The Chicago Bears still have just under one month before they report for training camp, and, for the most part, they have bolstered their roster well over the past two offseasons, in particular, all but for one critical spot: running back.
A roster that stands six-deep has zero sure-fire solutions to what was one of the worst rushing attacks in the NFL.
Bears RB Room Looms as Potential Pitfall Before Training Camp
Bears Riding With D’Andre Swift & Co.
Starting running back D’Andre Swift tallied 959 yards and 6 touchdowns, both the second-highest marks of his career, on a career-high 253 carries for the Bears in 2024. The result was a career-worst 3.8 yards per carry.
Swift added another 386 yards on 42 receptions and ranked 18th in total yards from scrimmage on the season.
While playing in all 17 games, marking the second full regular season slate of his career.
The other came during the 2023 season, his lone campaign with the Philadelphia Eagles, who acquired him in a trade with the Detroit Lions in 2024. Ben Johnson, the Bears’ new head coach, was the Lions’ offensive coordinator then.
Johnson has spoken highly about Swift, but the other aspects of Swift’s situation – and the Bears’, for that matter – remain precarious at best.
2023 fifth-round pick Roschon Johnson returns behind Swift.
He brings a physical presence that proved useful in short-yardage situations last year, but he also missed time for the second straight season due to a concussion. Johnson is also not the most explosive back, limiting his effectiveness in the passing game.
Perhaps he and Swift can come close enough to replicating the Lions’ David Montgomery (former Bear) and Jahmyr Gibbs, also known as “Sonic and Knuckles,” for the Bears to get by behind a revamped offensive line.
Bears Eyed Bigger Move at RB
The Bears were linked to several veteran running backs, namely Nick Chubb, who signed with the Houston Texans in free agency. They were also in trade talks with the New England Patriots in a potential move that would have presumably yielded running back TreVeyon Henderson.
“Some inside the league believe the Bears tried to make an early Day 2 move, possibly to move up four spots to Tennessee’s selection at No. 35,” ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler wrote in May. Knowing Chicago’s legwork on running backs, Ohio State’s TreVeyon Henderson would have made a lot of sense in that regard.”
The Bears did not sign another veteran running back in free agency, and they waited until the seventh round of the draft to select one.
“At this point, the Bears appear to be running it back with Swift, Roschon Johnson, Travis Homer and a seventh-round rookie — even after Chicago’s 4.0 yards per carry tied for third worst in the NFL last season,” ESPN’s Dan Graziano wrote in May. “In the Bears’ estimation, free agency didn’t offer them the chance to build out a lethal Montgomery/Gibbs-style pairing, and after Jeanty, neither did the first round of the draft.”
Bears Rookie Facing Big Opportunity in Training Camp
Aside from Swift and Johnson, the Bears have a veteran in Homer, who is primarily a special teamer, 2024 undrafted free agent Ian Wheeler, and 2025 UDFA Deion Hankins on the roster as of June 26.
That puts a unique spotlight on Kyle Monangai, the player selected with that second-round pick.
According to Fowler, the Bears breaking for the offseason program as they did was good news for Monangai.
“Chicago has been linked to free agent running backs, typically teams like to first see what their rookies can do in May and June, with live on-field reps,” Fowler wrote, noting it was “a great chance for seventh-round back Kyle Monangai, who has an intriguing skill set.”
Mongai showed well as a pass catcher during the offseason program.
It will be clearer how much of a threat he is to Johnson and Swift once the Bears put the pads on in training camp, which starts for rookies on July 19 and veterans on July 22.