2. Running back options
The options at running back are very poor for the Bears. David Montgomery has shown flashes as a running back, and he is exciting to watch. He could be a solid back for the Bears. After that, there isn’t a true back that can step in for Montgomery in the scenario that he goes down with an injury.
The Bears have Tarik Cohen as his immediate backup. Cohen likely doesn’t have the capability to handle a full-load as Montgomery does. He mainly is a gadget player that is used in screens and can line up at wide receiver.
After Cohen, there is fan-favorite Ryan Nall. Nall hasn’t proven much as an NFL player since he has two carries in his career. In the preseason, he has looked promising averaging 6.3 yards per carry, but that doesn’t mean much. It wouldn’t be great to rely on him if Montgomery went down.
Fighting Nall for the third-string spot are two undrafted free agents. The first one signed was Artavis Pierce out of Oregon State. Pierce looked very explosive for the Beavers and could be a solid back up in the future, but he isn’t a guy who has handled a full load even in his college career. He may even spend the season on the practice squad.
The other undrafted free agent is Napoleon Maxwell out of Florida International. He’s another back that never handled a full load in his career and could be fighting Pierce for the practice squad spot on the Bears.