The Chicago Bears revealed the final 53-man roster at 3:00 CST. There were some fun revelations. After his stellar showing in Kansas City, preseason hero Jahdae Walker made the team. Ben Johnson has elected to carry ten offensive linemen into the season, perhaps still unsatisfied with the left tackle situation. They’re also going with five defensive tackles, which is one more than last season. However, the most notable development came at the running back position. Chicago is going with three names: D’Andre Swift, Roschon Johnson, and Kyle Monangai.
There are a few issues with that. Last year, the Bears carried four running backs. Travis Homer, their special teams ace, just went on Injured Reserve. On top of that, both Johnson and Monangai have missed significant time with injuries. Yet the team still decided to cut guys like Ian Wheeler, Royce Freeman, and Brittain Brown. That suggests Johnson and GM Ryan Poles are planning to make a move at running back over the next couple of days. Chicago is 10th in the waiver wire picking order and may also have opportunities on the trade market.
The Chicago Bears should have some interesting options.
Running backs are probably among the more fruitful position groups on the waiver wire this time of year. It is all about finding the right fit, not necessarily the biggest name. This is where the Bears having Eric Bieniemy as their running backs coach is such a bonus. He’s always had a sharp eye for the position, having played it in his youth and coached it for years. He helped Kansas City land hidden gems like Kareem Hunt, Damien Williams, and Isaiah Pacheco. His experienced eye should help Johnson find somebody who can be a quality contributor for the Chicago Bears. Much depends on whether another team decides to claim somebody they want. That is where not having a higher spot in the pick order can be tough. Answers should be coming in the next 24-48 hours.
