If the Chicago Bears didn't make it clear before to running back Roschon Johnson that he is going to have to fight for a roster spot in 2026, they just did.
NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported that the Bears have signed former Miami Dolphins and Indianapolis Colts running back Salvon Ahmed to a contract. Ahmed has not played in an NFL regular season game since 2023, but has rushed for 593 yards and five touchdowns in his career; all those yards and touchdowns were with the Dolphins.
Johnson is coming off the worst season of his NFL career, as he only had two carries for 17 yards, as injuries set back his season. The emergence of rookie seventh-round pick Kyle Monangai also did not help his playing time.
Bears bring in more competition at running back with Roschon Johnson's back up against the wall
Monangai and D'Andre Swift have been the clear-cut main backs in the backfield for the Bears, so there's no worry there. Some wonder what will happen at RB3 and potentially RB4 if they decide to carry four running backs.
Bears fans should keep in mind that Johnson now has to compete with Ahmed, Brittain Brown, Deion Hankins, and undrafted rookie Coleman Bennett. Brown and Hankins were the two leading rushers on the Bears' last preseason, with Brown having a solid game last year in the regular season against the Cincinnati Bengals, so he might have the edge at RB3.
The chances of Ahmed making the 53-man roster in Chicago don't seem very high, but carries will be taken away from Johnson, so it only makes the situation worse. Before training camp begins, some decisions may need to be made about who sticks around and who might have to get cut.
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Johnson is on the hot seat, and this is not helping things any with Ahmed's arrival, but it certainly does add some intrigue with OTAs around the corner.
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