Bears former 4th-round pick named 'player to watch' during training camp
One position group on offense that the Bears failed to upgrade this offseason was the running back room, adding only Rutgers' Kyle Monangai in the seventh round of the NFL Draft.
One running back that has been with Chicago the last two years is Roschon Johnson, and he has a chance to take over as the lead back. Gene Chamberlain from Bears On SI thinks Johnson is a player to watch during training camp.
"D'Andre Swift's skillset is well known after his 295 touches in the Bears offense last year and Ben Johnson knows him well from being together in Detroit. It's the power back who is a lesser known quantity and entirely necessary in what his coach wants to do," Chamberlain. "Roschon Johnson has barely been used in two seasons--a paltry 136 carries and 50 receptions in two seasons. He pass blocks well and this will be critical. Rookie Kyle Monangai is a player the Bears would like to see deliver but a seventh-rounder is at least as likely to wind up cut and on the practice squad as on the roster, and a position of prominence in the attack is definitely not a given. The only Bears running backs from Round 7 since the seven round draft started in 1993 were Kerrith Whyte Jr. in 2019 and Michael Hicks in 1996. Hicks gained 106 yards in is Bears career while White got cut, put on the practice squad and then pilfered off it by Pittsburgh. He lasted part of a season in the NFL. If a back is that good, why did they go in Round 7, and why were 21 other backs taken before Monangai? It's Johnson to watch at camp, and maybe Monangai is a back to watch in preseason games when the new players at the bottom of the roster get more playing time."
The Bears drafted Johnson in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft and should be able to help take control of the offense in his third NFL season.If Johnson could be the No. 1 running back for the Bears, the team could make the playoffs.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
13 minutes ago
- Yahoo
49ers WR Jauan Jennings hasn't formally requested a trade, expected to start camp amid push for new contract
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings has not formally requested a trade away from the organization amid his push for a new deal. 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed as much on Tuesday, and said that he expects Jennings to be out on the field and participating in the first day of training camp on Wednesday. 'We anticipate him being out there,' general manager John Lynch said, via The Athletic's Vic Tafur. 'You guys know our feelings about JJ. He embodies what we think a Niner's all about. Plays the right way, and we love him. I think all that stuff, we're not going to talk about contracts and all that, that takes care of itself. But we love him and he's here.' [Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season] ESPN's Adam Schefter reported last week that Jennings has made it clear that he either wants a new contract with the organization or to be traded away. Jennings is set to make $7.5 million this season in the final year of his deal. According to Schefter, little progress has been made on an extension. But, if that's not done by the time camp opens on Wednesday, Jennings planned to make that formal request. It's unclear if that is still Jennings' plan, or if things have changed on that front. While there is still time to get such a deal done under that timeframe, it's very limited. Clearly, both Shanahan and Lynch believe that Jennings will be out there with the team come Wednesday regardless of the status of his new deal. Jennings, who the 49ers selected in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL Draft out of Tennessee, had 975 yards and six touchdowns on 77 catches last season. Those were all career-highs for the 28-year-old. Jennings signed a two-year, $15.39 million extension last summer to remain with the team this fall, though he'll become an unrestricted free agent next season if a new deal isn't reached. Even if Jennings doesn't hold out of training camp while angling for a new deal, that doesn't mean he'll necessarily be happy participating. If a new contract isn't reached in San Francisco soon, he could very easily find himself somewhere else by the start of the season.
