After minicamp concluded in June, there were rumors that Bears running back Khalil Herbert might be on the roster bubble. However, according to Adam Jahns of The Athletic, Herbert’s spot on the team now appears secure, with Chicago recognizing his importance.
Last year, Herbert was seen as the leading candidate to take over as the primary running back following David Montgomery’s departure. Despite the Bears adding D’Onta Foreman and Roschon Johnson in the 2023 offseason, Herbert was the clear frontrunner, having demonstrated significant potential as Montgomery’s backup over the previous two seasons. During that period, Herbert amassed 1,164 rushing yards on 232 carries (averaging over 5.0 yards per attempt) and scored six touchdowns.
Herbert, 26, began the 2023 season as Chicago’s RB1, but with former quarterback Justin Fields’ running ability and the Bears suffering double-digit losses in their first three games, Herbert saw only 23 carries during that time. He then sustained a high ankle sprain in Week 5, which placed him on injured reserve.
He regained his starting role late in the season and delivered two 100-yard performances in Weeks 16 and 17, showcasing the burst the team had come to expect from him. However, with the Bears expected to draft QB Caleb Williams with the No. 1 overall pick this year, they signed Pro Bowl running back D’Andre Swift to a three-year, $24M contract in March to bolster the offense.
The addition of Swift, along with Johnson and Travis Homer, made Herbert a potential cut or trade candidate earlier in the summer. However, Herbert remains a cost-effective option — earning just over $1M this year, the final year of his rookie contract — and has only 364 career carries. He also managed to average 4.6 yards per attempt last season despite the ankle injury and playing in a subpar offense.
As Jahns points out, this could be Herbert’s final season with the Bears. Nevertheless, with the team aiming to compete in 2024, retaining a talented and inexpensive back like Herbert makes sense as part of an offensive unit that suddenly looks quite formidable, depending on Williams’ development.
