Bears forced to shake up running back room going into Week 6
The Chicago Bears offensive personnel is going to look a lot different this week against the Minnesota Vikings. As NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported on Sunday, Bears starting running back Khalil Herbert is expected to miss several weeks due to an ankle injury he suffered during Thursday's win against the Washington Commanders. The team likely […]
The Chicago Bears offensive personnel is going to look a lot different this week against the Minnesota Vikings.
As NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported on Sunday, Bears starting running back Khalil Herbert is expected to miss several weeks due to an ankle injury he suffered during Thursday's win against the Washington Commanders.
The team likely won't be without just their leading rusher, rookie running back Roschon Johnson is also in jeopardy of missing Sunday's game after suffering a concussion in Week 5.
There's still hope for Johnson to return in Week 6, considering the team has the benefit of having the extra days off following a Thursday night game. If Johnson can clear protocol, he will be slotted in as the team's top back.
Running back Travis Homer will also enter to the week with some injury questions worth monitoring after also leaving the game with a hamstring injury on Thursday.
To assist with the now shallow depth at the position, the Bears brought in a familiar face over the weekend. Pelissero also reported that the team has signed running back Darrynton Evans off of the Miami Dolphins practice squad. Evans confirmed the news on his own social media account.
Evans played in Chicago during the 2022 season, where he totaled 64 rushing yards in six games played. Evans can hit the ground running for the Bears on Sunday against the Vikings, given his existing knowledge of the offensive playbook.
It's very likely that we should expect to finally see D'Onta Foreman finally be activated to the game day roster in Week 6. Foreman as been a healthy inactive for the last four games, despite signing a one-year, $3 million deal with the Bears this offseason.
Foreman was extremely efficient for the Carolina Panthers in 2022 after the team traded running back Christian McCaffrey in the middle of the season. Foreman led the Panthers with 914 rushing yards and averaged 4.5 yards/carry.
The only other healthy back going into the week for the Bears outside of Evans and Foreman will be fullback Khari Blasingame. Blasingame stepped up in a major way for the Bears last week, but the team can't rely on that type of production every game.
As it stands, Bears fans should expect to see Foreman enter the week as the team's top back with Evans backing him up. If Johnson and Homer can't go by the end of the week, those two will have to carry the load in the Bears backfield.
Khari Blasingame becomes Bears unsung hero in win over Commanders
He made a major impact on Thursday night
