Bears Training Camp Update: Running backs getting banged up early

Depth is one of the most important roster-building strategies for every NFL general manager. Teams without depth often fall short of their Super Bowl dreams, injuries are an inherent part of the game.

Fortunately for the Chicago Bears, GM Ryan Poles has done a solid job building a well-rounded roster that has quality depth at several key positions. One of them is running back, where the top of the depth chart is manned by D’Andre Swift. He’s backed up by a quality starting-caliber player in Khalil Herbert. Roschon Johnson, a high-character player with a solid skill set, is third in the pecking order.

The Bears’ depth at running back doesn’t end there. Travis Homer, a valuable special teamer, and Ian Wheeler, an intriguing and speedy first-year pro, add competition and upside to the position group.

Unfortunately, both Homer and Wheeler were injured in Saturday’s practice. In fact, this sparked a transaction: the Chicago Bears signed former UCLA running back Demetric Felton.

MORE: Do the Bears have an offensive line problem?

#Bears roster move:
We have signed RB Demetric Felton.

— Bears Communications (@BearsPR) July 28, 2024

Felton entered the NFL as a sixth-round pick of the Cleveland Browns in 2021. He was a member of the Cincinnati Bengals practice squad last season.

New Bears RB Demetric Felton was a really good receiving back in college pic.twitter.com/ILrHbykUkr

— Chicago Football Connection (@CFCBears) July 28, 2024

Felton has 20 career carries for 189 yards and two scores as a pro and should offer the Bears some pass-catching chops during the preseason. Whether his skill set is enough to keep him around on the practice squad in 2024 is yet to be seen. However, the fact that Chicago acted quickly to sign him almost immediately after Homer and Wheeler’s injuries suggests that he could be around for at least the foreseeable future in training camp.