The Chicago Bears running back depth chart looks light, unless you consider Cordarelle Patterson a running back.
The Chicago Bears have been busy over the past two days, signing Trevor Davis and Tedd Ginn to add depth to the offense. Both are big-play threats but are questionable to make the roster, and of course, due to the timing of the signing will be insignificant on the cap and compensation formulas.
Nonetheless, it is hard to miss that the Chicago Bears signed two veteran wide receivers and a veteran safety, but they still have not sniffed running back.
That could very quickly be the next position on the list.
However, it is striking that with a depth chart of Allen Robinson, Anthony Miller, Riley Ridley, Javon Wims, Darnell Mooney, Tedd Ginn, and Trevor Davis, that they would not add to running back, which has three current players signed.
The Bears have seven legitimate contenders to make the roster at wide receiver, and you will notice there is one glaring name missing. That is right; if you include Cordarelle Patterson, the Bears would now have eight wide receivers with roster consideration.
When you compare eight wide receivers to three running backs, you wonder why running back wasn’t the priority over Ginn and Davis.
That could very easily be because they view Cordarelle Patterson as a running back.
We know from Week One throughout the year, the Bears have tried to find ways to get him the ball. It never materialized. Whether it be play-caller, offensive line or quarterback, it seems as though if the Bears have a plan for him, it will be carries, not catches.
Without Patterson, the Bears still have seven capable wide receivers, but with the back end having so many questions, stacking depth makes sense.
On the other side, David Montgomery is backed up by Ryan Nall, and Tarik Cohen and Cordarelle Patterson are both looked at as a change of pace backs. They change the pace in different manners, but their function in the offense as fast runners who motion wide, but also take carries is the same.
The Bears have two UDFA running backs who could add depth and complete a group that doesn’t look nearly as incomplete with Patterson in the mix. Another veteran could be brought in as Nall still has questions, but when the Bears went out and added receiver over running back, it is hard to ignore them seeing Patterson as a running back.