Chicago Bears running back David Montgomery leads by example. His 'never die easy' running style is infectious on offense. And now, his willingness to play special teams in training camp is the rising tide lifting the rest of the roster.
“My name was on the depth chart, and I was there for it, available for it,” Montgomery said of his place on the special teams unit.
Playing on special teams, aside from the kicker and return man, is a thankless job. It's a critically important third phase of football. But rarely will a team risk injury to a starter who isn't charged with returning a punt or kickoff. David Montgomery won't do either of those things, but his presence in the trenches is still a welcome sight.
“(Montgomery) was taking a couple reps on the special teams and his reps were over and he said, 'Hey, can I get on the scout team since my reps are over? Can I get on the scout team and give these guys a look?’” special teams coordinator Richard Hightower said. “Everybody wants to buy in, and everybody wants to do something. That's been extremely encouraging so far.”
Montgomery's willingness to risk injury on special teams is especially impressive considering he's in the final year of his rookie contract. He has a lot of money on the line in 2022. If he suffers any kind of major injury, his big payday will be lost.
The new Chicago Bears regime has praised David Montgomery as an example of the kind of player they want in the locker room. He's proving why every day on the practice field.