Chicago Bears Looking to Add Depth in Backfield

The Chicago Bears are one of the more exciting teams to track this season after making boatloads of moves to improve their organization. They hired a new head coach in Ben Johnson, signed a swath of free agents to help on both sides of the line of scrimmage, and drafted players to help on the perimeter. They might not be done adding depth just yet, either. The Chicago Bears are eyeing Jamaal Williams, possibly hoping to reunite him with his former offensive coordinator from his days in Detroit, Ben Johnson. Williams worked out for the team and is now mulling over his options.

Williams spent the first six years of his career as the Chicago Bears’ rival in the NFC North, with the first four seasons in Green Bay and the next pair in Detroit with Ben Johnson in 2021 and 2022. Williams has spent the last two years in New Orleans with the Saints, but after a paradigm shift in their organizational strategy, keeping Williams didn’t make sense and he became a free agent. The Chicago Bears and Miami Dolphins are reported to be the top two suitors for Williams’ services.

Jamaal Williams Works Out for Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears could soon be adding a running back to their roster after working out free agent running back Jamaal Williams earlier this week. Williams spent two seasons in Detroit working with then-offensive coordinator and current Bears head coach Ben Johnson. If the Bears sign the veteran running back it would mark a reunion of Williams with not only Johnson, but with his former backfield partner D’Andre Swift.

Williams’ most productive season came alongside Johnson and Swift in Detroit. In 2022 Williams eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards and made it into the end zone 17 times. After a disappointing stint in New Orleans, getting back to a scheme and role that Williams thrived in could be just what he needs to get back to producing for a team looking to make it to the postseason. The problem for the Chicago Bears is that they aren’t the only team that fits that description who are looking to bring Williams in. The Miami Dolphins held a workout for Williams on Monday and the 30-year-old running back is now mulling his options.

As currently constituted, the Chicago Bears backfield consists of D’Andre Swift, Roschon Johnson, Travis Homer and Kyle Monangai. Monangai is an unproven rookie who the Bears can’t reliably count on for anything until he proves he can play in the regular season. Homer has been a special teams specialist in Chicago, and Johnson has shown flashes of being a good secondary running back, but with a proven commodity like Williams available who has demonstrated an ability to produce in this offense opposite Swift, the Bears could stand to improve their offense by bringing him in as soon as possible.