Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy pauses as he speaks during a news conference after an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Philadelphia Eagles Sunday, Jan. 6, 2019, in Chicago. The Eagles won 16-15. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Before the game against the Lions, the Bears activated RB Khalil Herbert (ankle) from injured reserve.
Khalil Herbert, a running back, will be able to return to action this Sunday after the Chicago Bears reinstated him off of injured reserve ahead of their game against the Detroit Lions, the team announced on Saturday.
Herbert, the Bears’ starting RB at the beginning of the season, has been sidelined for the last month and a half due to an ankle injury.
Prior to getting hurt in Week 5, he had a fantastic start to the 2023 season, amassing a team-high 272 running yards.
Herbert was set to return to practice this week after serving an injured reserve stint that caused him to miss five games. On Wednesday, he did so to a limited extent; nevertheless, over the next two days, Herbert was fully involved, leading to the team’s decision to activate him prior to Week 11.
D’Onta Foreman headed the group of Bears running backs that filled in for Herbert while he was on injured reserve. He started all five of the games that Herbert missed and racked up more than 80 yards in each of the previous two weeks.
After Herbert’s return, it’s unclear how the two backs and the rest of the rushing corps will be split up moving forward. The Lions game on Sunday will mark the beginning of this process.
It’s not just Herbert who is anticipated to return for the Bears on Sunday at Detroit. Additionally, Justin Fields, the quarterback, will start for the first time since Week 6 after recovering from a dislocated right thumb.
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Breaking: Chicago Bears running back’s injury status for Sunday’s game against the Lions is confirmed
D’Onta Foreman, the Chicago Bears veteran running back, who has played admirably well whilst holding down the fort for the Bears’ running game this season, has had his injury status confirmed amidst a nagging ankle injury, per Jeremy Fowler.
How Does This Affect the Offense of the Chicago Bears?
Khalil Herbert, the Chicago Bears’ first-choice running back, will be a positive addition. But since joining the Bears this summer and taking over for the injured Herbert in the starting lineup, D’Onta Foreman has performed admirably, accumulating over 350 yards and three touchdowns while averaging a very respectable 4.3 yards per run over the previous five games.
Whilst this is not as key to the team as the return of clear number 1, Herbert, having a strong, reliable second option back to go along with rookie developmental back, Roschon Johnson, will undoubtedly be important in the Chicago Bears’ search for success across the second half of the season. Especially considering they also own the Carolina Panthers’ first round draft pick, which would currently give them the first overall pick.
This week they face the high-flying 7-2 Detroit Lions, who are currently the second seed in the NFC. If they want to inflict damage onto the Lions and put themselves into a position to keep up with their juggernaut offense, they will need to run the ball effectively to support Justin Fields in the passing game.
