It is a frustratingly long injury report for the Chicago Bears ahead of their Week 12 clash against the Pittsburgh Steelers. While the focus is mostly on the three linebackers, Tremaine Edmunds, TJ Edwards, and Noah Sewell, who missed Thursday's practice and are unlikely to play on Sunday, the Bears have another concern with Roschon Johnson. The third-year running back missed practice with a thumb injury, putting his availability for the weekend in jeopardy.
Johnson wasn't on Wednesday's injury report, suggesting that this is an injury that occurred during practice this week. Johnson already missed Week 1 with a foot injury and Weeks 8 and 9 with a back injury and recently returned to action. Upon his return, however, he has been exclusively used on the special teams. With Kyle Monangai's emergence and the Bears' rushing attack looking great, there hasn't been any need to integrate Johnson into the offense.
Roschon Johnson's Latest Injury Concern Will Eventually Lead to His Bears Exit
Chicago currently has the second-most rushing yards in the NFL and ranks sixth in yards per carry. D'Andre Swift and Monangai have been a solid partnership in the backfield. This may eventually lead to Johnson's exit in the offseason.
Johnson has only played four offensive snaps all season and carried the ball twice. For a player who was a big part of the offense in 2024, this is a very disappointing development. The fourth-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft is a downhill, powerful runner and was a trusted option in the red zone in his first two seasons in Chicago, putting up eight touchdowns in 29 games.
That may end up being the high-water mark for Johnson. The Bears didn't trade him at the November 4 trade deadline, perhaps because he was banged up. Now, they have four running backs on the roster, including Travis Homer. With how little they use both players, this is unnecessary.
This isn't to say that the Bears will or should move on from Johnson this season. He is a good insurance to have for the final stretch of the season. In the 2026 offseason, however, Chicago has little reason to bring him back, despite the fact that he has one more year on his contract. The Bears could try to see if they can find a trade for him. Even if there isn't one, Johnson would still be a prime candidate to be elsewhere when the 2026 campaign begins.