The Chicago Bears know their running back situation starts with D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai. What they haven’t yet figured out is that third spot. Roschon Johnson has usually been the primary reserve for the past couple of seasons, but recently, he’s been challenged by journeyman Salvon Ahmed. Saturday’s preseason game in Cincinnati felt like a pretty important one for the former 4th round pick. He needed a strong performance. Instead, he finished with 42 yards on 12 carries, good for only 3.5 yards per rush.
All of it could be summed up in one play. Early in the 2nd quarter, the Bears were driving into Bengals territory. On 2nd and 6, they ran a counter with tight end Sam Roush pulling to the right. As the play developed, a massive chasm opened between the left guard and right tackle. Johnson was staring right at it as he got the hand-off. Had he taken it, he likely would’ve gotten the 1st down and much more if he had made the linebacker spying him miss. Instead, he followed Roush to the right and ended up getting two yards.
Roschon Johnson showcased one of his biggest weaknesses.
For all of his power as a runner, he has always demonstrated a lack of vision. Johnson follows the play as called every time, even if it’s obvious the blocking isn’t giving him the lane he needs. This is what separates him from Swift and Monangai. They have the vision and ability to follow what they see to open space. Now the same is true of Ahmed. Vision was never his strength either. However, there is one critical difference between him and Johnson. Ahmed has the speed and burst to mitigate some of those issues.
Johnson does not.
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In a situation like this, he really needed his special teams experience to shine through. Unfortunately, even that hasn’t helped. Roschon Johnson hasn’t made any meaningful plays in the third phase through two games. Meanwhile, Ahmed continues to outpace him on the ground and through the air. There is no greater telling of where Johnson stands on the roster than the fact that he leads the team in carries. That is never a good sign in the preseason. Those players often get cut.
Johnson’s future depends on the Bears’ roster plans.
The Bears only carried three running backs on the main roster last season. If Johnson is to survive, he must hope they decide to carry four. This is possible because Monangai is currently week-to-week due to a knee injury. The coaches may prefer to go heavy at the position until he’s fully healthy. If that doesn’t materialize, two options will remain for Johnson. Either he goes elsewhere after the Bears likely waive him, or he chooses to stick around on the practice squad, presuming they look to retain him that way.
One play alone isn’t why Johnson is nearing the end of his tenure with the organization. His physical limitations and health setbacks have played a part. However, that singular moment in Cincinnati may have been the straw that broke the camel’s back. It showcased him at his worst as a runner. The Bears are out of ways to justify keeping him anymore. Still, for a 4th round pick, he’s had a quality run.
