Khalil Herbert's All-Around Skills on Display

Bears coach Matt Eberflus put the emphasis in the right place within the team's rushing attack when he began describe what the coaching staff likes about running back Khalil Herbert in his bid to be David Montgomery's replacement as starter.

"Just his ability to hit the home run," Eberflus said. "He can really do a great job of hitting the home run."

Eberflus digs the long ball. What's not to like.

"He's got great vision, he's got great cut-back ability," Eberflus said. "He can take the ball outside and bounce it outside, but he's really good at cutting it back when it's there. We're excited where he is."

Does it mean he's starter? Not yet. There is a camp battle coming for starter and the winner might not get the prize the starter in previous years did because it looks like a more true back by committee for the Bears this season.

Herbert insists this doesn't bother him.

"I feel like as a group, we've got a really strong group," Herbert said of the backs. "We've got guys who can take it to the house at any given moment.

"I'm excited to see what we can do."

D'Onta Foreman is more of a power back than Herbert and Roschon Johnson has a reputation as an all-around type, though rookies often find all-around in college means something less in the NFL.

It's probably on Herbert to show he is more of an all-around back than other view him if he's to get a bigger portion of the carries.

Still, it's like Eberflus said. Herbert is the back who can put up the big runs and he proved it with 21 carries of 10 yards or longer last year. That and his 731 overall rushing yards came on 129 attempts, while starter David Montgomery ran for 801 yards and had five fewer runs of 10 yards (16) or longer, but his total output came on 72 more carries than Herbert had.

Herbert's 5.67 yards per rush were the fifth-longest average in Bears history and he led the NFL for all backs with more than 120 attempts.

When you think about what Herbert could do this year, it has to be remembered last year he seemed headed for some really big numbers because he had 643 rushing yards in the first 10 weeks, but then went on IR with an ankle injury and didn't return four games passed. He only had 21 more carries and 10 of those came in the season finale against Minnesota when plenty of subs were playing.

A big consideration is the passing game for Herbert, if not Foreman as well. Herbert has been targeted only 28 times in his career and has a healthy 23 receptions in those. But he hasn't had the experience at both that and as a pass blocker.

"Really being with these guys all summer now, they are kind of showing we can handle any job description and it doesn't have to be sort of by committee to get the jobs done," Walker said.

What Herbert could do if given the full chance is something the Bears look forward to, but the question is how much of a chance he'll have with Foreman and possibly Johnson taking up carries, as well. Then there are the carries Justin Fields will make that eat into a back's work.

Eberflus said they will have to sort this out as camp begins, and Walker called it equal footing for the moment.

"Everyone will get reps, but there's not a one and a two and a three in our room right now," he said. "There will be eventually, but there's not that now."

Herbert has to be the favorite for No. 1 based on what he showed in the same offense in 2022.

Khalil Herbert at a Glance

Vitals: 5-foot-9, 212 pounds, third season.

Career: Has 232 rushes, 1,164 yards, 6 touchdowns, a 5.0-yard average with 23 receptions on 28 targets for 153 yards, one TD and a 6.7-yard average as well as an 82.1% catch ratio

2022: Ran for 731 yards on 129 carries for 4 TDs and 5.67 yards* per carry. He also had nine receptions in 12 targets for a 75% catch ratio, 6.3 yards a catch and one TD.

The Number: 4. The number of times he broke runs of 27 yards or longer last year.

2023 FanNation Projection: 177 rushes, 832 yards, 8 TDs rushing, 4.7 yards a carry, 27 receptions, 267 yards, 34 targets, 2 TDs, 9.9 yards a catch and a catch ratio of 79.4%

Bottom Line: Herbert will get plenty more carries and passing targets, he's just limited by the presence of other capable backs. Also the yards per carry could be less as the Bears offense takes on more of a conventional look.

Michael Fabiano's SI Fantasy Ranking: No. 39 among all running backs.

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