For all the praise the Chicago Bears deserve for getting the offense in gear against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 3, one sticking point remains.
What the heck is going on at the running back position?
The Bears ran the ball 29 times for 87 yards against the Cowboys in Week 3. That comes out to a 3.0 yards per carry average, which is a woeful number for a franchise whose running backs have been the bread-and-butter of the offense for years. Chicago’s running backs were a key culprit in the ground game’s stumbles, with D’Andre Swift (13 carries, 33 yards) and Kyle Monangai (6 carries, 16 yards) struggling to gain traction in this facet of the game. Roschon Johnson, a third-year back who was the team’s goal-line and short-yardage back last season, hasn’t even appeared on an offense snap in 2025.
CHICAGO BEARS OFFENSIVE LINE PROGRESS REPORT: IT’S GETTING BETTER!
If you think you’re fed up with the Bears’ running game, know that it pales in comparison to how Bears Head Coach Ben Johnson is feeling. This is what he had to say about the ground attack on Wednesday:
“It can be better all over the place right now. We’re very conscious of it. We watched all of our runs as a group the other day on Monday. I’ve alluded to it in the past that it can take a little bit of time before this all meshes and all jells together. We’ve got some new faces up front that haven’t played a ton of ball together yet. That’s part of the process.
It’s also for the runners to understand what we intend to do with some of these play calls, where we want that ball to hit. And then, at the end of the day, they take their natural skill set and they make something big out of it.”
Call-outs don’t get much clearer than this, do they?
For more from the Bears head coach, you can watch his full press conference below:
Is it time for the Bears to trade for a running back?
The NFL Trade Deadline is on Tuesday, November 4. This gives us 40 days to obsess over how the running game is going and how to fix it. Perhaps, more importantly, it offers Bears General Manager Ryan Poles ample time to find external solutions via the trade market.
Chicago’s football team has been active around the NFL Trade Deadline in recent years. Deals involving Chase Claypool (both in terms of coming … and going), Roquan Smith, and Montez Sweat are headliners. But we shouldn’t lose sight of the smaller deals, like the one that shipped Khalil Herbert off to the Cincinnati Bengals for a draft pick. If anything, we should keep that trade in mind as we navigate the next 40 days. The Bears acquired a seventh-round pick from the Bengals in the Herbert deal, which I believe is (1) fair value and (2) what it would cost this front office to acquire an upgrade at the position via trade.
As for which running backs could be on the market, NFL media analyst (and retired running back) Maurice Jones-Drew offers up some suggestions:
Breece Hall, New York Jets Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints De’Von Achane, Miami Dolphins Tony Pollard, Tennessee Titans Travis Etienne, Jacksonville JaguarsOf the players MJD lists, De’Von Achane might be my favorite fit because of his versatility. In addition to breaking off some electrifying runs, Achane leads all backs in targets (110), receptions (96), receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns (8) since the start of the 2024 season. On the one hand, it is tough to imagine the Dolphins giving up Achane based on his production. On the other hand, rookie Ollie Gordon II is waiting in the wings and deserves more touches. I wonder what the Bears think of Achane, who is a player this coaching staff got a good look at when the Dolphins were in town for joint practice sessions back in August.
INSIDE THE BEARS’ 19-PLAY TD DRIVE, WHICH INCLUDED 11 STRAIGHT RUNS
To his credit, Bears Head Coach Ben Johnson has been creative in trying to get the run game going in 2025. Wide receivers Luther Burden III, DJ Moore, and Olamide Zaccheaus had carries last week. Quarterback Caleb Williams had at least one designed run that I can remember off the top of my head. We’ve seen direct snaps to backs and end arounds to other ball carriers in the early going. So it’s not as if this team isn’t doing anything. That said, I think there will come a time when the front office needs to lend a helping hand and make a move to bolster the backfield.
Aug 22, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Chicago Bears running back D’Andre Swift (4) runs the ball during the first half against the Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn ImagesHence then, the article about should the bears trade for a running back was published today ( ) and is available on Bleacher Nation ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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