Chicago Bears 2023 Season Preview: Running back

By Kevin Schroeder
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Updated: September 7, 2023

[Photo: Chicago Bears]

Last year, your author predicted that David Montgomery would be the lead dog at running back, but Khalil Herbert would eat into his carries, as he fits Luke Getsy’s wide zone offense better. Nailed it. Now, Montgomery is gone altogether, having signed with Detroit in the offseason. So Herbert is now the lead dog. A third-year man out of Virginia Tech, Herbert was a sixth-round pick in the 2021 draft and showed some potential as a rookie, averaging 4.2 yards per carry on just over 100 attempts. Last year, he took he next step. The Hokie product averaged 5.7(!) YPC on 126 carries across 13 games, 1 of which he started. This with an offensive line that couldn’t be accurately described without a reference to some animal’s fecal matter. We’ll talk more about the new line later, but the Cliffs Notes version is that a glaring liability is gone, a rookie is now a sophomore, and the new rookie is a freakbeast. Herbert’s legs should still be rather fresh, averaging about 6 carries a game his rookie year and just under 10 a game last year. The table is set for a big year.

As a runner, anyway. Herbert left a lot to be desired as a receiver out of the backfield a year ago and his pass protection could still use real work. Your author predicts a 1000-yard season on the ground, but Herbert’s shortcomings in other areas of the game leave the door open for someone else to take significant snaps.

Roschon Johnson arrives in Chicago after backing up All-American and latest Falcons mistake Bijan Robinson at Texas. While not a burner and of questionable schematic compatibility, Johnson brings much to the table that should, at the very least, make him the thunder to Herbert’s lightning. Johnson is a hard runner, capable of picking up yards after contact. His pass protection ability should earn him snaps right away and he has shown the ability to be a capable receiver out of the backfield, catching 23 passes for 158 yards and a touchdown as a freshman. The next three years, however, he totaled 33 catches for 262 yards and two touchdowns. Receiving is probably an area to continue working on. Early returns have been encouraging, both in camp and preseason play.

D’Onta Foreman arrives after a career-best year in Carolina a season ago. Playing in every game for the first time in his career and starting nine of them after Christian McCaffrey was dealt to San Francisco, Foreman racked up a career-high 914 yards on the ground and five touchdowns. At 6’1 and 233 pounds, Foreman brings some muscle to the position and is another contender for the thunder role. He, like the two aforementioned backs, could use some work on receiving, though; his career-high in that department is nine with Tennessee in 2021. Foreman is only 27 and there should be plenty of tread left on the tires. Last year was the first time he carried the ball 200+ times in a season. The year before was his first time carrying 100+ times. The three years prior (the first two in Houston, then 2020 in Tennessee), he totaled 107 carries. However, that number is artificially low, as he missed almost all of the 2018 season in Houston with a torn Achilles. He would miss the 2019 season with a torn bicep after signing with the Colts. This is where his career gets really interesting. He signed with Tennessee, did not very much, signed with Atlanta in the offseason and got signed, released, signed to the practice squad, and released again in less than a month. He ended up back in Tennessee, where he was a key piece of their playoff run after Derrick Henry went down, then signed with Carolina and had a career year. Carolina signed Miles Sanders in the offseason, so now Foreman’s here on a one-year, $3 million deal, a perfectly fine price to find out if last year was a fluke.

If you’re tired of reading about guys who leave something to be desired as receivers, fear not – here’s Travis Homer! Homer spent the entirety of his four-year career in Seattle before signing here in the offseason. The last two years, he had exactly one fewer passing target than he did rushing attempts. Those numbers were never very large, though, and your author doesn’t project that to change here. Look for him on third downs, potentially.

Khari Blasingame returns at fullback, to the delight of fans who enjoy seeing a fullback. With multiple capable tight ends on the roster this year (more on them later) and multiple big, hard-running running backs on the roster (you just read about them), your author fails to see where many snaps are going to come for Blasingame. Still, he’s here and could add an extra wrinkle with some 21/22-personnel.

Whatever Elmo’s calling it now, Threads: @312sportsguy