either of the quarterbacks who sit at the center of those ambitions. Caleb Williams will not play for Chicago, while Joe Burrow will also remain on the sideline for Cincinnati as both coaching staffs prioritize the regular season over preseason evaluation.

For the Bears, head coach Ben Johnson has decided not to expose Williams to unnecessary contact. The Bengals have taken an equally cautious approach with Burrow, with Zac Taylor opting to keep his franchise quarterback out of the remaining preseason games.

Why isn’t Caleb Williams playing for the Bears?

Caleb Williams’ absence is a decision made by Ben Johnson rather than a sign of a new injury concern. The Bears already know what their starting quarterback can do, and there is little benefit in putting their young star at risk in a preseason game.

Chicago’s coaching staff can instead use the matchup to evaluate the quarterbacks fighting for depth-chart positions. Tyson Bagent, Case Keenum and Miller Moss are expected to handle the quarterback duties as they continue competing for opportunities and roster spots. Bagent was sidelined during the team’s preparation for the game, which could create additional work for Keenum and Moss.

Why isn’t Joe Burrow playing for the Bengals?

Joe Burrow will also watch from the sideline, and Taylor has already made the decision that Cincinnati’s starters will not play in either of the team’s final two preseason games. That means Burrow will not see action against Chicago as the Bengals turn their attention toward preparing for the regular season.

The Bengals have plenty of reasons to be cautious with their franchise quarterback. Burrow missed much of the 2025 season after suffering a significant toe injury that required surgery, eventually returning late in the year. With Cincinnati hoping to compete for the Super Bowl, exposing him to unnecessary preseason contact would offer very little reward.

Taylor is also trying to avoid another slow start to the regular season, but that does not mean the Bengals need Burrow to play in August. The coaching staff can address timing, execution and preparation through practices while allowing the veteran quarterback to enter the regular season healthy.

Who will play quarterback for the Bears and Bengals?

With Williams unavailable, the Bears will rely on their backup options. Bagent, Keenum and Moss all have something to prove, making the game particularly important for players trying to secure their place on the final roster.

Keenum brings extensive NFL experience, while Bagent has already shown that he can operate Chicago’s offense in regular-season situations. Moss, meanwhile, is looking to make an impression as he competes for a place on the roster. Chicago’s 2026 preseason opener already showed the value of that depth, with Keenum throwing for 151 yards and two touchdowns in the Bears’ 34-10 win over Cleveland.

Cincinnati will turn to Josh Johnson and veteran Joe Flacco. Flacco’s continued presence in the NFL remains one of the league’s more remarkable stories, and the 41-year-old quarterback continues to compete for opportunities despite having already enjoyed a lengthy career.

How to watch Bengals vs Bears in the USA

Fubo and NFL+ are the two ways to watch Bengals vs. Bears live. Fubo lists the matchup among its available NFL games, while NFL+ provides live access to preseason games, subject to applicable market and blackout restrictions.

Can I watch Bengals vs Bears for free?

Fubo offers a 5-day free trial, giving eligible new subscribers a way to watch Bengals vs. Bears without paying during the trial period. Its current plan information lists a 5-day trial, although eligibility and availability can vary by plan.

Match Preview: What’s at stake?

The Cincinnati Bengals and Chicago Bears enter Week 2 of the 2026 NFL preseason with identical 1-0 records. Cincinnati opened its preseason with a 16-14 victory over the Detroit Lions, while Chicago dominated the Cleveland Browns 34-10.

Although the results do not count toward the regular-season standings, Saturday’s matchup at Paycor Stadium is an important opportunity for both coaching staffs to evaluate players and refine their depth charts before the regular season.

For Cincinnati, the preseason opener provided a brief look at Joe Burrow, who played two series and completed five of his six passes before leaving the game. Joe Flacco then led the offense for a longer stretch, including a touchdown pass to rookie tight end Jack Endries. The Bengals are also continuing to assess a deep roster, particularly at wide receiver, tight end, defensive line and the secondary.

The Bears, meanwhile, are coming off a convincing win but Caleb Williams did not play in the preseason opener, as head coach Ben Johnson elected to rest a number of starters. Tyson Bagent started and was expected to play roughly a half, giving Chicago an extended look at its depth.

Williams had been throwing touchdown passes in practice before the team traveled to Cincinnati, so his potential involvement against the Bengals is one of the key storylines heading into Saturday.

What time is the Bengals vs Bears match?

