Bears sign running back Royce Freeman after workout |
Dustin Riese
· · 22 hours ago
Despite the final Preseason game right around the corner, the Bears continue to do their homework as Ryan Poles remains active behind the scenes. With that comes a bevy of new faces coming and going from Bears camp as Chicago continues to bring in players for workouts.
That all started with Jamaal Williams a couple of weeks ago, before eight defensive backs worked out with this team to showcase their talent. Four of those eight defensive backs wound up signing a deal with the Bears as Chicago continues to address the injury bug that has plagued this team throughout camp. While the defensive backs room may have been hit the hardest so far, it's not the only position that could be getting an upgrade, as the Bears brought in three running backs on Tuesday for workouts. The goal for these three guys is similar to anyone who works out for this team, as this late in camp, you are solely looking for an opportunity to show what you can do, with the hopes of either making the roster or, at the very least, the practice squad. Some of the names on the list of backs working out for the Bears may sound familiar, but some of them are unfamiliar names who are looking to show what they can do for the first time. Here is who took some time to work out for the Bears organization with the hopes of turning heads: Royce Freeman: Of the three names on this list, Freeman is the most notable name and arguably the one that has the best opportunity to make this team. A former third-round pick in the 2019 NFL draft, Freeman has 79 games of NFL experience under his belt, which is more than every other back in the Bears organization apart from D'Andre Swift. Freeman sat out the 2024 season, and his most recent destination was with the Los Angeles Rams in 2023, but he has also seen time with the Denver Broncos (2018-20) before moving around to the Carolina Panthers (2021) and the Houston Texans (2021-22). Primarily a No. 2 or No. 3 back depending on the situation he was in, Freeman ran for 1,017 yards and scored eight rushing touchdowns in his first two years as a pro and showed the Broncos the type of player he could be with more touches. The touches are the key to his NFL career, as Freeman has had a rough go of things over the past four seasons and has seen his touches become fewer by the season. Since the 2019 season, Freeman has logged just 775 yards and two scores across 49 games. Regardless, the 29-year-old has plenty of NFL experience and is a strong option to land a late-summer roster spot on this team. Update: The Bears signed Freeman after his workout.
Dillon Johnson: While Johnson may not seem like a household name, it's a name worth watching as he was the former teammate of Rome Odunze during their time in Washington. An all-Second-Team Pac-12 player during the Huskies' National Championship game appearance that season, Johnson played a huge role in the Huskies' offensive success, even if the numbers may not indicate it.
Initially a Mississippi State product, Johnson had a hard time seeing time on the field and logged 1198 yards across three seasons with the Bulldogs before transferring to Washington. It was in that season when he finally showed what he could do, nearly doubling his career rushing total with 1195 yards and scoring 16 touchdowns, after having 11 in the previous three seasons.
Keep in mind that he played in the National Championship game with an injured foot that made the Huskies more one-dimensional, and there is a good chance that the game could've ended up differently had he been healthy. With Roschon Johnson and Travis Homer dealing with camp injuries and Kyle Monangai banged up against Buffalo, the Bears could be looking to add another camp body, and Johnson could be the guy.
Kylin James: Like Johnson, James has yet to appear in an NFL game after putting together a strong college career. Initially a Central Arkansas University product, James elected to transfer to UNLV, where he went on to have a breakout season. At UNLV, James ran for 653 yards and scored five touchdowns. Averaging 7.3 yards per attempt is pretty nifty.
Those are not considered elite numbers by any means, but the yards per carry average is what stands out as James was a big play waiting to happen when he touched the ball.
