Bears bring in Travis Homer to replace Montgomery
Jasen Vinlove - USA Today Sports

Bears bring in Travis Homer to replace Montgomery


by - Senior Writer -

Even after the Bears made a flurry of moves on Monday, Matt Eberflus met with the Media Tuesday to inform them that Chicago is not done making moves. That shouldn't surprise anyone as the Bears continue reloading this roster in hopes of being playoff contenders again. However, not all moves have been positive for the Bears, as David Montgomery officially moved on to the Detroit Lions on a three-year deal.

That means Khalil Herbert will take over the RB. 1 duty next season with Trestan Ebner as his backup. In an effort to find a more experienced backup to Herbert, Chicago didn't waste much time and has brought in former Seattle Seahawks RB Travis Homer to back up Herbert, as he has agreed to a two-year deal worth 4.5 million.

Homer was a sixth-round pick in 2019 and is still just 24 years old. During his tenure with the Seahawks, Homer has shown potential when on the field, but has had a hard time being on the field consistently, as Bryce Penny and Kenneth Walker have been the go-to guys for Pete Carroll. The former stud at the University of Miami (FL), Homer, doesn't have much of a track record which isn't surprising, to be honest.

Homer has just 135 touches, 917 scrimmage yards, and three total touchdowns under his belt. He has played in 49 games, but has just two starts. Homer also has kick return experience, so the Bears may use him in that role in 2023 to get him the ball more. Along with that, Homer has played on 44% of the Seahawks special team's plays since 2020, so look for him to see plenty of time on special teams again in Chicago.

When you compare Montgomery's production while in Chicago and compare that of Homer, this may not be the backup RB the Bears were shooting for when free agency started. However, you take what you can get, which is what the Bears have right now. That doesn't mean they will not try to add other options, as Raheem Mostert, Alexander Mattison, and Jamaal Williams are all available on the open market. They would be significant upgrades for the Bears.

While it is unclear what the plan for Homer will be this season, it does put the second-year man Ebner on notice. Granted, Ebner didn't see the field much as a rookie, but look for that to change this season. However, homer is also going to get plenty of reps in camp and will look to battle it out for the backup job this preseason. Should Homer beat out Ebner, you are looking at a situation where Ebner would resort to special teams to stay on the field.

When you look at the moves the Bears made on Monday, this is not a move to get overly excited about. However, it does fill a need for this team as they needed to replace Montgomery on this roster. Homer may not have the production you look for in an RB, but he is an experienced back and could see significant playing time should Herbert get injured.

If the Bears are serious about contending next season, they need to be aggressive and can't question the moves they make. So far, they have been very aggressive as they continue to go after the guys they want. That is one thing you have to credit Ryan Poles for, as he is not taking a back seat to anyone this season.

With the free agent signing period technically starting on Wednesday, this deal will become official, as will the rest of their previously agreed on contracts. Don't expect things to slow down here, as the Bears still have more money than anyone to make even more noise this offseason.

Comment on this story
Print   
Send Feedback to Dustin Riese: Email | Comment
Post your comments!