Yahoo
13 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Tyrann Mathieu announces his retirement
The Honey Badger is calling it a career. Saints safety Tyrann Mathieu has formally announced his retirement on Tuesday in a social media post. 'As I hang up my cleats, I'm filled with gratitude as I close this chapter of my life and officially retire from the game that's shaped me in every way,' Mathieu wrote. 'From my first snap in college to my final play in the NFL, this journey has been nothing short of a blessing. Football gave me purpose, discipline, and memories that will stay with me forever. But more than anything, it gave me a community. 'To every coach who believed in me, every teammate who battled beside me, and every fan who showed up, cheered, and rode with me through the highs and lows, thank you. You gave me strength when I needed it most, and your love carried me farther than I ever imagined. 'I hope I made you proud out there. This isn't goodbye — it's just the next chapter.' Mathieu, 33, had re-worked his contract to stay with the Saints earlier this offseason. But now, he's elected to pass on that opportunity. 'We had a little advance notice on that, so it wasn't like we were surprised today,' Saints G.M. Mickey Loomis said in his Tuesday press conference. 'I'm a little surprised, but we had some advance notice. Just have so much respect for Tyrann and what he's accomplished. He's a legendary Louisiana player, legendary NFL player. Really appreciate his time with us. He was fantastic. And I don't have enough good things to say about him — a lot of good things to say about him. What a great career and just wish him all the best.' Loomis added he thought this just came up in the last few days and didn't make an effort to talk Mathieu out of it. 'I wouldn't do that, especially a player of his experience,' Loomis said. 'He understands himself better than anyone. So, I wouldn't do that.' 'I just think he's one of those guys who commands respect by his actions, his deeds,' Loomis added. 'He's got a great message. He's very thoughtful, intelligent, super smart player. About all the right things on the football field and his experiences in life. He's just fantastic.' A Cardinals third-round pick in 2013 after playing his college ball at LSU, Mathieu played his first five seasons with Arizona before signing with Houston as a free agent. He then signed with the Chiefs in 2019, helping propel the club to a Super Bowl victory over the 49ers as a first-team All-Pro. He was again an All-Pro in 2020, as the Chiefs won a second consecutive AFC title. Mathieu made his way back to Louisiana in 2022, signing with the Saints in free agency. He started all 17 games for New Orleans over the last three seasons, recording 10 interceptions and 24 passes defensed for the franchise. In all, Mathieu appeared in 180 career games with 171 starts. He finishes as a three-time All-Pro and a three-time Pro Bowler with 36 interceptions, 100 passes defensed, seven forced fumbles, eight fumble recoveries, and 11.0 sacks.
Yahoo
13 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Titans president of football operations: 'Nobody wants to hear that word patience' as team rebuilds
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee Titans aren't putting a measuring stick on what counts as success for 2025. Chad Brinker, the Titans' president of football operations, said Tuesday he just wants to see improvement after going 3-14 in 2024 and drafting at No. 1 overall in April. 'Nobody wants to hear that word patience,' Brinker said as the Titans reported for training camp. 'But the reality is we understand where we are as a roster. We got a lot of work to do, and we're going to be relying on a lot of young players this season to carry this football team.' Tennessee starts training camp Wednesday trying to snap a skid of three straight losing seasons, each with more losses than the season before. The three victories in 2024 were the least by the franchise since going 3-13 in 2015. The roster has had a dramatic makeover. The Titans added 34 free agents with five more through waivers or trades. Quarterback Cam Ward, the No. 1 pick overall, heads up a nine-player draft class. 'I do want to see our football team improve day to day, week to week to where by the end of the season, we'll see what we look like,' Brinker said. 'And hopefully we're healthy. It's a war of attrition.' Coach Brian Callahan is scheduled to speak to reporters before Wednesday's first practice of camp. Both Brinker and general manager Mike Borgonzi said they liked Callahan's approach this offseason, emphasizing competition to help clean up mistakes and issues that led to losses in his first season as a head coach. With Borgonzi hired as the new GM in January, Callahan's job security is a big question with the Titans working on an enclosed stadium opening in 2027. Brinker said he's seen Callahan grow in confidence, communication and how he and his assistants have developed players. 'We believe in Brian,' Brinker said. Staying put Borgonzi said they're happy with the quarterback room as it is now. The Titans announced Monday that Will Levis decided to have season-ending shoulder surgery in a surprising move. Ward is expected to be the starter when the season opens Sept. 7 at Denver, but Levis had an open path to be the backup. Now nobody currently on the roster took a snap under center for Tennessee last season. Ward is joined by a pair of journeymen in Brandon Allen, 32, and Tim Boyle, 30. Allen, a sixth-round pick by Jacksonville out of Arkansas in 2016, has played for Denver, Cincinnati and San Francisco. He started a game last season and appeared in two others for the 49ers, throwing for 199 yards with one TD pass and two interceptions. Boyle is with his seventh NFL team. He appeared in three games last season for Miami and the New York Giants. He has more career interceptions (13) than touchdown passes (five). PUP list A pair of starters will begin camp on the physically unable to perform list. Borgonzi said center Lloyd Cushenberry and conerback L'Jarius Sneed are both week to week. Cushenberry is working to return from the Achilles tendon injury that limited him to eight games last season. Sneed, a big trade acquisition in March 2024, is trying to return now from an injured knee after a procedure in May. A quadriceps injury put him on injured reserve after he played only five games. Borgonzi said edge rusher Lorenzo Carter told him Monday that he's retiring. Ready to go Wide receiver Treylon Burks (partially torn ACL) and rookie safety Kevin Winston Jr., (ACL) will be available fully Wednesday. Joint practices The Titans will practice with the Buccaneers once ahead of their preseason opener Aug. 9. They have two joint practices Aug. 12 and 13 with the Falcons in Atlanta before their preseason game Aug. 15. ___ AP NFL:
