Bears Running Alterations Ahead

Bears By the Numbers: Better health means big decisions on how to remove the lid from the running game.

The Bears could be getting their breakaway speed back on offense if Justin Fields and Khalil Herbert return to the backfield.

It's unlikely to become apparent until at least Wednesday, if not later. When it happens, the look will be quite different

"Just needed more time, we'll assess all those guys this week and see where they are," coach Matt Eberflus said.

Without those two contributing to the Bears running attack, it's taken on a less exciting form but an effective one nonetheless.

The Bears rank second in rushing a year after they were No. 1, it just has looked different.

Even without Fields' breakaway speed, they've gained 133 yards or more rushing four of the last five games.

It's been tougher sledding and thanks to D'Onta Foreman they've had the tough guy they needed to get the running game accomplished in a more confined area.

"He's always been that way," Eberflus said. "D'Onta is a tough guy. He's a great person. He's a great teammate.

He always shows that toughness."

The Bears last year with Fields and Herbert turning every run into a potential breakaway had 60 runs of 10 yards or longer at this point after 10 games. This season they're at 42 runs of 10 yards or longer after 10 games.

They've had five runs of 20 yards or longer after making eight that long at this point a year ago. Their longest run this season is 34 yards by Herbert and at this point last year they had seven longer than 34 yards.

Fields never made a run longer than 20 yards this season in his 5 1/2 games, so it makes what they've been able to manage on the ground all the more impressive.

Herbert's possible return makes for a tough decision on a starter or how to use the backs going foward.

Foreman hasn't come up with a 100-yard game but has averaged 4.3 yards a carry since his own return from a stint as the inactive running back while the Bears looked at Roschon Johnson for their tough rushing yards. He has 351 yards on 81 carries since Herbert's injury.

"We're certainly excited where Foreman is," Eberflus said. "Foreman's done a really good job of coming in and progressing and improving every single week.

"His first outing was just OK. He's gotten better and better and better. We're really pleased where he is."

So the running game, which took on a different shape when Herbert and Fields suffered injuries, will need to be reshaped again as the breakaway speed is added back to the attack.

They'll need to gauge how to use the power running going forward in what will be a reboot for their entire offense, because adding a quarterback with a stronger arm also takes the cap off of their passing game.

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