The Chicago Bears had a miserable season running the football in 2024.
D’Andre Swift averaged 3.8 yards per carry. And Roschon Johnson averaged (shield your eyes) 2.7 yards per attempt.
There is hope that new head coach Ben Johnson, an offensive whiz, will couple with the continued growth of Caleb Williams and the offense around him to make things better for the backs this season. But it’s still a question mark.
Chicago didn’t do much to change the backfield this offseason. They just drafted Kyle Monangai in the seventh round.
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It appears the Bears may not be content with their RB room, though.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Saturday that they’ve worked out Jamaal Williams, the former Lions backfield bruiser.
Williams turned 30 years old this offseason.
He’s coming off two seasons with the Saints in which he combined for 154 carries, 470 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Before that, Williams had been in Detroit for two campaigns. He was a star in 2022 with 262 carries, 1,066 yards and a league-high 17 touchdowns.
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Williams had begun his NFL career with four seasons in Green Bay.
Overall, he has 32 NFL touchdowns, and for most of his career has been viewed more as a power and goal-line back than a full-time player.
He wouldn’t have to carry a huge load in Chicago, but he’d give Johnson another option to fit into the equation.
It’s not clear that the Bears will actually sign Williams, but he’s evidently in their crosshairs as a guy they’d consider if they need another back.
Other teams could find Williams an ideal August signing, too, so it’s likely he’ll get picked up somewhere before the month is out.
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