Checking in on former Chicago Bears running back David Montgomery

There was some surprise this past off-season when running back David Montgomery signed with the Detroit Lions in free agency despite there being interest in a reunion from the Chicago Bears.

The Bears had expressed an interest in re-signing Montgomery this past off-season but the Lions offered more of a financial guarantee, leading the running back to signing a multi-year deal with the team.

Montgomery seemed to make himself at home with the Lions during the off-season as he suggested that he was looking forward to being on a winning team for a change.

The Lions are 7-2 on the season and have joined the conversation with the San Francisco 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles in terms of being thought of as the best team in the NFC.

Montgomery’s impact on the Lions was on full display in the team’s 41-38 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday. Montgomery rushed for 116 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries.

The Chicago Bears will get a look at their former running back David Montgomery on Sunday when they play the Detroit Lions.

Montgomery is on pace to have a career year with the Lions as he is already one rushing touchdown away from matching his career-high in a season while also having the potential to have his first 1,000-yard season since 2020. Through six games this season, Montgomery has totaled 7 touchdowns and 501 rushing yards.

With Montgomery and the Lions set to face the Bears on Sunday, there will be think pieces about how the Bears made another mistake in personnel by letting their former running back go to their division rival.

That would not be a fair assessment. Regardless of what fan expectations may have been during the off-season, the Bears were not a team that was built to contend during the 2023-2024 NFL season. In a league where the rule of thumb is not to pay running backs, the Bears’ decision to let Montgomery leave for the Lions remains the right decision. Besides, the Bears are averaging 135.1 rushing yards per game and that is the fifth-highest amount in the NFL this season.