Chicago Bears training camp is right around the corner, and in my opinion, the Bears’ future is more uncertain than ever. When there is uncertainty with a team, more often than not, that means that there is tons of room for opportunity.
Outside of Justin Fields, Roquan Smith, Darnell Mooney, and Jaylon Johnson, there are no other players that I can confidently say will be building blocks for the future. Although this is not a very pleasing thing to hear as a Bears fan, this lackluster roster will create a competitive training camp environment. Players know that there are positions for the taking if they can prove themselves on the field.
Players like Trevis Gipson, Teven Jenkins, Larry Borom, Kyler Gordon, and Jaquan Brisker, are all players that could certainly contribute long-term to the Chicago Bears, but they will need to earn it. And it all starts in training camp.
In this article, we will highlight the top five storylines and players to monitor during training camp.
5. Chicago Bears players to watch: Khalil Herbert and David Montgomery
In 2021, we saw just a glimpse of Khalil Herbert once David Montgomery went down for a few weeks due to injury, and that glimpse of Khalil Herbert was special. Khalil Herbert carried the bulk of the carries for roughly four games during Montgomery’s absence and contributed massively in an upset win against the Raiders on the road. Herbert also combined for just under 300 yards in his next three starts — including a 100-yard rushing game against one of the league’s best rushing defenses in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Khalil Herbert’s success may have surprised many people, but as a person who often watches ACC Football, I watched Herbert in college and he is the real deal. His combination of great vision, and great burst reminds me of Aaron Jones and could find himself as the Bears’ starting running back soon enough as David Montgomery is a free agent after this next year.
Khalil Herbert could give the front office the confidence to let David Montgomery walk in the upcoming free agency with a stellar training camp performance. Last year, it felt like Herbert was fighting an impossible battle. A battle that prevented him from winning the starting job, or even get a bigger role, with Montgomery active. However, with the new regime in place, I think Herbert has a fresh start and could make sure he has a future with the Bears as a starter for a long time.