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Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
30 Most Important Bears of 2025: Roschon Johnson (No. 30)
The Chicago Bears are gearing up for an exciting 2025 NFL season, which features some new faces within the organization poised to get the franchise back to its winning ways. That starts with the hiring of Ben Johnson as head coach, as well as overhauling the interior offensive line, adding pieces on defense and a potenital impactful rookie draft class. Every day from now right up through training camp, we're counting down our 30 Most Important Bears for the 2025 season. We'll recap their 2024 season, look ahead to 2025 and tackle the biggest question facing them this year. Advertisement First up at No. 30 is running back Roschon Johnson, who served as the team's short-yardage back in 2024, and has a chance to earn more carries with a new coaching staff. Background Position: Running back Age: 24 Experience: 3rd season 2025 cap hit: $1.22 million 2024 recap Johnson's flashes during his rookie season weren't enough to convince the Bears front office he could ascend to starter status in Year 2. The team signed veteran D'Andre Swift in free agency, and Johnson was firmly put in a reserve role. Even worse, Johnson was a healthy scratch to begin Week 1 as offensive coordinator Shane Waldron opted to rely on other skill players. Advertisement That proved to be a mistake, though, and Johnson made sure to show why. The Bears struggled to run the ball early on and needed a consistent threat in between the tackles. Johnson began to earn more carries and wound up becoming the goal-line back in scoring situations while helping improve the overall rushing attack. With just 55 carries, Johnson scored six touchdowns and converted 17 first downs. That's one more first down than he had in 2023 with 81 carries. He played in 14 total games, missing two more late in the season due to a concussion. Most Important Bears of 2025: Roschon Johnson (#30) 2025 outlook Entering his third season, Johnson hasn't become the starting-caliber running back some thought he could be when he was drafted out of Texas. That doesn't mean he still doesn't have an important role to fill. Despite rumors swirling that they could overhaul the position during the offseason, the Bears only made a minor addition at running back when they drafted Kyle Monangai in the seventh round. That gives Johnson a strong shot to earn important carries for the 2025 season. Advertisement As of now, the Bears are expected to lean on Swift as their RB1, but Johnson has a relatively clear path in front of him to spell him. The Bears need a bruising back to carry the ball in between the tackles in key situations, and it would be surprising if Swift is the right man for the job. That's where Johnson could shine once again. Big Question: What will Johnson's role be in the new offense? A new coaching staff brings many questions for every position group. When it comes to Johnson and the running backs, it's fair to wonder where exactly he fits in. Monangai, while being a late pick, is still highly thought of and could emerge as a legitimate option in the backfield. It's possible Johnson is the odd man out when training camp concludes, despite his past success. On the other hand, the Bears' staff may see Johnson as the ideal complement to Swift as a 1B back. Ben Johnson prefers to operate with a running back committee and has had an effective approach during his days in Detroit with a smasher and a slasher. Even when he and Swift were in Detroit, the Lions had Jamaal Williams, who led the league with 17 touchdowns in 2022. Roschon Johnson could be the Williams of this Bears offense and wind up leading the team in carries. Advertisement The coaching staff is still getting a feel for the players, so we won't know how the Bears plan to utilize their running backs for quite some time. Regardless, Johnson possesses a skill set that will benefit the Bears in 2025. Whether or not he can build off that and do more remains to be seen. 30 Most Important Bears of 2025 #30 - RB Roschon Johnson #29 - Coming 7/1 #28 - Coming 7/2 #27 - Coming 7/3 #26 - Coming 7/4 #25 - Coming 7/5 #24 - Coming 7/6 #23 - Coming 7/7 #22 - Coming 7/8 #21 - Coming 7/9 #20 - Coming 7/10 #19 - Coming 7/11 #18 - Coming 7/12 #17 - Coming 7/13 #16 - Coming 7/14 #15 - Coming 7/15 #14 - Coming 7/16 #13 - Coming 7/17 #12 - Coming 7/18 #11 - Coming 7/19 #10 - Coming 7/20 #9 - Coming 7/21 #8 - Coming 7/22 #7 - Coming 7/23 #6 - Coming 7/24 #5 - Coming 7/25 #4 - Coming 7/26 #3 - Coming 7/27 #2 - Coming 7/28 #1 - Coming 7/29 Follow Bears Wire on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Most Important Bears of 2025: Roschon Johnson (No. 30)
CBS News
04-06-2025
- General
- CBS News
As Bears begin mandatory minicamp, tight end Cole Kmet says he's secure in position
Tuesday marked the first day of Chicago Bears mandatory minicamp, and a first chance to talk to Cole Kmet about his reaction to the Bears drafting a tight end at No. 10 overall. The Bears picked tight end Colston Loveland out of the University of Michigan in the draft in April. "At first, like, you're taken aback a little bit, but I mean, [head coach] Ben [Johnson] was awesome about it in terms of calling me right away and kind of explaining the decision," Kmet said. "You know, from there, you're just all on board on it, and you kind of understand their vision, and you know, you understand that there's going to be areas we complement each other, and then there's obviously, just like in any position we're in, there's going to be areas where we compete for things. And you know, that's football, and that's how it should be." Kmet said Coach Johnson reassured him where he stood in the team's eyes. Running back D'Andre Swift may also need some reassurance after averaging a career low 3.8 yards per carry last season, and the Bears seemingly targeting running back help by finally drafting Kyle Monangai in the seventh round. "Kins of look at it like whatever they was going to do, my mindset wasn't going to change. Whether they brought somebody in — if they throw, they don't — my mindset is coming in, like I said, go to work," said Swift. "Everybody got an opinion, entitled to their own opinion. My job is to come in here and continue to work. Like I said, I'm excited for this season. I know who I am and what I'm about." There were some notable absences on the practice field Tuesday, including Kyler Gordon and TJ Edwards — along with rookie receiver Luther Burden. They are all dealing with minor injuries. Loveland also remains sidelined recovering from shoulder surgery, but Coach Johnson did say everyone was in the building — just not all practicing.
