6 Bears Unlikely to Return in 2025 After Poor Start to Season

3. Khalil Herbert, running back

The writing has been on the wall for running back Khalil Herbert for a long time, I'm afraid.

The Bears kept Herbert this offseason despite the fact that there are teams out there that could probably use some serious help at the running back position. They kept him despite the fact that Roschon Johnson came on for them at the end of last season, and they kept him despite signing D'Andre Swift to a $24 million contract in the offseason.

And if I told you the results have been predictable, would you think I was crazy?

Through the first four games this season, even with D'Andre Swift struggling in three of them, the former Bears' starting running back has carried the ball a total of eight times for 16 yards and one touchdown. He's also added a pair of receptions, to be fair.

The Bears finally got the breakout game they needed from D'Andre Swift in Week 4. Roschon Johnson contributed right behind him and the Chicago running game finally got going a little bit against the Rams. We'll see if they can keep that going, but regardless, does it feel like Khalil Herbert has much of a chance to make meaningful contributions to this team in 2024?

It's been a slow enough start that I'm starting to wonder not only if Herbert is going to make it to 2025 (where he is an unrestricted free agent) but if we might see the Bears do the right thing by the player and get him to another situation where he can actually play in 2024.