5 things we learned from Bears GM Ryan Pace this week

After cutting down the Bears' roster to 53 players this week, general manager Ryan Pace discussed a range of topics ahead of the NFL regular season.

Here are the biggest take-aways.

Justin Fields is not further ahead than Pace figured

Pace said the Bears knew what they were getting in Justin Fields when they traded up to 11th overall to draft him in the spring. Fields' preseason has not swayed Pace or head coach Matt Nagy from starting Andy Dalton on Sept. 12.

"He's exactly what we thought he was going to be," Pace said about Fields. "He's exactly what we hoped he would be. And I don't think it changes our plan at all. I know the fans are excited and we're excited, too."

Nagy said after the third preseason game he would be comfortable playing Fields in a regular-season game.

Asked why the team doesn't just go ahead then and start Fields, Pace referenced how well they feel Dalton is playing.

"We feel Andy's in a good place," Pace said. "We're confident in Andy."

Jenkins' injury 'different' than what he had in college

The Bears were well aware of offensive tackle Teven Jenkins' back injury coming out of Oklahoma State. Jenkins opted out of several games toward the end of the season due to a back injury.

Pace said Jenkins' more recent back injury presented "different symptoms" than his injury last year.

"Without getting into details, he started having some pain down his leg, I think just from the nerve," Pace said. "And so when you have the surgery, it can alleviate that symptom and, in fact, it already has. He's in a really good place right now. Now it's just positive steps going forward."

The Bears kept Jenkins on the 53-man roster before placing him on injured reserve because it allows Jenkins the possibility of returning during the regular season.

Trevathan's knee will be something to keep an eye on

The Bears placed inside linebacker Danny Trevathan on injured reserve Wednesday due to a knee injury. Trevathan missed some time during training camp because of the issue. He played really well in his limited playing time during the team's final preseason game, snagging an interception and breaking up another pass.

Trevathan can return in as little as three weeks. Pace said the knee has been "bothersome" throughout camp.

Vildor poised to start at CB

With Desmond Trufant gone, second-year pro Kindle Vildor is likely to step into a starting cornerback position. Fellow second-year pro Jaylon Johnson will patrol the opposite side. The Bears did re-sign cornerback Artie Burns after initially releasing him Tuesday, but Vildor seems more likely to start.

"He plays with so much confidence," Pace said. "He's just well-rounded. He's got ball skills, he has speed, he has man cover ability, he has zone awareness."

Vildor appeared in all 16 games last year, mostly on special teams, with one start at cornerback, and he started the playoff game. He was a 2020 fifth-round draft pick.

Perriman brings speed

The Bears are expected to sign receiver Breshad Perriman. In a corresponding move, the team waived receiver Rodney Adams, who was one of the best training-camp stories of the year.

Perriman appears to be a receiver who has been on the Bears' radar for a while.

"First thing: speed, big-time speed," Pace said. "We've talked about him, I feel like, every year. We've gone back and looked at our grades, we've got tons and tons of grades on him, from all of our coaches and all of our scouts. ... He's big, he's 6-2, he can still run, and that's just continuing the speed and explosiveness in this offense."

Perriman was the 26th overall draft pick in 2015 by Baltimore. Pace and the Bears selected receiver Kevin White seventh overall ahead of him that year. The Bears will be Perriman's seventh team in seven years in the NFL.