Craig

Steltz

The five-year veteran graded out above average across the board last season, according to Pro Football Focus. Although Major Wright and Chris Conte will remain the starters, Steltz is a valuable insurance policy and special teamer.

Craig Steltz will get the start against Denver and will probably spend the entire day in the box, making him an intriguing one-game IDP sleeper. Chris Conte has been the Bears’ starting free safety. Brandon Meriweather is No. 3.

Conte is trying out a harness to protect his right shoulder, but he may need another week to get healthy. Craig Steltz will fill in as the starter if Conte’s shoulder isn’t deemed ready for game action.

Starting strong safety Chris Harris is a game-time decision with a hamstring injury while starting free safety Major Wright is expected to miss the game with a head/neck injury. Aaron Rodgers will likely be passing against backups at both spots this week. Rotoworld matchups guru Evan Silva notes that Jermichael Finley is a “Cover-2 killer” as well.

Steltz suffered a right pectoral injury tackling Christian Ballard on a rare defensive lineman kickoff return. Steltz was a backup safety and the team’s seventh defensive back while McManis was purely a special teamer. McManis is believed to have sustained a PCL injury. Both players are under contract at a cheap rate for the 2013 season.

Steltz has shed his arm sling and is expected to be fully recovered for the Bears’ offseason program. The 26-year-old will likely return as a backup safety and special teamer for 2013.

Wright and Chris Harris could end up forming a brand new, hard-hitting safety tandem for the Bears. Even if Wright doesn’t beat out Craig Steltz and Josh Bullocks right away, we’d expect him to secure the job eventually.

Steltz’ job appeared to be in jeopardy when the Bears brought in Adrian Wilson at the end of June. A five-time Pro Bowler, Wilson has the most impressive resume in the Bears’ safety group, but he is almost 35 and coming off an explosion-sapping Achilles’ injury. A solid camp could see Wilson replacing Steltz on the roster, but for now it appears Steltz is safe.

The Bears are stockpiling bodies at safety. Steltz appeared in all 16 games last season, but played just 123 snaps on defense, struggling mightily. Although he’s been with the team since 2008, Steltz won’t be guaranteed a spot on the 53-man roster.

The decision is unrelated to loss of Charles Tillman, with the Bears simply saying they want their best four DBs on the field. Clearly, they don’t think Craig Steltz is one of them. Kevin Payne will start at strong safety, with Steltz putting pressure on him. Payne is very unlikely to lose his job.