LAKE FOREST, Ill. – Not all of the Bears’ intriguing position battles are for spots at the top of the depth chart. 

A fierce competition to be the No. 3 receiver will continue Sunday night in Denver with Devin Aromashodu, Rashied Davis and Brandon Rideau all in contention for the job.

“It’s very competitive, which is what you want,” said receivers coach Darryl Drake. “Each guy brings a little something different to the table. They know what they’re competing for, and we’re just looking forward to seeing who’s going to be the best fit for us and who’s going to be able to be a guy who can come in and do the things we need him to do.”

Bears wide receiver Devin Aromashodu performed well throughout training camp.

Whoever earns the third receiver position will join starters Devin Hester and Earl Bennett on the field in most passing situations. Some feel that Aromashodu has the edge heading into Sunday night’s game against the Broncos. The 6-2, 201-pounder boasts size and speed. Perhaps more importantly, he also seems to have a fan in Pro Bowl quarterback Jay Cutler.

“He’s made plays,” Cutler said. “He’s been in the right spots. He’s executed the offense. He’s went and got the ball. He’s done a lot of things. He’s done everything we’ve asked him to do—I think that’s the most important thing—and he’s done it consistently. That’s what you’ve really got to look at.

“You have to look at guys who not only flash on tape and make some big plays, but they’re doing the little things and they’re doing them consistently, and he’s done that so far.”

The Bears signed Aromashodu last Dec. 9 off the Redskins’ practice squad, and he was inactive for the final three weeks of the season. The third-year pro from Auburn has caught seven passes for 96 yards in six career NFL games, all with the Colts in 2007.

Aromashodu performed well throughout training camp. He has only one catch in the first two preseason games, but it was a big one: his diving 38-yard reception from Cutler set up a touchdown last Saturday night against the Giants and remains the Bears’ longest play from scrimmage in the preseason.

Davis has the most experience of the three contenders, having caught 74 passes for 913 yards and 4 TDs the past three seasons. The 5-9, 187-pounder thrived as the third receiver in 2006, helping the Bears reach the Super Bowl by making clutch catches to beat the Vikings in Week 3 and the Seahawks in the playoffs.

With an expanded role that included 12 starts last season, Davis struggled at times with drops. A special teams standout, he seems better suited to be the third or fourth receiver because the Bears could then take advantage of his skills on the punt and kickoff coverage and return teams.

Competing for a roster spot is nothing new for Davis, who signed with the Bears in 2005 after spending four seasons in the Arena Football League with the San Jose SaberCats.

“I’m always fighting for a job,” said Davis, who has three receptions for 28 yards in the preseason. “It is what it is. I’m going to go out and do my job like I have been, and play special teams and whatever else they ask me to do.

“Special teams is the whole reason I’m here in the first place. I’ve gotten better at them every year. I take a lot of pride in how well I play on special teams, especially not being that big. To play well on special teams is a must for me.”

No receiver made more plays in training camp than Rideau, who is bidding to earn a spot on the Bears’ opening-day roster for the first time in four tries. The 6-3, 198-pounder hopes to build off his effort against the Giants when he caught two passes for 21 yards and played well on special teams, especially as a gunner on punt coverage.

“I want to show that I’m capable of making the plays they allow me to make and show that I can take advantage of every opportunity,” Rideau said in preparing for Saturday night’s game in Denver.

“I’ve just got to beat out the next guy and be better than the next guy. That’s what it’s all about. That’s all a part of competition, and that’s what we’re all trying to do.”