After having a week off, the Chicago Bears are returning to the practice field in preparation for their Week 6 primetime matchup against the Washington Commanders. During the bye week, Bears fans were coming up with various trade ideas, as they believe that this team needs to add more firepower to their backfield.
That said, the Bears are getting a reinforcement off injured reserve in the RB room.
On Tuesday, Bears head coach Ben Johnson told reporters that they’re opening the 21-day practice window for veteran running back Travis Homer and second-year defensive end Austin Booker, per Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic. With their practice windows getting opened, the two Bears are eligible to return from injured reserve this week.
Nevertheless, Homer's return doesn't alter what Chicago needs moving forward.
Bears Should Still Pursue RB Trade Despite Recent Injury News
The 27-year-old Homer will not factor in the Bears’ offensive game plan as Chicago has Swift and rookie Kevin Monangai in the backfield. However, it will be nice to have the veteran RB for special teams coverage purposes, as Homer has been on injured reserve since Aug. 26 after sustaining a hamstring injury during the preseason.
It's hard to imagine Homer making much of an impact down the stretch when he might be dealing with some rust that needs shaking off.
Chicago is ranked a disappointing 24th in rushing yards per game (102.3), with starter D’Andre Swift averaging a pedestrian 3.3 yards per carry. The veteran runner has played himself into trade territory with his slow start, and it's hard to imagine his performance improving based on the early returns.
As for the future of the Bears’ backfield, the team needs to keep an eye on the rest of the NFL to see if any running backs become available. As things currently stand, New Orleans Saints star Alvin Kamara and New York Jets standout Breece Hall are looking like long shots to be moved.
At the same time, Miami Dolphins star running back De’Von Achane is still an option, but one wonders if the Dolphins are ready to part ways with the electrifying playmaker despite having one win. Achane is signed through 2026, so he'd give the Bears some stability in a position that desperately needs it.
That said, Chicago should be looking at the next tier of running back trade possibilities, such as Rico Dowdle (Carolina Panthers), Tyler Allgeier (Atlanta Falcons), or even Kareem Hunt (Kansas City Chiefs).
The trade deadline is set for Nov. 4 at 4:00 p.m. ET, giving Chicago at least four weeks to figure out what to do at running back. Homer's eventual return will not affect those plans, as Swift’s performance will loom large in what ultimately happens.