The Chicago Bears released a plethora of players on Tuesday in order to get their roster down to 53 players. The next step is looking at the waiver wire and seeing if there are any players worth putting in a claim for.
When speaking to reporters on Tuesday, head coach Ben Johnson didn't sound confident in his running back room in regard to their health. Johnson failed to confirm that Kyle Monangai, Roschon Johnson, and Travis Homer will be ready for Week 1. In fact, Homer was placed on short-term injured reserve and will miss the first couple of weeks of the season.
With several injuries in the backfield, the Bears need to add someone else and should look at RB Damien Martinez, who was released by the Seattle Seahawks on Tuesday, per CBS Sports' Matt Zenitz.
The #Seahawks are releasing running back Damien Martinez, sources tell @CBSSports.
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) August 26, 2025
Was a seventh-round draft pick in April. Ran for 1,002 yards and 10 touchdowns last year at Miami. pic.twitter.com/4BLXMXleRQ
Bears Should Pursue RB Damien Martinez After Seahawks Release
Martinez was drafted with the 223rd pick in the seventh round of this draft and was given a shot to make the Seahawks' final roster. RBs Zach Charbonnet and Kenneth Walker will lead the charge in that backfield, and there wasn't enough room for Martinez.
Since there are questions about when Monangai and Johnson are going to come back, the Bears need to add someone else to that room. This preseason, Martinez rushed for 24 yards on seven carries. He didn't blow anyone away, but he still has some tools that could make him an enticing option. His 6-foot, 217-pound frame could be used to his advantage as a downhill runner.
In his collegiate career at Oregon State and Miami, Martinez had 3,169 rushing yards and 26 touchdowns, including back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons.
While he didn't stick with the Seahawks roster, it doesn't mean he isn't capable of playing in the league. The Bears only have D'Andre Swift as their healthy RB, and that's risky. Especially since he's their RB1 too.
Getting someone else added to the fold is a must over the next few days, and Martinez could be a perfect option for the Bears to consider. Putting in a claim for an RB seems like a no-brainer at this point. So why not bring in Martinez?