The Bears and running back Matt Forte parted ways this offseason after eight years with Forte as a focal point in their offense, but it doesn’t look like they’ll be looking to just one back to fill the role Forte played during his time in Chicago.
Jeremy Langford, Ka’Deem Carey, Jacquizz Rodgers and fifth-round pick Jordan Howard are all on the roster and the team’s coaches are suggesting that all of them will have a hand in how the team moves forward at running back. Head coach John Fox invoked the “hot hand” approach to who will get playing time while running backs coach Stan Drayton says that the different skills of each back will be called on when appropriate.
“Maybe not one can do all that Matt brought to the table,” Drayton said, via the Chicago Tribune. “But they all bring a strength that can probably add up to what he brought. To say you’re going to replace Matt Forte -- it’s going to take years, right?”
Organized team activities may provide some clarity into how things will stack up in the backfield, although the competition for snaps should extend well into training camp and the preseason.