Three Bears still battling over job as No. 3 receiver

Rashied Davis says he's not worried.

Brandon Rideau says he's more stressed than usual.

Devin Aromashodu says he's trying not to make the situation more difficult by putting excess pressure on himself.

The situation for Davis, Rideau and Aromashodu is similar. One will be the Bears' No. 3 wide receiver behind starters Devin Hester and Earl Bennett when the regular season opens under the lights Sept. 13 at Green Bay.

But any one of them also could be cut by Saturday, when all NFL teams are required to reduce their rosters to 53 by 5 p.m. Chicago time.

Thursday night at Soldier Field against the Cleveland Browns will be their final chance to impress coaches before the ax falls. The Bears probably won't keep more than six receivers; they usually had only four active on game days last year.

Also factoring into the congested situation at wide receiver are rookies Juaquin Iglesias, a third-round pick, and Johnny Knox, a fifth-rounder. Both have shown enough that the Bears will be loath to cut either one of them.

"I'm not concerned about anything," said Davis, a fifth-year veteran who has more experience and is a better special-teams player than any of the others. "I just go out and play. It is what it is. Whatever happens, happens. I have really no control over that. The only thing I have control over is how I play.

"I believe I've played well with the reps I've been given, played well on special teams and all that other stuff."

Davis was fifth on the team last season with a career-best 35 catches and fourth with 445 receiving yards. He also emerged as a fine special-teams player and was 10th in that category with 7 tackles.

But Davis is in a battle. The five wideouts jockeying for position and playing time behind the starters are tightly bunched through three preseason games. All five have exactly 3 catches.

"There's definitely a little more stress," said Rideau, who is the biggest target at 6-feet-3. "It's a part of it though. You have to get used to it and overcome whatever you've got going on outside of the game."

Rideau spent his rookie season of 2005 on the Browns' practice squad, then spent 2006 and '08 on the Bears' practice squad and one game on their active roster in '07.

The former Kansas Jayhawk came to training camp this year wanting more playing time and a bigger role.

But none of the backups have gotten many passes thrown their way or what would be considered extensive playing time.

"I still feel like I got a great opportunity," Rideau said. "But you never know what's going on in coaches' heads, what they're thinking. But I can't change my mind-set. I just have to stay focused, stay pushing forward."

Aromashodu played six games with the Indianapolis Colts in 2007, sandwiched in between practice squad stints with Indy (2006) and the Washington Redskins ('08).

Quarterback Jay Cutler has mentioned Aromashodu's combination of size (6-2) and ability to stretch the field.

He caught a 38-yard bomb from Cutler in the second preseason game but knows he may need another standout performance in the preseason finale.

"In my position, you can never do enough," Aromashodu said, "so I just have to keep working. I hope for more (chances), but whether I get the opportunity or don't I just want to make sure that when I'm out there I execute the plays."

An endorsement from Cutler can't hurt Aromashodu's chances.

"That definitely is always a help, something positive," Aromashodu said. "Anything positive going into the final cuts is something that can help."

In training camp Cutler said he'd offer his input on the final decisions, but the opinions of head coach Lovie Smith and offensive coordinator Ron Turner are the ones that truly matter.

"We haven't had any formal talks yet," Cutler said. "I don't think we will. I think they know how I feel about it, who I trust and who I feel comfortable with. I think they're on the same page.

"No matter how it gets shaken down, we're going to be good."

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