The Bengals vs Bears game kicks off Saturday, August 22, at 7:00 PM ET at Paycor Stadium. For viewers across the United States, these are the corresponding local start times:

• Eastern Time: 7:00 PM
• Central Time: 6:00 PM
• Mountain Time: 5:00 PM
• Pacific Time: 4:00 PM

Head coach Ben Johnson shared an official update on the situation, indicating that Monangai’s availability for the Week 1 season opener is in jeopardy. Johnson declared that the 24-year-old ball carrier is considered week-to-week, according to Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic. “Bears head coach Ben Johnson says RB Kyle Monangai will be week-to-week,” Fishbain reported.

The club still has two more preseason games to play before the 2026-27 campaign begins, meaning Chicago will monitor Monangai every week moving forward. The running back is expected to be a key player during the regular season.

What happened to Monangai?

Bears running back Monangai recently suffered a lower-body injury during a practice session after hyperextending his right knee. Monangai is viewed as a potential breakout star for Chicago this upcoming season after showing promise during his rookie campaign. Chicago is likely to remain cautious with his physical condition for now, prioritizing his recovery ahead of the new NFL season.

The former seventh-round draft pick served as a relief option at running back last year, playing in all 17 games for the Bears with one start. He finished the season with 783 rushing yards and five touchdowns while adding 164 receiving yards on 18 receptions.

Monangai’s potential replacements

D’Andre Swift remains Chicago’s starting running back. While Monangai recovers from his injury, the Bears will likely give increased opportunities to Roschon Johnson, Britain Brown, and Salvon Ahmed during the preseason.

If Monangai is unable to suit up in Week 1, Johnson stands as the most likely option to back up Swift. Meanwhile, Ben Johnson will prepare his squad for its second preseason game. The Bears face the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday, August 22.

The reason is simple. Ben Johnson, the Bears head coach, has opted to rest Caleb Williams and multiple other starters for this game vs. Browns. Johnson’s approach is to prioritize practice volume and health for the stars of the team. As for the Browns, will Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders play vs. Bears?

Hence, Tyson Bagent is likely to start vs. Browns, though veterans like Case Keenum could also see some snaps. The Bears also have rookie Miller Moss, who could try to impress after going undrafted.

Caleb Williams’ spot on the Bears is secured

In the Browns’ case, Watson and Sanders are battling it out to see who’s the starter come regular season. For the Bears, this is not the case as Williams is firmly established as the QB1 of the team.

In 2025, Williams had 3,942 passing yards, alongside 27 touchdowns and just seven interceptions. However, his big debt is to improve his completion percentage, which was only a 58.1% last year. Williams also helped in the running game, adding 388 yards and three touchdowns with his legs.

Bears’ preseason schedule

The Bears will face three AFC opponents during their preseason and two of them will be away from home. After a Soldier Field debut, they’ll travel to Cincinnati and then to Tennessee to finish their preseason endeavors.

Both quarterbacks will get their chance to command the Browns’ offense as they visit the Bears at Soldier Field. Exactly how many drives each signal-caller will have remains to be seen. Rather than focusing on defeating Chicago, Cleveland will be focused on its QBs, hoping to have an epiphany about who the starter should be during the 2026 NFL season.

According to ESPN, Watson will start the game under center, with Sanders expected to replace him, perhaps in the second quarter. Although that could indicate the veteran QB is ahead of the sophomore in the battle for the starting job, fans should wait before crowning a winner. On the other end of the field, Caleb Williams won’t play for the Bears, meaning the Browns have something less to worry about.

Sanders will get his chance next week

While Watson will be the Browns’ starting quarterback during Week 1 of the 2026 NFL Preseason, Monken and his staff have a plan in place. Next week, when the Browns host their Lake Erie neighbors, the Buffalo Bills, at Huntington Bank Field, Sanders will start for Cleveland.

Most likely, whoever gets the nod for Week 3’s showdown against the New England Patriots will be the one trending toward winning the quarterback battle. Still, that’s further down the road.

For the time being, both Watson and Sanders must focus on the task at hand, which is playing smart football against the Bears. Monken has high expectations for both quarterbacks and expects them to meet those expectations, even if it’s only over a couple of preseason drives.

What Browns are looking for out of Watson and Shedeur

“This is a coaching staff—brand new coaching staff, mind you—that has no preconceived notions of either quarterback. They’ve really given both Watson and Sanders a clean slate,” Courtney Cronin reported on SportsCenter. “It’s the two-minute drill that the front office is looking most closely at. And that will go as long as they’re splitting first-team reps.”

Just like in a two-minute drill, the pressure is on the Browns’ quarterbacks. The ball is in their court, and their future in the 2026 NFL season is in their hands. Oftentimes, preseason games are considered meaningless, but that’s definitely not the case for Cleveland, which is arguably the team to watch during this three-week stretch as it faces a crucial decision—one that will make waves and raise eyebrows regardless of who earns the starting job between Sanders and Watson.

