The Chicago Bears have some decisions to make about their final 53-man roster. With the deadline focusing teams to trim down their rosters, the Bears may be active in the running back market after his comments on Tuesday.
When speaking to the media on Tuesday, head coach Ben Johnson was asked about the availability of Kyle Monangai, Roschon Johnson, and Travis Homer for Week 1, and his answer didn't sound thrilling.
Ben Johnson on Kyle Monangai, Roschon Johnson and Travis Homer's availability for Week 1: "We're still working through that. There are still some questions."
— CHGO Bears (@CHGO_Bears) August 26, 2025
"We're still working through that," Johnson said (h/t @CHGO_Bears) "There are still some questions."
This statement makes it seem that the Bears will need to be active on the waiver wire and free agent market to add another depth RB.
Bears Should Be Active in RB Market After Ben Johnson’s Comments
Monangai is dealing with a soft tissue injury and missed the last two preseason games. Johnson has been out since Aug. 7 with a foot injury. Meanwhile, Homer hasn't practiced since Aug. 13 with a calf injury.
With two weeks until the Bears open the season at home against the Minnesota Vikings on Monday Night Football, they need to make sure they add some depth to the running back room. D'Andre Swift is the only healthy RB, emphasizing how dire the situation is.
Running back committees are more common and effective as they keep guys fresh throughout the game and lessen the wear and tear on the body. Considering three backups are dealing with injuries, it won't be a surprise to see the Bears add another tailback either through waivers or free agency.
They likely wouldn't bring this player in to be a long-term fix, but more so as someone who could chew up reps if needed. It's always better to be safe than sorry, and Johnson is coming from a Detroit Lions team that ranked third in the NFL in rushing attempts (534) and sixth in rushing yards (2,488) last season.
The Bears need multiple ball carriers healthy and ready to go. With the abundance of players set to hit the open market, Chicago will have a chance to add some playmakers to that group. The amount of RBs they add will give some hints and how healthy these three injured RBs actually are.