The Chicago Bears want to add to their operating again room with their first 2025 preseason recreation simply across the nook. With out many choices available on the market, Chicago is eyeing former Detroit Lions tailback Jamaal Williams.
The Bears introduced Williams in for a exercise on Saturday morning, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported. Though he has spent the final two seasons with the New Orleans Saints, he made waves throughout his earlier two years with the Lions. Williams notched a league-leading 17 speeding touchdowns with Detroit in 2022.
Ought to Williams be a part of the roster, he would instantly turn into the favourite to be the staff’s short-yardage again. Williams averages simply 3.9 yards per carry in his profession, however he has at all times had his most success in between the tackles. Williams would additionally reunite with D’Andre Swift, with whom he shared a backfield on the Lions in 2021 and 2022.
With beneath one month remaining till Week 1, the Bears are working with a short while to signal one other operating again for the preseason. Gus Edwards, Zack Moss, Chase Edmonds and Jeff Wilson Jr. headline the remaining veterans nonetheless and not using a staff.
Bears’ present 2025 operating again room
The Bears at the moment lack a real between-the-tackles runner. They drafted seventh-round rookie Kyle Monangai to probably fill that position, however Roschon Johnson is at the moment the frontrunner in that division. Johnson “seems like a lock” to be Chicago’s short-yardage runner via coaching camp, in accordance with ESPN’s Courtney Cronin.
The group nonetheless follows Swift, who returns after main the staff with 959 speeding yards in 2024. Whereas the full was the second-highest of his profession, he achieved it on a career-low 3.8 yards per carry.
The Bears didn’t get a lot manufacturing from another operating again, with Johnson accumulating simply 150 speeding yards in 2024. Quarterback Caleb Williams was the staff’s second-leading rusher with 489 speeding yards on the 12 months.
Your entire unit is anticipated to enhance considerably in 2025. Not solely do the Bears have a a lot improved offensive line — including two-time All-Professional Joe Thuney and former Professional Bowler Jonah Jackson — however they need to profit from Ben Johnson’s hiring of Eric Bieniemy because the staff’s new operating backs coach.
Bieniemy has spent the final seven years as an offensive coordinator, however constructed his post-playing profession as an elite operating backs coach. The final time he served in that position, he coached Kareem Hunt to a Professional Bowl season with the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs in 2017.