The Chicago Bears will be one of several teams across the league that will open training camp this week, as rookies report to Halas Hall on July 19. The veterans won’t be too far behind, as they will make their appearance on July 22.
While current Bears players prepare to fight for spots on the 53-man roster or practice squad, multiple former Chicago players are still waiting for a phone call or at least an invite to training camp.
Veterans Gerald Everett, DeMarcus Walker, and Keenan Allen, who were all on last season’s team, have yet to sign somewhere, which is surprising. However, we can also say the same thing about this former Bears running back, who played in the Windy City a couple of years ago.
Ex-Bears RB D’Onta Foreman Among Former Chicago Players Still in FA
The 29-year-old Foreman spent the 2023 season with the Bears after playing with the Carolina Panthers in 2022, where he had a career year on the ground with 914 yards and five TDs on 203 carries.
Foreman couldn’t duplicate that success in his lone year with the Bears, as he only suited up in nine games.
The veteran running back produced 425 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 109 carries. He also showed off his pass-catching skills, tallying 11 receptions (16 targets) for 77 yards and a TD. Foreman’s lack of usage in Chicago was puzzling, given that the team didn’t have a bona fide RB1 in the backfield.
Nonetheless, the ex-Bears running back took his talents to the Cleveland Browns last offseason on a one-year deal. Foreman didn’t make the Browns’ 53-man roster after preseason, but they immediately re-signed him.
The veteran running back played in 11 games and made three starts in Cleveland. However, he didn’t have a huge impact on the ground. Foreman posted 232 rushing yards and 71 carries and averaged a career-worst 3.3 yards per carry.
It wasn’t the performance Foreman likely expected after only getting 109 carries in 2023 with the Bears. Now, the veteran running back waits to see if a team will bring him in for camp. Foreman won’t be many teams’ first choice as Gus Edwards, Ezekiel Elliott, and Jamaal Williams are still available.
Foreman is limited as he’s not a pass-catching threat out of the backfield. He’s more in line with what Edwards does as more of an in-between-the-tackles runner and short-yardage. However, one can make the case that Edwards has done it better recently.