The Chicago Bears have two weeks before the NFL’s November 5 trade deadline.
After being buyers in 2023 and acquiring Pro Bowl defensive end Montez Sweat from the Washington Commanders, the Bears are poised to part with some pieces if they choose.
Bears’ Khalil Herbert, Dominique Robinson Address Trade Rumors as Deadline Looms
Khalil Herbert: ‘Don’t Want to Get Hopes Up’ Amid Bears Trade Rumors
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported on October 23 that the Bears are open to trading guard Nate Davis, who has been replaced in the starting lineup by Matt Pryor, and they have explored their options with defensive end Dominique Robinson.
Fowler also expects running back Khalil Herbert and tackle Larry Borom to draw interest.
Clocker Sports spoke with Herbert – who along with Borom is the longest-tenured Bear in the aforementioned group – and Robinson about the rumors and how they are handling them.
“Yeah, I don’t know. I mean there’ll be a bunch of stuff you hear, see. I don’t know necessarily how much of it is true. Just focused on being here right now, where my feet are, getting better today, have a good practice today,” Herbert told Clocker Sports ahead of the Bears Wednesday practice.
“Just file it away. You never know what’s gonna happen, so you never want to get your hopes up or you never want to think one thing’s going to happen and then another thing happens. So I just focus on where I am right now, be where my feet are.”
Herbert has seen teammates come and go.
From former starting QB Justin Fields to ex-star linebacker Roquan Smith and more, Herbert says each situation is different when asked how the organization handles those situations.
Herbert started the first five weeks of the 2023 campaign. An ankle injury landed him on injured reserve and opened the door to a committee with former Bear D’Onta Foreman and then-rookie Roschon Johnson also mixing in.
The Bears signed D’Andre Swift during the 2024 offseason in free agency.
Herbert has gone from starting to reserve to, this season, mostly playing on special teams. Asked about adjusting to his new reality, Herbert said he is just staying focused.
He is also notably in the final year of his contract. Rumors linked Herbert to the Minnesota Vikings, who ultimately reunited with former Houston Texans and Los Angeles Rams tailback Cam Akers.
Amid all of that, Herbert is all about the daily grind.
“I just come to work every day trying to get better,” Herbert said, noting later in the conversation that, “That’s all I can focus on.”
Herbert, 26, was a sixth-round pick by the Bears in 2021. He has started 12 of his 48 career appearances and has 1,791 yards and 9 touchdowns on 372 carries. Herbert has also caught 45 passes for 291 yards and 2 scores.
He has carried the ball eight times for 16 yards and 1 touchdown through Week 7 in 2024.
Dominique Robinson on ‘Stand-By’ After Demotion
Robinson was a fifth-round pick in 2022. A converted wide receiver early in his collegiate career, he admitted to feeling like he was on the roster bubble coming into the season. Rookie Austin Booker and even former Los Angeles Rams draft pick Daniel Hardy have surpassed him in the rotation.
The Bears also still have starters Sweat and DeMarcus Walker and traded for former Seattle Seahawks pass rusher Darrell Taylor, rendering Robinson superfluous on gamedays.
He has yet to see action in a game during the regular season.
“I just come in every day and work to get better,” Robinson told Clocker Sports. “I’m kind of like on stand-by, so. I have a good mindset about it: I don’t complain, I come in and do my work every day, take full advantage of the scout team reps that I get more from there.
“I really just need to focus on pass rush, because that’s what gets the money. Not saying my run defense isn’t good. But really just working on pass rush.”
As for the trade rumors?
“Man, I just pray. Thank God for whatever opportunity or – just whatever comes my way. I’m sure He has a plan for everything, so I trust in whatever He has for me,” Robinson said. “I’ll be thankful for whatever happens, whether I’m here or somewhere else.”
Robinson – who has 2.0 sacks in his career – has one year on his contract after this season. Any team trading for him could get a 28-game sample before having to decide on his future.
He too has seen it [a trade] happen before.
“My rookie year when they traded Roquan and Rob [Quinn], I actually wasn’t sure how they handled it,” Robinson said. “As a rookie, you see that and you’re like, ‘Oh shoot! That’s kind of crazy.’ But last year and this year, it’s just like, ‘It’s part of the business.’ I know it’s no hard feelings or anything like that. It’s just a part of the business. So like I said, I just be praising God and thankful for whatever happens and whatever comes my way.”
Tremaine Edmunds’ Budding Acting Career
Bears star middle linebacker Tremaine Edmunds appeared in several commercials with brothers, Terrell and Trey, and soccer player Kristen Edmonds for car info site, Edmunds.
“It was good man just to be able to go out there and do some stuff with the family, and for a good cause,” Edmunds told Clocker Sports on Wednesday. “Had a lot of fun out there. It turned out to be good so I enjoyed myself.
As for a potential acting career after his playing days are over? That decision will have to wait.
“We’ll see how it go,” Edmunds said with a smile. “Take it one step at a time, still got some football left. But we’ll see how it go at the end.”