LAKE FOREST, Ill. – D’Onta Foreman waited patiently for his moment.
The veteran running back joined the Bears in the offseason with plans to assert himself as the lead back and fill the void left by the outgoing David Montgomery. Instead, Foreman was inactive starting in Week 2 as the Bears decided to play with Khalil Herbert and rookie Roschon Johnson in the backfield.
Foreman didn’t mope or complain. He kept receipts from all his doubters and remained ready when the Bears called his number.
After Herbert and Johnson were both injured in the Bears’ Week 5 win over the Washington Commanders, it was time for Foreman to show the Bears and his critics what he could do.
As he had done many times before in his career, Foreman took advantage of the opportunity that presented itself.
Foreman has rushed for 158 yards and two touchdowns in the last two games while showing great vision, bob, explosiveness and physicality.
“I’ve been in this position many times in my life,” Foreman said Wednesday when asked how he quickly found success after a month of inactivity. “If you look back over the last three years, that’s been my life.” That’s why I’ve always maintained the mindset that when you get a chance, you have to go out there and capitalize on it. If you get it, try not to return it. That’s honestly my main focus.”
Foreman has done more than enough not to give it back.
While Herbert remains on injured reserve with an ankle injury, Johnson has just one hurdle left to clear to escape the concussion protocol and be active on Sunday against the Chargers at SoFi Stadium.
Even if Johnson returns on Sunday, Foreman has earned the right to retain the role of leader. The production has been good, but it’s Foreman’s physical running style – which gives the Bears an offensive identity – the main reason he shouldn’t slide down the depth chart.
“A lot,” wide receiver DJ Moore said when asked what Foreman’s style brings to the offense. “He’s going downhill. He ran over someone when he was out of bounds, so he made a statement. He always makes the first player miss, so he just trolls around and pushes people around with the ball. It’s fun to watch” and see. That’s what you want to go out there and block.”
This season, Foreman has gained 122 yards after contact. He is averaging 3.39 yards after contact per attempt and has forced eight missed tackles in the last two games.
The Bears were the NFL’s best rushing team in 2022. That was the only thing the 3-14 team could hold on to. The 2023 Bears struggled to recapture their ground-and-pound success early in the season, but they appear to have found something as Foreman broke down opposing defenses.
Just ask the Las Vegas Raiders, who brutally attacked Foreman for a total of 120 yards and three touchdowns in the Bears’ 30-12 win last Sunday.
“We just kicked their ass from the front,” tight end Cole Kmet told NBC Sports Chicago after the game.
The Bears’ offensive line dominated the Raiders in the trenches on Sunday, benefiting from Foreman’s punishing rushing style.
“Maybe so. I can’t say it isn’t. “I can’t say that,” Foreman said when asked if his physicality has created an offensive identity. “But I have to say that I, there “When I’m out there, I definitely think my physicality gives the team energy.” They kind of feed off of my energy when I go out there and do what I do. Like I said, I just want to focus on that every week to get better.”
Getting Johnson back will be a boon for the Bears’ backfield, but Foreman showed why the Bears pursued him in free agency.
Foreman has the running game in his hands, and with Tyson Bagent set to make his second career start on Sunday, now is not the time to mess with a good thing.
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