The life of a running back in the NFL can be more unforgiving than any other position. Former Chicago Bears rusher Khalil Herbert is learning this lesson now, if he hadn't already, after being forced to join the practice squad of the Indianapolis Colts coming out of training camp.
Unfortunately for Herbert, his time in Indianapolis was short-lived as the franchise announced on Monday that the former Bears draft pick had been released from the practice squad. In a corresponding move, a different veteran rusher, Ameer Abdullah, was signed to the team to fill the same role once held by Herbert.
Ex-Bears RB Khalil Herbert Waived by Colts Ahead of Chicago's Opener
After spending the first three and a half seasons of his professional career as a member of Chicago's backfield, the Bears traded Herbert to the Cincinnati Bengals during the 2024 campaign, where he remained through the end of the season.
The downturn in production that Herbert showed at the end of his tenure in the Windy City followed him to Ohio, as, to be frank, his numbers as a Bengal were nothing to write home about. In eight appearances for Cincinnati, Herbert struggled to find his footing, rushing the ball 28 total times for 114 yards while reeling in eight receptions for 21 yards. Of Herbert's carries, 20 of them came in the Bengals' season finale as he filled in for an injured Chase Brown to record 69 rushing yards.
After failing to make the 53-man roster in Indianapolis following training camp and the preseason, Herbert was deemed replaceable by the Colts' front office, and it did not take them long to do just that by releasing him to open up a spot for Abdullah. The writing was likely on the wall for Herbert that his time with the Colts would be brief after the franchise drafted a running back in the fifth round this past April.
At 27 years old, Herbert has carried the ball 874 times, including collegiate days. That is a lot of punishment to take for any running back, let alone one who stands 5'9" and weighs 212 pounds, as Herbert does. When you consider that Herbert has also returned kicks throughout his career, the number of hits he's taken rises.
Where Herbert turns now is anyone's guess. Practice squads are tweaked throughout the year, but without a means of showing what he is capable of on the field, there is little reason for any franchise to take the veteran on based on his performance in his last two stops.
For now, Herbert will just have to sit back and watch his former Bears teammates square off against his one-time hated rival on Monday Night Football while he waits for his next opportunity to come.