Jamree Kromah Makes Bears Roster After Impressive Preseason

Aug 22, 2026; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Chicago Bears defensive end Jamree Kromah (59) after a game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images

The production of the Chicago Bears' defensive line will be a huge story in 2026. Last season, it was the weakest part of the defense, and the Bears didn't make any splash moves this offseason that would indicate the unit will be significantly better." That said, there were a few defensive linemen who flashed during the preseason and made the roster. One of the more surprising players to make the initial 53-man roster is Jamree Kromah.

Kromah Made His Case During the Preseason

Kromah signed with the Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2024. However, Chicago cut him, and he ended up on the New England Patriots practice squad for the first month of the 2024 season. He was brought back to the Bears' practice squad in October of 2024 and has been with the team ever since.

The 26-year-old had a great first preseason game against the Cleveland Browns. In that game, Kromah recorded six tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. That production immediately got fans talking about him potentially making the roster.

It wasn't simply the numbers that made Kromah interesting, either. His ability to create disruption in the backfield showed that he could potentially give the Bears another rotational option along the defensive line.

Unfortunately, Kromah was quieter against Cincinnati, recording only two tackles. That meant the final preseason game against Tennessee was going to be big for his chances of making the roster.

Kromah did not disappoint, finishing with three tackles, a tackle for loss, and a sack against the Titans.

That performance, along with the way he was practicing, forced Chicago to keep Kromah over other veteran options.

The Bears Chose Kromah Over Some Veterans

The most notable player that Kromah made the roster over is veteran Marcus Davenport. The Bears signed Davenport, who has a history with Dennis Allen, a few weeks ago, and were seemingly ramping him up. So many Bears fans and analysts expected him to be a shoo-in for a roster spot without participating in training camp or the preseason.

Clearly, Chicago didn't feel the same way. Kromah evidently showed the Bears he had more upside as a rotational pass rusher in 2026 than Davenport. Davenport's injury history may have also played into the surprise decision to keep Kromah on the roster.

Chicago ultimately ended up carrying five edge rushers. Montez Sweat, Austin Booker, Dayo Odeyingbo, Daniel Hardy and Kromah all made the roster. This gives the Bears a diverse and interesting edge room that they are hoping can produce more than they did in 2025.

Kromah Still Has to Earn His Role

Making the initial 53-man roster is a big accomplishment for Kromah, but it doesn't guarantee that he will receive lots of opportunities once the season begins. Being the fourth or fifth edge rusher means he may only receive a few chances in a game to rush the passer. Thus, he will need to take full advantage of every opportunity to earn more chances.

Based on what Kromah showed in the preseason, though, that is totally feasible. His ability to break through the offensive line and rush the quarterback is something the Bears desperately need. While doing it against starters is different than doing it against backups, even a little production off the bench is better than nothing.

Kromah now has an opportunity to turn his preseason performance into a regular-season role. If he can consistently create pressure when his number is called, the Bears may have another rotational pass rusher they can rely on throughout the season. For a defensive line that needs to improve from last year, finding unexpected production from a player like Kromah could end up being extremely valuable.