Bears re-sign a key depth offensive lineman who should have a much more fun role under Ben Johnson in 2025
Last week, Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson stressed the importance of having eight to ten quality offensive lineman on the roster, not just focusing on overhauling the starting five at the top of the depth chart.A few days later, the Bears decided to bring back a key depth piece in backup center Doug Kramer, […]
Last week, Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson stressed the importance of having eight to ten quality offensive lineman on the roster, not just focusing on overhauling the starting five at the top of the depth chart.
A few days later, the Bears decided to bring back a key depth piece in backup center Doug Kramer, who filled in multiple times at various positions in 2024.
Kramer's fit with the Bears makes all the sense in the world as a Hinsdale native who played college ball at Illinois. Kramer was drafted by Ryan Poles in the sixth-round of the 2022 NFL Draft and has spent every season since with his hometown team.
Having Kramer back in the fold is great for the depth up-front, but the fit with his new head coach is going to make things even more exciting in 2025.
With the Detroit Lions, Ben Johnson made plenty use out of all his players, starting or not. One fan favorite in Detroit is offensive lineman Dan Skipper, who returned to the Lions last week. Even though he was a backup, Johnson found a few sneaky ways to get Skipper on the field in more ways than an offensive lineman.
Just look at this play below that Johnson called against the Washington Commanders in the playoffs. Skipper lined up and ran a route as a pass catcher and even got a double coverage look from the defense, allowing Sam LaPorta to get free and score.
Why were the Commanders worried about a 6'9, 330 pound lineman running routes? Probably because he scored a receiving touchdown a few weeks earlier in the season against the Buffalo Bills on this play.
Plays like that is what made Skipper and immediate fan favorite, a true trick play threat in Johnson's system. And Kramer could be his next trick play weapon in Chicago.
The Bears already toyed with reporting Kramer on the field multiple times in 2024 as a fullback in goal-line packages. Chicago scored at least five rushing touchdowns using that package with Kramer on the field, and even tried a trick play against the Commanders, even though it ended in a disastrous fumble.
"It’s a play we’ve worked,” former head coach Matt Eberflus explained. “We’ve worked that play since (Kramer) has been in there. We’ve worked it, worked the mechanics of it, the handoff to him. We just got to do it better… It's a one-yard play. We felt that a big guy like that taking a dive could do that."
Well, with Kramer back in the fold and an offensive-madman like Johnson calling plays, expect to see more tomfoolery from these two.
Shoot, we might even see Kramer getting his first career reception in 2025.
Bears updated roster following free agent additions, including the top positions of need leading up to the 2025 NFL Draft
Here’s how the team currently looks in Chicago.