Forbes
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
It's Time For Bears To Decide If They Need Another Running Back
Chicago Bears running back Kyle Monangai works on the field during the NFL football team's rookie ... More camp in Lake Forest, Ill., Friday, May 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) Having gotten their first look at rookie Kyle Monangai in a Bears uniform, it's time for Ryan Poles and Ben Johnson to decide if they're satisfied with their team's inventory of running backs. This could be the week we find out if they see a need to reach out to add a veteran from the list of free agents still on the market: Nick Chubb, J.K. Dobbins, Jamaal Williams, Jeff Wilson and Cam Akers, among others. 'We really want to get this new coaching staff with the players that we have to see if they believe that they can help us,' Poles, the Bears' general manager, said on ESPN 1000 in early May. 'But we'll always keep our eye on the short list to see if we need to bring someone in to create competition and raise the level of talent in that room.' D'Andre Swift, who enters the second season of a three-year, $24-million deal, handled 78 percent of running back rush attempts in 2024. He delivered lukewarm returns (3.8 yards per carry) but could benefit greatly from the addition of Joe Thuney, Drew Dalman and Jonah Jackson in Poles' overhaul of the offensive line. Poles reportedly tried to trade up in the draft for Ohio State running back TreVeyon Henderson but watched New England grab him one pick ahead of the Bears in the second round. Rather than move on to the next back on their list, the Bears added a receiving weapon in Luther Burden III and waited until the seventh round to select Monangai, who had 2541 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns in his last two seasons at Rutgers. This could be a great opportunity for Monangai to emerge as at least a third-down back if Poles decides not to someone like Chubb or Dobbins. Undrafted free agents Ian Wheeler and Deion Hankins join third-year back Roschon Johnson and special-team standout Travis Homer on the roster. Wheeler, a graduate of Howard University who is deferring his acceptance to medical school, opened eyes in training camp last year before tearing an ACL in the final preseason game. He's an interesting guy to watch after spending the 2024 season on injured reserve, getting healthy and anticipating his second chance. But for the time being, the eyes of new running backs coach Eric Bieniemy, Johnson and Poles are mostly on Monangai. One of his new teammates, former Maryland linebacker Ruben Hyppolite II, believes the Bears landed a huge value. He said during the recent rookie mini-camp he ranked Monangai ahead of all the running backs in the Big Ten, including Ohio State's Quinshon Judkins and Henderson. "I tell everybody that he's the best running back I faced in my career in the Big Ten," Hyppolite said on a CHGO podcast. 'He has a great ability to run behind his pads, he's fast and slippery. He knows how to get through the holes and he knows how to finish runs. He's physical … I played him for about three, four years, so I had to see him every year. It was always a good battle.' Johnson's offenses in Detroit featured tandem running backs the last two seasons, with David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs combining for 3045 yards. NFL insiders are skeptical he'll trust his backfield to Swift and a combination of unproven backs, putting veterans like Dobbins and Chubb into play. While Chubb has had the better career, Dobbins is coming off a better season in 2024. He failed to put his injury-prone reputation behind him, missing games with knee and ankle injuries, he helped the Chargers reach the playoffs with 905 rushing yards and 32 receptions, both career highs. At 26, he's three years younger than Chubb. Chubb played like a Hall of Famer in his first five seasons in Cleveland, he averaged only 3.3 yards per carry last season in his return from a devastating injury to his left knee in 2023. The Browns had signed him to a one-year deal for only $2.275 million and appear to have decided to move on. They drafted two running backs (Judkins and Tennessee's Dylan Sampson). Chubb believes he can become a force again in his second season after rehab, posting on Instagram a post that showed him lifting more than 500 pounds. 'They've already wrote my ending when I'm just getting started,' Chubb wrote. Pro Football Focus never ranked Chubb below seventh in the five-season run when he carried the Browns with an average of 1,268 rushing yards. But the PFF graders had 112th among 139 running backs last season. There's a question if the juice is still worth the squeeze. Another option is a trade for a veteran. Najee Harris, signed by the Chargers before they drafted Omarion Hampton in the first round, is a possibility. Ditto Cleveland's Jerome Ford, the Chubb replacement who will be challenged by Judkins and Sampson. It's time for Poles to make his call so all the newcomers can become comfortable in Johnson's offense before training camp.
