26 Days Until Chicago Bears 2017 Season Kicks off: Benny Cunningham Profile
The Bear Goggles On Countdown to Kickoff series is now underway. With 26 days to go until the Bears season kicks off we will highlight the Bears player that is wearing number 26, Benny Cunningham.
2016 Season Review
Benny Cunningham comes over to Chicago from the LA Rams. He spent the last couple of seasons subbing behind Todd Gurley and has always proven to be a valuable back up. Cunningham has proven he can handle a decent workload and has nice hands out of the backfield. He also can contribute as a kick returner.
Cunningham averaged 4.8 yards per carry (on only 21 attempts) last season and caught 16 passes out of the backfield.
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2017 Outlook
Cunningham is a solid running back and has an excellent shot to make the roster. A big part of his future with the team this season will be whether the Bears keep 3 or 4 running backs. Jordan Howard and Tarik Cohen will have two of the spots. If the Bears only keep three backs, that means Ka’Deem Carey, Jeremy Langford and Cunningham are all battling for one spot. If the Bears decide to keep four backs, two of the three backs will make the squad. Cunningham will almost certainly make it if the Bears keep four backs, and it’s 50-50 if they keep three. He would be a nice RB2 behind Howard because Cohen can’t handle a workload if Howard misses any length of time this season.
The running back battle between Langford, Carey and Cunningham will be interesting one all month. Langford needs to get healthy and get on the field if he wants to beat Cunningham and Carey out for a roster spot.
Future with the Bears
Cunningham doesn’t have much of a future with the Bears. He isn’t a long-term answer anywhere and the Bears don’t need him to be. With Jordan Howard established and rookie Tarik Cohen flashing early, the Bears need Cunningham as a depth piece (assuming he makes the team). Cunningham could be here in 2017, or he could be gone, if he proves he’s valuable he could even return in 2018, but there is no reason to run out and get yourself a Benny Cunningham jersey because of a preseason TD against the Denver Broncos.