Roschon Johnson No Ordinary Backup

The Bears sang praises for Roschon Johnson, their fourth-round draft pick who backed up Bijan Johnson.

Never has drafting a backup running back created so much excitement for the Bears.

Roschon Johnson waited in Bijan Robinson's shadows over four years. His chance to emerge from those shadows comes in Chicago, but first he'll have to deal with Khalil Herbert and D'Onta Foreman.

The Bears drafted the Texas backup running back at 115 in Round 4 after dealing away the first pick in the round and have someone who they say has epitomized team player.

"I never really viewed myself as like a backup," Robinson said. "Regardless of who was getting the carries, I tried to prepare myself as if I was the starter. I didn't really let the perspective of me being a backup have an effect on me.

"Just kinda take it day to day and try to increase my role on the team, whether that was on special teams behind Bijan or at running back. I just kinda flipped my perspective, and I think it paid off."

Johnson started out as a quarterback after being one in high school, switched to running back and played all forms of special teams as he tried to get on the field any way he could with Robinson ahead of him.

"He's someone we really feel compelled can become a pillar of this organization for a really long time," Bears scout Syty said. "I feel really strongly about this guy."

For his career, Johnson ran 392 times for 2,190 yards, averaging 5.6 yards a carry. He scored 23 rushing touchdowns. Johnson also had 56 career receptions for 420 yards and three TDs.

Johnson had more than 100 carries in a season only once, in 2019, the year he began as a quarterback and switched position. He gained 649 yards that year on 123 carries that year. Last year, Robinson had 93 runs for 554 yards and five touchdowns.

Johnson's special teams were usually in coverage of blocking. He had eight kick returns for a 17.9-yard average.

His ability to pass block really caught the Bears' eyes.

"Definitely being able to protect, identify what's coming at me, you know, just kind of knowing what's going to happen before it happens, I think that definitely helps me able to be play faster and be able to protect," Johnson said.

Robinson is 6-foot, 219 pounds and ran the 40-yard dash at the combine in 4.58 seconds. He runs with a power style and lean.

Of all the things the Bears liked about Johnson the fact he was willing to battle as the backup throughout his college career might have impressed them the most. 

"Most kids nowadays look for the easy way out, hit the transfer portal," Syty said. Look for more money and go. Run from adversity. To me, this kid took it head on and ran. Now, he's going to reap the rewards of it and so are we."

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