The Bears have already gotten a couple of uncomfortable reminders about how fragile a running back room can look in a hurry.
Kyle Monangai appeared to be dealing with something serious a few weeks ago when he seemed to suffer a leg injury, though it turned out not to be long-term. Then this week, D’Andre Swift exited practice with what initially looked like another injury scare before it was revealed the issue was just cramping. That’s enough to make Chicago think a little harder about the next layer of insurance behind its top backs.
Right now, Roschon Johnson is the Bears’ third running back, with Salvon Ahmed and Zavier Scott also on the practice squad. But if Chicago needed help fast, there are a few other practice-squad runners around the league worth keeping in the back of the mind.
One name is Dare Ogunbowale of the Las Vegas Raiders practice squad. The former Wisconsin Badger has been around for a while and fits the profile of a third-down back who can step in without much fuss. He’s known for pass protection and has also caught over 100 passes since 2017.
Another option is Jaleel McLaughlin, who is currently on the Cleveland Browns practice squad after previously being a regular part of the Denver Broncos offense not too long ago. In three seasons as a complementary back, he has rushed 226 times for 1,093 yards and three touchdowns, and he also has 59 career receptions. McLaughlin would bring versatility on the ground and through the air, and he has a roundabout Bears connection through former Chicago offensive coordinator Declan Doyle, with whom he spent time in Denver.
Michael Carter of the Tennessee Titans practice squad is another back with a useful receiving track record. He had a strong rookie year with the New York Jets in 2021, rushing for 639 yards and adding 325 receiving yards, before later spending time with the Arizona Cardinals.
His calling card has remained the same: he has 145 receptions for 1,038 yards in his career. For a Bears offense that uses multiple backs, Carter would make sense as a complementary piece.
If Chicago wanted a tougher, short-yardage type, Carson Steele could be worth a look. The former Kansas City Chief is now with the Philadelphia Eagles practice squad.
He made his mark as a rookie preseason standout a couple of years ago, and while his NFL production is limited, he has rushed 56 times for 183 yards, all of it coming in 2024. Given the Bears’ offensive line, that kind of downhill runner could have a role on the shorter stuff.
The most intriguing name may be Craig Reynolds, who is on the Washington Commanders practice squad. Reynolds spent five years with the Detroit Lions and worked plenty with Ben Johnson there. He knows Johnson’s offense and has proven he can fill in as both a runner and a pass catcher when needed.
None of these backs are the kind of answer Chicago would want to lean on for multiple games in a major role. But with the early injury scares around Swift and Monangai, they’re the type of names worth tracking closely over the first couple of weeks of the season. If any of them were left unprotected, the Bears could make a move if the need suddenly got real.
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