The Chicago Bears made a splash by signing D’Andre Swift in free agency. The move was questionable because he had not been a reliable runner with the Detroit Lions and while he played well with the Philadelphia Eagles, even that experience was inconsistent. It was notable that the Eagles went out of their way to pay Saquon Barkley instead of him.
The Bears had to have big plans for Swift, right? So far, he has been a complete dud. Swift has 24 carries for 48 yards through two games. He has four catches for 24 yards. The only real saving grace for his signing was that he was going to be a passing-down weapon and a great check-down option for Caleb Williams. That has not been the case so far this year.
Should Chicago Bears rotate their running backs more?
One thing that the Bears need to do is find a way to play Khalil Herbert more. Herbert played six snaps while Swift played 46. Travis Homer played 20 snaps, far more than Herbert.
This makes sense because Homer is better at pass protection, but Swift was supposed to be a check-down weapon and a threat in the passing game that reduced that need. This shows how little value Swift is providing.
So, because Homer has that role, the split needs to come from the carries. He is the better runner, averaging 4.8 yards per carry while Swift is at 4.5. Swift is the better pass catcher, but at this point, the Bears have to find a way to establish a ground game so that teams are not pinning their ears back toward Williams. At the very least, Herbert can provide that, or the mixing and matching can present some sort of questions for the team.
The run game is currently not working. The Bears paid Swift but may need to admit that they do not have a real plan for him yet. Herbert has the same big-play ability and deserves a shot to give the group a spark.