How to watch Bears vs Browns in the USA

The Cleveland Browns vs. Chicago Bears preseason matchup will be televised nationally on NFL Network. NFL+, Fubo and ESPN Unlimited are available on streaming for the matchup outside the Chicago market.

Can I watch Bears vs Browns for free?

Fubo offers a 5-day free-trial option that can be used to watch Bears vs. Browns. The platform’s NFL listings include the matchup on August 15, while its team pages currently advertise watching NFL games with a free trial.

Match Preview: What’s at stake?

The Chicago Bears and Cleveland Browns meet at Soldier Field in the opening week of the 2026 NFL preseason, with both teams using the matchup to evaluate their rosters before the games begin to count.

Chicago is coming off an NFC North title and will get an early test for several players competing for roles, although Caleb Williams is among the starters who will not play Saturday. Tyson Bagent is expected to start at quarterback, giving him a valuable opportunity to make an impression in Ben Johnson‘s offense.

The biggest storyline in Cleveland is the quarterback competition between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders. Watson has been named the Browns’ starter for the preseason opener and is expected to play the first half, giving the veteran an important opportunity to demonstrate his readiness after his Achilles injuries.

Sanders, meanwhile, will start Cleveland’s second preseason game, meaning Saturday represents an important evaluation point for Watson as the Browns continue determining their long-term direction at the position.

For Chicago, the preseason opener is also about evaluating depth and managing workloads. The Bears have already confirmed that several first-team players will sit out, while the coaching staff plans to use the game to assess players competing for roster spots. The offensive line is one position to watch, with Kiran Amegadjie and Jedrick Wills Jr. set to split work at left tackle.

Cleveland arrives with its own roster decisions to make after an offseason of significant change. The Browns have released an unofficial depth chart ahead of the game, but the preseason will provide the coaching staff with a much better indication of which players can translate their training-camp performances into game situations.

With Watson starting and the regular-season quarterback decision still unresolved, his performance against Chicago could become one of the most closely watched storylines of the preseason.

What time is the Bears vs Browns match?

The Bears vs. Browns game kicks off on Saturday, August 15, at 1:00 PM ET. The matchup will be played at Soldier Field in Chicago. For viewers in different regions of the United States, here are the local start times:

• Eastern Time: 1:00 PM
• Central Time: 12:00 PM
• Mountain Time: 11:00 AM
• Pacific Time: 10:00 AM

“Bears wide receiver Luther Burden, who suffered a groin injury Saturday, is currently expected to miss about a month, sources tell,” the reporter revealed on X. “The hope is that he’ll be back and available for Chicago’s season opener vs. the Panthers, per sources.”

DJ Moore’s departure to the Buffalo Bills opened the door for Burden to become one of the Bears’ primary weapons in the passing game alongside Rome Odunze. Ben Johnson hopes to have him at full strength as Chicago looks to become a contender in the NFC North once again.

The Williams-Burden connection

After being selected by the Bears with the 39th overall pick in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft, Luther Burden quickly established strong chemistry with his quarterback. Operating largely out of the slot and displaying elite yards-after-catch ability, Burden posted impressive efficiency numbers while hauling in nearly 78% of his targets.

In his 2025 rookie season, Burden recorded 47 receptions on 60 targets for 652 receiving yards (13.9 yards per catch) and 2 receiving touchdowns across 15 games (5 starts), complemented by 6 rushing attempts for 37 yards, thus becoming an important weapon for Caleb Williams.

The confidence placed in Burden

It is clear that Burden’s injury could become a major headache for the Bears. Ben Johnson knows this season could be a pivotal one for the wide receiver, whom he sees as a player with many similarities to the likes of Amon-Ra St. Brown.

“St. Brown in Detroit, who I have a strong affinity for, he plays the game the same way. I feel that from Luther,” Johnson said recently to the press. “He wasn’t a full-time starter for us a year ago, but the snaps that he did have, he’s got that competitive edge and desire to be great, and it’s carried over into the spring and summer as well.

“He’s been a regular in our building, working with our strength staff. He wants to be the most conditioned player on the team. wants to be one of the strongest receivers on the team and just continues to soak in all the knowledge.”

Which games will Burden miss?

The Chicago Bears have three preseason games ahead of them, which will serve as preparation for their big Week 1 debut against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium.

• vs Cleveland Browns, August 15
• at Cincinnati Bengals, August 22
• at Tennessee Titans, August 28

“Bears safety Coby Bryant is expected to be sidelined 8-10 weeks due to a hyperextended knee, bone bruise and small fracture that he suffered at today’s practice, per sources. No surgery is expected to be needed,” the insider revealed on X.

