Chicago Bears Training Camp Battle Preview: Former starter in the backfield could be a cut candidate after camp
The Chicago Bears backfield will have a different feel to it in 2024 under new offensive coordinator Shane Waldron.The days of the Bears being at the top of the league rankings as a rushing offense are more than likely behind us, but the running backs will still be a integral part to the new system, […]
The Chicago Bears backfield will have a different feel to it in 2024 under new offensive coordinator Shane Waldron.
The days of the Bears being at the top of the league rankings as a rushing offense are more than likely behind us, but the running backs will still be a integral part to the new system, just in a different way.
Waldron's offense will still have to rely on the run game at times to keep opposing defenses honest, but as a whole the unit will become more pass-oriented than years prior. Which is why the Bears aggressively went out to sign a dynamic weapon back in free agency as soon as the window opened to do so. Here's how the position currently stands going into camp and which battles are worth focusing on.
Bears RB Overview
Who are the confirmed starters:
D'Andre Swift
Khari Blasingame
Who are the backups on the roster:
Khalil Herbert
Roschon Johnson
Travis Homer
Ian Wheeler
During OTAs and minicamp, Swift looked the part as the Bears featured back in the offense and will handle the bulk of the workload in the room. Former starter Khalil Herbert and second-year Roschon Johnson offer some solid experience behind him as the backups when their names are called upon to keep everyone fresh.
Biggest Questions For Training Camp
Which player will lock up the RB2 spot:
In the Bears backfield, this is going to be the biggest battle in camp between Herbert and Johnson. This time last year, this wasn't much of a battle at all with Herbert being the clear established starter in the room. However, with a full season under his belt, Johnson could make a push for the backup role behind Swift and could even push Herbert completely off the team.
Herbert is entering into the final year of his contract in Chicago and his role on the team has greatly diminished with the new scheme coming to town. The deciding factor in this battle will be which player will prove to be better in pass protection.
"We don’t let anybody touch the quarterback,” running back coach Chris Morton told CHGO's Nicholas Moreano. “We are big on that here. The carries that’s just extra, but we got to pass protect. Protect first and make sure nobody touches Caleb (Williams). Not even a hurry where he has to get off the spot. No. We got to protect. That’s going to be number one for us this year.”
Last season, according to Pro Football Focus, Herbert had a 94.8 pass blocking efficiency grade while Johnson had a 93.8 pass blocking efficiency grade. Catching passes out of the backfield will also be a deciding factor, an area where Johnson had 14 more receptions on 16 more targets than Herbert last season.
Will Travis Homer retain his role:
After signing with the Bears last offseason, Homer played a very underappreciated role for the team during the 2023 season. Homer finished the year playing 61 percent of the team's special teams snaps and will look to retain that role in training camp.
Homer's biggest threat to his role is going to be undrafted free agent Ian Wheeler the Bears brought in for rookie minicamp. Wheeler's versatility, mainly on special teams, has caught the eye of the coaching staff and if he continues to impress special teams coordinator Richard Hightower, he could push for Homer's spot on the roster.
This is where things get difficult with the position for the Bears because keeping five backs on the roster will be a tough pill to swallow when it comes time to make cuts. Herbert, who has special teams experience in the past, could even resort back to that part of the game in order to offer more value worth keeping on the team.
How often will Khari Blasingame be utilized on offense:
Under Luke Getsy's offensive scheme, fullback Khari Blasingame played a big part within the offense and his role in the new system is still largely unknown. Waldron rarely played multiple backs in Seattle and favored more tight end heavy personnel. However, Blasingame was still someone Waldron mentioned by name as a piece he can look to utilize on offense.
Blasingame is entering into the second year of a two-year extension he signed with the Bears and was the highest-rated run blocking fullback in the league last season. He still offers some value to the team in certain formations and he has the respect from the coaching staff that will keep him around in some capacity.
Biggest Training Camp Sleeper at RB: Ian Wheeler
Based on the contract the Bears gave Wheeler as a UDFA, the team has high hopes for the abilities that he could bring to the team. As I prefaced before, Wheeler's best route to making the roster is by being a factor on special teams at multiple positions.
So far, Wheeler has taken reps returning kicks at practice and could look to add kick/punt coverage and personal protector to his skillset during training camp. Just as a returner alone, Wheeler returned 3 kickoffs for a touchdown in his college career.
It's entirely up to what the coaching staff wants to prioritize with the limited roster spots allotted by the time camp comes to an end. But, Wheeler certainly has the ability to make a strong case for himself or at the very least end up on the practice squad.
Chicago Bears Training Camp Battle Preview: Kiran Amegadjie’s return will bring more clarity to the offensive line
What battles will take place up-front during camp?
