Is the Bears’ starting RB job Roschon Johnson’s to lose?

The response to the Chicago Bears selecting former Texas running back Roschon Johnson in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft has been shocking. And it’s not because GM Ryan Poles has been killed for the pick. In fact, it’s been quite the opposite.

Johnson is getting borderline first-round pick treatment. He’s been described by the Bears’ scouting department as a potential pillar of the organization. Poles continues to gush over his leadership traits and all-around skill set. And now, NFL.com’s Greg Rosenthal is predicting Johnson will be Chicago’s RB1.

“I’m probably going too far projecting fourth-round rookie Roschon Johnson as the starter here, but I like his running style,” Rosenthal wrote. “It should be a wide-open competition with Khalil Herbert and D’Onta Foreman.”

It’s too early to crown Roschon Johnson as RB1

While I agree that Johnson’s running style offers the Bears something that neither Herbert or Foreman possess (a violent tackle-breaking ability), he’s still a rookie. There will be a learning curve. And for as much as the Chicago Bears and their fans have praised Johnson, he slid to the fourth round for a reason.

Johnson is far from a sure thing.

Herbert, meanwhile, proved in 2022 that he has RB1 ability. He averaged 5.7 yards per carry and was in the process of unseating David Montgomery for primary running back duties before suffering a hip injury that knocked him out of action for several weeks. Foreman is no slouch, either. He’s coming off a career year with the Carolina Panthers (914 yards and five touchdowns), and he may be the most naturally gifted runner of the trio.

So, yeah, it’s great to be excited about the new guy on the roster. But with the makeup of this Chicago Bears team, almost every running back is the new guy. I’d imagine a running back by committee is coming to Soldier Fied. At least, it’ll be deployed early in the 2023 season.

Running back will be one of the most intense Bears training camp battles this summer. May the best man win.