Rome Odunze, speaking with Kay Adams on Up & Adams, said Bryant “should be fine” once the safety was carted off. Although he is expected to be sidelined for an extended period, avoiding surgery gives him hope of returning to the field later this season.

Ben Johnson’s options to replace Bryant

Coby Bryant was expected to be the Bears’ starting free safety, but his recent injury presents Ben Johnson with an intriguing dilemma. Next on the depth chart is Elijah Hicks, who is currently on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list, leaving Gervarrius Owens as the team’s next available option.

A champion’s pedigree

Coming off a championship-winning 2025 campaign with the Seattle Seahawks where he established himself as a versatile, ball-hawking playmaker at safety—recording 39 solo tackles, 1 forced fumble, 4 interceptions, and 7 passes defended—Coby Bryant capitalized on his career year by entering free agency.

In March 2026, the Chicago Bears rewarded his stellar production by signing him to a major three-year, $40 million deal, bringing a proven turnover creator and key starter to the heart of their secondary.

What’s next for the Bears?

The Chicago Bears are gearing up for a crucial three-game slate in the 2026 NFL preseason to fine-tune their roster before Week 1. Chicago will kick off their warm-up schedule at home against the Cleveland Browns on August 15 at Soldier Field.

Following their home opener, the Bears will hit the road for back-to-back away games, taking on the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium on August 22, before wrapping up their preseason preparations in Nashville against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on August 29.

With quarterback Caleb Williams emerging as one of the league’s brightest young stars, the Bears have become one of the NFL’s most talked-about teams. Williams has been featured prominently throughout the offseason, drawing national attention as Chicago prepares for another season with legitimate Super Bowl aspirations.

That growing spotlight became part of an interesting discussion this week after Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen joked that motivating his own players is easy because all the attention seems to be focused on Williams and the Bears.

Ben Johnson responds to Liam Coen’s comments

Liam Coen joked that he barely sees anything about the Jacksonville Jaguars whenever he visits the NFL’s official platforms. “I look at the NFL website, and see if there’s anything on the Jaguars. I think I’ll see 40 pictures of Caleb Williams. And nothing on us! It’s beautiful.”

Ben Johnson was asked about those comments and responded with a surprising level of honesty. “Well, we’re the No. 1 regression candidate, so I think we’ve got plenty of motivation ourselves. We’ve talked about Caleb in the past. He’s used to handling a lot of attention, so I’m not worried about that.”

Rather than dismissing the criticism or the attention surrounding his quarterback, Johnson acknowledged that expectations have dramatically increased after Chicago’s breakout season.

Bears embracing Super Bowl expectations

Ben Johnson’s comments reflect the reality facing the Bears entering 2026. They’re no longer viewed as an up-and-coming team. After winning the NFC North and reaching the playoffs, the Bears are expected to contend for a Super Bowl, placing a different kind of pressure on Williams and the rest of the roster.

For Johnson, however, that pressure can be used as motivation. Instead of worrying about the spotlight surrounding his young quarterback, the Bears head coach believes the biggest challenge will be proving last season was only the beginning rather than a one-year breakthrough.

Johnson, widely recognized as one of the NFL’s premier offensive minds, unlocked Williams’ potential in their first season together. Williams set a Bears single-season passing record with 3,942 yards, throwing 27 touchdowns against just 7 interceptions. Now entering Year 2 of the system, Williams notes that faster pre-snap reads and increased operational comfort will allow Chicago to play with more dominance while minimizing unnecessary risks.

“It’s gonna be really exciting. It’s gonna be really fun to watch. It’s going to be more entertaining than last year,” Williams said on Tuesday. “Hopefully not as much of a heart race. It’s gonna be a little more entertaining throughout the whole game. You can feel it. You can see it. The confidence … It’s all three [phases] combined.”

Reimagining the passing game

Despite receiver DJ Moore departing for the Buffalo Bills during the offseason, Chicago’s offense remains formidable.

Rome Odunze steps seamlessly into the WR1 role after showing star flashes during his second year. Beside him, sophomore Luther Burden III—who surged in the second half of 2025—and veteran Kalif Raymond provide reliable speed and route diversity.

Fortunately for Williams, Ben Johnson’s offensive philosophy is famously versatile. The system spreads targets dynamic across all position groups rather than leaning on a single dominant target:

• Tight ends as focal points: Cole Kmet and second-year standout Colston Loveland form one of the league’s most dangerous two-tight-end duos, posing constant matchup problems over the middle.
• Backfield and offensive line involvement: Creative play-calling frequently involves running backs on wheel routes and screen plays, alongside tackle-eligible and trick plays that keep opposing defenses off-balance.

By distributing the ball across multiple weapons, Chicago ensures no single player bears the entire offensive burden, creating a unpredictable scheme heading into the 2026 campaign.