Bears' reported moves in backfield show telling signs of things to come

The Chicago Bears are adding some depth to the running back room for the 2026 NFL season. 

D’Andre Swift, Kyle Monangai and Roschon Johnson were the three running backs to make the Bears’ initial 53-man roster, but an old friend is returning. According to CBS Sports, the Bears are expected to sign Salvon Ahmed to the practice squad, which the team later confirmed via NFL Wire. 

But the Bears aren’t done adding to the position group. KSTP’s Darren Wolfson tweeted out that the Bears are “expected” to land Minnesota Vikings running back Zavier Scott, which was later confirmed by ESPN's Jeremy Fowler that Scott will be on the Bears' practice squad.

Bears adding Zavier Scott and Salvon Ahmed on practice squad

Let’s start with Scott and then circle back to Ahmed. The former undrafted free agent from Maine spent the 2023 season on the Indianapolis Colts practice squad. The Minnesota Vikings signed him to their practice squad in August 2024, and the German native made the team’s 53-man roster last season. 

Scott played in 16 games, rushing for 114 yards on 32 carries. He also fumbled twice and lost one. The 6-foot-1, 221-pound running back also caught 14 passes on 16 targets for 98 yards and one touchdown. He played in the second matchup against the Bears last season but didn’t record any offensive stats. 

Scott recorded 42 total rushing yards on 12 attempts in this past preseason. He also added four receptions for 24 yards. 

Ahmed finished the preseason with eight carries for 53 yards and added six receptions for 69 yards and a touchdown. Ahmed was competing with Johnson for the third running back spot on the Bears’ 53-man roster this summer.

Monangai is still recovering from a hyperextended knee injury he sustained in training camp, which may have influenced the Bears’ decision to bring back Ahmed and add Scott to the roster. 

Bears head coach Ben Johnson has built his offense around running the football. He needs ball carriers he can trust and a room that can do everything his offense requires.

Ahmed spent the entire summer with the Bears and has familiarity with running backs coach Eric Studesville, so he would have the upper hand over Scott. What Scott does have is speed. He reportedly ran a 4.38 40-yard dash at his workouts with Europe's top prospects before signing with Connecticut in 2017.

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That difference-making speed could be something that Johnson would like to see up close and potentially use if Scott stays on the Bears' practice squad or jumps to the active roster.

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