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Surprise Bears Player in Jeopardy of Being Shipped Out

It appears a surprise Chicago Bears player is on thin ice as training camp approaches.

By Isaiah De Los Santos

May 23, 2024; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus speaks during organized team activities at Halas Hall Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
May 23, 2024; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus speaks during organized team activities at Halas Hall Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports / Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
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The Chicago Bears are in the home stretch of the offseason after wrapping up spring workouts in early June. Chicago players are set to report for training camp by July 19, which will officially begin the ramp-up period for the regular season.

The preseason will see a number of young players and newcomers looking to carve out a role for themselves on this revamped roster. However, it turns out this period will also help determine if one Bear veteran sticks around.

Bears reported Adams Jahns recently wrote on the Athletic that running back Khalil Herbert is on shaky footing ahead of camp. Jahns said he wouldn't be surprised if Herbert "is considered on the [roster] bubble" within the organization following minicamp, noting D'Andre Swift and Roschon Johnson being the primary threats to the speedster making it past cuts.

Now, Chicago signing Swift does complicate Herbert's role after being the lead back a year ago. However, many teams employ a two-headed approach to running back now, and Swift's history of health issues creates a need for proven depth.

That's what makes Herbert being a possible preseason cut/trade candidate a surprise. Sure, he's coming off of a down 2023 campaign, but he still posted a solid 4.6 yards per attempt and took a step forward as a receiver with career highs in receptions (20) and yards (130).

Johnson didn't exactly light it up as a rookie, RB4 Travis Homer put up a whopping zero rushing yards this past season, and undrafted rookie Ian Wheeler is a big unknown. So Herbert's competition doesn't seem like it should drive him out, either.

Perhaps Herbert quieting concerns over his health will be what ends up deciding his fate for the 2024 season. He's played in only 13 and 12 games over the past two campaigns, respectively, due to injuries, which has surely tested the Bears' patience.

If Chicago doesn't feel confident in the fourth-year pro holding up even in a secondary role, perhaps the team explores a trade or outright release by Week 1.

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