Chicago Bears: Starting Running Back Suffers a Devastating Ankle Injury in Week 5.

The Chicago Bears running back tandem takes a turn for the worse as their starting running back will miss time with an injury. Starting running back Khalil Herbert suffered a high ankle sprain in the Bears’ Week 5 win against the Washington Commanders. Herbert’s injury will likely sideline him for three to four weeks.

The Bears drafted Herbert in the 6th Round-217th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft. He entered his rookie season as the third-string running back and kick returner. He got playing time with the injury to David Montgomery, starting in two games. In his rookie season, he had 433 yards on 103 carries and two touchdowns. Herbert also had 27 kick returns for 650 yards.

He entered his second season as the number two running back behind David Montgomery. The Bears placed him on injured reserve with a hip injury in Week 10 and activated him in Week 16. Herbert finished the season with 731 yards on 129 carries and four rushing touchdowns.

During the offseason, the Bears let David Montgomery walk. They signed running backs D’Onta Foreman and Travis Homer and drafted Roschon Johnson in the 4th round in the 2023 NFL Draft. Herbert competed with Foreman and Johnson for the starting running back job and won.

Khalil wasn’t the only running back to miss the rest of the game with an injury. Two other running backs got injured.

Rookie running back Roschon Johnson left Week 5’s game with a head injury. Roschon Johnson exited the first quarter after colliding with safety Darrick Forrest. After the hit, Johnson was evaluated for a concussion.

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Foreman has the most experience in the NFL out of any Bears running back. Foreman also has experience as the starting back in his career. He took over for the injured Derrick Henry during the 2021 season. He also took over for Christian McCaffrey when he was traded to the San Francisco 49ers last season.

The Chicago Bears’ victory over the Washington Commanders last Thursday may have provided a moment of relief in regard to the overall outlook of the team but there is still a decision looming for the team this Spring.

With their victory last Thursday, the Bears moved to 1-4 on the season but remain the second-worst team in the NFL. The Carolina Panthers, currently 0-5 on the season, lay claim to having the worst record in the NFL this season.

This means that after five weeks of the 2023 NFL regular season, the Bears are currently projected to have the top two selections in the 2024 NFL Draft. The Bears hold the rights to the Panthers’ 2024 first-round selection and that would be the top spot in the draft if the season ended today with the Bears’ first-round selection falling right after.

Meaning, the hypothetical conversation that was had last off-season regarding “If Caleb Williams was in the 2023 NFL Draft, there is no doubt that the Bears would take him” is poised to be a legitimate debate that the team will need to have this 0ff-season.

Williams is expected to forgo his senior season at USC in 2024 and enter the 2024 NFL Draft. For many talent evaluators, Williams is believed to be the best quarterback prospect since Patrick Mahomes in 2017.

When the debate begins in earnest, after the season, the Bears will be afforded the opportunity to evaluate the full season of Fields’ third season in the NFL. After consecutive breakout performances against the Denver Broncos and Washington Commanders, Fields has some lofty full-season projections for the 2023 campaign.

If those projections become reality, the Bears will have their answer at the quarterback position and be in a great position ahead of the draft. Until then, the likely scenario may still be the Bears taking Williams if they indeed have the top spot in the draft.