Unknown Bears receivers stepping up Saturday

The Bears' wide receivers expected to start Saturday against the Cincinnati Bengals aren't household names, and they may not even be all that familiar to coaches - yet.

But Saturday night's third preseason game, in which most starters will play into the third quarter, could be a classic example of unknown players making a name for themselves.

With Alshon Jeffery (calf) and Marquess Wilson (hamstring) not expected to play, and Eddie Royal (hip) doubtful, somebody has to catch Jay Cutler's passes.

Among those somebodies are Josh Bellamy, Rashad Lawrence, Marc Mariani and Cam Meredith. And they have a combined 5 catches in the NFL, all by Mariani in 2011.

"It's an opportunity," coach John Fox said. "(It's) how you discover players. Everybody starts in this league as a nobody. As you get your opportunity, then you perform. That's athletics, whether it's NFL football or any other sport. Sometimes the door closes for somebody and it opens for somebody else."

Bellamy and Lawrence are both first-year players who went undrafted, Bellamy out of Louisville and Lawrence from Northwestern.

Since 2012, Bellamy has spent time on the practice squads of the Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers, Washington and the Bears - and he's been waived by each team. Along the way, he's played in 12 games and has 5 kickoff returns for 101 yards (20.2-yard average) and 4 special teams tackles.

Lawrence signed with Washington last year but was waived before the season and was signed to the Bears' practice squad in November.

The run of injuries at wide receiver, which began in the off-season with first-round pick Kevin White's "day-to-day shin" injury, has allowed others who would be relegated to second- and third-team reps to develop a relationship with Cutler.

So what's that like?

"He expects everybody to be on point," Bellamy said. "If Alshon's in, Eddie's in, if I come in, he doesn't expect any (less). When I come in, he expects me to know my stuff just as well as Alshon knows his and just as well as Marquess knows his or Eddie knows his.

"There's no room for error. I try to make sure I know all of my assignments, so I can be on point for him."

The key to a healthy relationship with Cutler?

Bellamy smiles and says, "Just know what you've got to do." He laughs and adds, "then you won't have any problems."

The 6-foot-1, 197-pound Lawrence says he has tried to unclutter his mind, forget about where he is on the depth chart and focus on things he can control.

"I've tried to come out every day as if I was a starter," he said. "I don't allow outside pressures (or) what somebody might think to get to my head. I try to play my best and give it my all every day."

Lawrence has a team-best 6 preseason catches for 50 yards, while Bellamy has caught 4 balls for 27 yards, including a 12-yard TD from Jimmy Clausen against the Indianapolis Colts last week.

Mariani has the most experience of the contenders, having played in 38 games in three seasons while spending 2012 (leg) and 2013 (shoulder) on injured reserve. He has been the Bears' best punt returner in the preseason and has an impressive 24.9-yard career kickoff-return average.

If he establishes himself as a viable pass catcher, it would solidify his spot on the 53.

Meredith, the undrafted rookie from Illinois State who began his college career as a quarterback, is the Bears' preseason leader with 60 receiving yards. He has 5 catches for a 12.0-yard average, but most of his playing time has come with the third team.

That should change Saturday night.

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