Matt Eberflus says Khalil Herbert is ‘getting ready to go’

Chicago Bears running back Khalil Hebert has been sidelined with a hip injury since Week 10, but he’ll return before the end of the 2022 regular season, according to Bears coach Matt Eberflus.

Eberflus said Monday that Herbert should be in action for Week 16 against the Buffalo Bills.

“We anticipate him being back,” Eberflus said. “We’re excited about getting him back next week. He’s been working. In fact, I just talked to him in the hallway here a little bit ago, and he’s getting ready to go. He’s been hitting his max speeds and his jumps look good and his power in his legs looks great. So we’re excited for that.”

Herbert could be auditioning for the Bears’ starting running back job in 2023 over the season’s final three games. Incumbent David Montgomery is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. It’s unclear whether he’s done enough on the field to warrant a lucrative second contract in Chicago despite his role as one of the team’s leaders in the locker room.

Herbert, meanwhile, has two years remaining on his rookie contract. If he assumes the starting job, GM Ryan Poles will have a fixed (low) cost at running back through 2024.

Herbert has 108 carries for 643 yards (6.1 yards per carry) and four touchdowns on the season.