The Chicago Bears did not end last season on the note they had wished for as their season was cut short against the Philadelphia Eagles in an intense Wild Card game.

The Bears' top defense and talented offense are likely chomping at the bit to get back to the postseason once again.

They'll have to settle for a little preseason competition first and see which players are worthy of a spot on the 53-man roster.

There are several things to watch out for as the Bears take on the Carolina Panthers to kick off their season on August 8th at Soldier Field.

3. David Montgomery 

David Montgomery
ClutchPoints

While the Bears let former running back Jordan Howard go via a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles, they still have a lot of talent at the position.

It's abundantly clear that head coach Matt Nagy wants to make Tarik Cohen a focal point of the offense. Cohen's stature may not give the Bears the reassurance that they can use him as an every-down back, but he has an overwhelming skill set and is a complete nightmare for opposing defenses.

With all that being said, the Bears will need someone to step in to complement Cohen's lightning-like qualities the way Howard used to.

With the 73rd overall pick in the 2019 draft, the Bears selected former Iowa State running back David Montgomery to help fill the void Howard left behind. Montgomery has drawn comparisons to former 2018 rushing leader Kareem Hunt and has already made a name for himself on the professional level.

Montgomery has not disappointed in regards to his ability to break tackles after punishing several Bears defenders in practice.

This should come as no surprise as he finished his college career with the best tackle-breaking ability since Dalvin Cook dominated in his days with Florida State.

2. Wide Receiver Battle 

Taylor Gabriel

There are several players who have a lock on a roster spot such as Allen Robinson and second-year wideout Anthony Miller.

For the rest of the receivers, things are not so clear. Veterans Taylor Gabriel and Cordarelle Patterson will make the team due to their versatility, but there is a lot of uncertainty for Javon Wims and Marvin Hall.

Rookie Riley Ridley will have to show the Bears why they drafted him ahead of this season and does not have quite as much to prove as Wims and Hall considering this isn't their first season.

Look to see who emerges further down to depth chart as a promising contributor for Chicago this season.

1. Who wins the Bears starting kicker spot?

Eddy Pineiro, Bears

The Bears saw their season cut short by a missed field goal in the last seconds of an intense Wild Card matchup with the Eagles.

Former kicker Cody Parkey's missed field goal attempt was so memorable for all the wrong reasons after it hit the upright as well as the cross-bar, hence the “double doink.”

Chris Blewitt, Eddy Pineiro, and Elliott Fry will be in a three-way battle for the starting job.

A lot of buzz has surrounded Pineiro for his ability to hit from the 60-yard mark as well as the positive, optimistic attitude he displays.