Bears rookie Roschon Johnson says he’ll be a leader at running back

One thing has become abundantly clear about Roschon Johnson since the Chicago Bears drafted him in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft: He’s a high-character guy and a natural-born leader. From being called a potential pillar of the organization by a team scout to cleaning up water bottles left behind at rookie minicamp, Johnson is the kind of locker room guy the Bears need to rebuild a winning culture.

He’s embracing that description, too.

In a recent appearance on the Under Center Podcast, Johnson confirmed he’s bringing leadership to the Chicago Bears’ running back room.

“Ultimately, from a character standpoint, I feel like you’re going to get a leader at the position who has played quarterback. So, it’s kind of like that element of leadership that comes from a quarterback but at the running back spot that you normally don’t get from other guys,” Johnson said.

Johnson played quarterback in high school but converted to running back during his freshman season at Texas.

“Running backs aren’t necessarily trained to look at defenses like (a quarterback). It’s like, OK, you look at what from you got, where the linebackers are, and you kind of get pigeonholed if you’re not used to looking at safeties and kind of just the big picture. I still look at defenses like that.

“Of course, the first thing I’m doing is keying the safeties, seeing where the rotation is coming from so I can get a beat on pressure and get a beat on linebacker alignments as well as the defensive front. Just kind of having that same mindset of reading the defense from top to bottom, I think, helps me diagnose things better and put me in the best position,” he said.

Roschon Johnson could go from 4th-round pick to RB1 in 2023

Johnson could find himself as the Bears” starting running back early in his rookie season. Veterans Khalil Herbert and D’Onta Foreman should begin the year atop the depth chart. And while both Herbert and Foreman are talented in their own right, neither has proven that they can be an every-week starter.

Roschon Johnson doesn’t have a track record of starter’s success, either. He was stuck behind Bijan Robinson for most of his career with the Longhorns and only had one college season with more than 100 carries.

In 2022, Johnson totaled 93 carries for 554 yards and five touchdowns.

Perhaps the lack of wear and tear on his body is good. There are a lot of reps left in his legs. But he has to prove he’s more than just a great character guy to be on the field on Sundays. Johnson has to separate himself from Herbert and Foreman as a reliable, tackle-breaking three-down back.

Johnson will get his chance to prove he should be the Chicago Bears’ RB1. It’s not a matter of if. Instead, it’s a matter of when.

He’ll be ready for it, too.