When Ryan Poles was named General Manager for the Chicago Bears, he inherited a roster in shambles. Aging veterans, costly contracts, and a team severely lacking in talent. 2021 saw a total tear down of the roster. The team carried more than $100,000,000.00 in dead cap money. It was a painful year to watch.
When the 2023 league year began in March, Poles started the rebuild. Nowhere was this more evident than in the running back group.
Starting running back David Montgomery became a free agent. Despite attempts to re-sign him, Montgomery signed a 4-year, $18 Million contract with the Detroit Lions. The only two running backs on the roster were 2nd year back, Khalil Herbert, and journeyman Darrynton Evans.
Poles signed Carolina RB D’Onta Foreman, and Seattle’s Travis Homer. Foreman is a punishing running back who replaced Christian McCaffrey in the Carolina Panthers offense after they traded CMC to the 49ers. Foreman rushed for over 900 yards in only nine starts for the Panther. Poles signed him to a one-year deal.
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Travis Homer is a special teams depth back.
When Ryan Poles and the scouting team saw Texas RB Roschon Johnson available in the 4th round, they selected him with the 115th pick in the draft.
Khalil Herbert is signed through 2024. His cap number is only $1,055,000.00. The last year of his current rookie contract.
Travis Homer signed a two-year deal as a free agent. His 2024 salary is $1,550.000.00
Roschon Johnson is on year one of his four-year rookie deal. He is signed through 2026. His 2024 salary is $915,000.00.
D’onta Foreman was signed to just a one-year contract and unless he his offered an extension, Foreman would be a free agent in 2024.
Foreman has been the workhorse in the Bears’ backfield after Khalil Herbert injured his ankle in the game at Washington. He has been a consistent performer that has earned his playing time, even after Khalil Herbert is elevated to the active roster.
Herbert and Roschon Johnson have had their share of missed time. Herbert with the ankle injury and Johnson, who suffered a concussion in the same game at Washington.
Many writers questioned why Foreman was a healthy scratch for several weeks. That strategy backfired in that Commander’s game. Herbert, Johnson and Travis Homer all left that game due to injury. With Foreman inactive, Chicago had to turn to fullback Khari Blasingame to run the ball late in that game.
Looking ahead, only Herbert and Johnson are currently under contract for 2024. Foreman has earned consideration for a new deal for another year or two. Foreman’s salary this year is only $1,525,000.00. A similar deal in 2024 would be a bargain and keep the top three running back’s under contract for next year.
News and Notes
Montez Sweat registered 8-QB pressures Thursday night. No Bears defender had registered that many pressures since 2021. Sweat didn’t register a sack, but his pressure did create opportunities and led to three sacks on the night. The defense had only 10 sacks through the first nine games of the season.
Khalil Herbert is the only player currently on the injured list, and is expected to be elevated to the active roster ahead of the game next Sunday.
Justin Fields, Terrell Smith, and Nate Davis have missed several games, but they were never added to the injury list.
Any new players that end up on the injury list will now be unable to return to the active roster, as the team has used all eight of their allotted moves.
Next Sunday, the Bears travel to Detroit, game time is scheduled for Noon CST and will be a regional broadcast on FOX.
