One of the biggest questions of the Chicago Bears offseason will be how Zavion Thomas fits into their plans. They drafted him much higher than many expected him to go, and they drafted him at a point where they have to have a plan for using him this year. While many are trying to understand his role as a receiver, the Bears appear to be also using him as a running back.
Will Zavion Thomas play running back in the NFL?
Thomas has not been the most dynamic receiver in his college career, but he is obviously a threat with the ball in his hands due to his speed. It appears the Bears' plan right now is to find ways to get the ball into his hands so that he can stretch defenses both vertically and physically.
Zavion Thomas says he feels “natural” at running back, running between the tackles.
— Caleb Williams Fan Club (@CalebFC18) May 9, 2026
Ben Johnson got his Jahmyr Gibbs.👀 pic.twitter.com/7bAstkl2Gc
Thomas was asked about playing running back during the rookie mini camp, and he said that he was getting work in the role and that it came naturally to him.
This will be interesting to watch throughout the year. The Bears are not deep at receiver by any stretch, but they simply do not have a capable third-string running back right now. The team can run it with a two-headed monster of D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai, and because the split will be even, there is a good chance that neither gets worn down.
However, the rest of the depth chart brings little. Roschon Johnson has never been able to stay healthy enough, and Brittain Brown is lower-end depth. Neither of them would make a roster on most NFL teams.
Ben Johnson signed Khaliff Raymond from the Detroit Lions, where Johnson was formerly Raymond's offensive coordinator. Considering Johnson is obviously high on Raymond as his third receiver it is not crazy to think that he is more interested in what Thomas can do as a running back.
The issue is that this type of change is a bit unprecedented, especially for a rookie to make it and hit the ground running. While this sounds fun, the reality is that the Bears drafted Thomas pretty high, and he is not getting work at the position for which they drafted him. They may have a smart plan for him, and it may work out. Or, he is not good at running back because he had 38 carries in college, and he does not develop as a receiver because he spent so much time at running back. The floor for this pick remains low.
| More Bears News and Rumors |
Add us as a preferred source on Google