Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles has completed a few moves to bolster the Justin Fields-led offense since the start of this year’s free agency period. For one, he signed D'Onta Foreman to a free agent deal last month.
Poles entered the offseason with a dilemma on whether to go all out to re-sign David Montgomery, who led all running backs on the team last season in yards from scrimmage (1,117) and rushing touchdowns (five). In the end, Montgomery decided to take his talents to the Detroit Lions, and Poles responded by coming to terms with Foreman on a reported one-year, $3 million deal.
Bears head coach Matt Eberflus sees that Foreman has what it takes to blossom with Chicago in the 2023 campaign.
“Foreman's a big runner,” Eberflus said at the 2023 NFL Annual Meeting. “When he took over there in Carolina, obviously showed what he can do. Very exciting player. Big back. Can really split two [defenders] and get those extra yards that you want him to.”
Foreman featured for the Carolina Panthers in the 2022 season. He was called on to be the Panthers’ starting running back after the team traded Christian McCaffrey to the San Francisco 49ers ahead of last season’s NFL trade deadline. The fifth-year running back made the most out of his rush attempts with the NFC South side, as he wound up logging career highs across the board, including in rushing yards (914).
Eberflus will soon have a pivotal decision to make on just who between Foreman and Khalil Herbert will be Chicago’s go-to running back this season.
“We need to look at [Foreman's] skillset in person,” Eberflus said. “He is a big runner who can really get things downhill and can take it the distance. And he is very competitive. So I'm excited to get him on the field and to let him compete for that position. And I'm excited for ‘Herb' too. I'm excited for him to compete for that position and see where it goes.”
On Foreman’s part, he did note during his introductory press conference with the Bears that he joined the NFC North side “to try to be the guy.”
Foreman has tallied 12 total touchdowns in five seasons in the NFL.
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