The Chicago Bears didn’t have a ton of depth questions regarding their roster coming into training camp. At least not on paper. Sure there are areas with uncertainty that saw overhauls like quarterback and tight end. Still, the outlook for them look solid. Probably the biggest question mark from a full position perspective was running back.
They have David Montgomery and Tarik Cohen. Both decent players with upside. After that? It gets iffy. Ryan Nall, who is currently penciled in as the #3 guy, has played just a handful of snaps in his NFL career. He’s totally unproven. Beyond him the Bears were hoping to get a look at a pair of undrafted free agents they signed in Artavis Pierce and Napoleon Maxwell.
That plan took a major hit this week. Reports surfaced that Pierce was flagged by the team’s COVID-19 protocol and placed on the reserve list as a result. He will be quarantined until further notice. A minimum of two weeks. Perhaps longer depending on if he’s contaminated or not. This creates an even bigger depth concern for the Bears.
A possible hint they could dip into the running back market over the coming days.
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Chicago Bears have plenty of options if they dabble
The good news is there is no shortage of possibilities if the Bears decide to grab somebody. The veteran market is pretty strong for this time of years. Devonta Freeman, Lamar Miller, LeSean McCoy, Theo Riddick, and Marshawn Lynch are some of the names. There are also some interesting sleepers like Jonathan Williams, Wendell Smallwood, and Isaiah Crowell.
It’s crazy to think the oldest player among the Bears running backs is Cohen at 25-years old. Perhaps a dash of veteran seasoning could be what this group of young bucks needs. Head coach Matt Nagy has a prior relationship with McCoy from their days in Philadelphia. Miller and Freeman might also be good fits for his system which demands more versatility from the position.