Bears rookie running back Roschon Johnson has made a strong impression on the coaching staff this summer, earning first-team reps and greater opportunities to prove his worth.
Johnson had a standout performance in last Saturday’s game against the Colts, with seven carries for 32 yards (4.6 average) and had one catch for 11 yards. Johnson played a huge role on Chicago’s first scoring drive, where he had a 14-yard run and 11-yard reception.
The fourth-round rookie is certainly making waves in the preseason, where teammate Khalil Herbert explained what makes him so impressive.
“He’s just very explosive through the hole but the things he does, everybody was excited,” Herbert said. “The physicality, the burst, I feel like he has a combination of everything. Those things and then once he gets a full head of steam and comes down running the ball at you, he’s going to make you pay for trying to tackle him.”
Johnson is expected to be part of a three-headed monster at running back with veterans Khalil Herbert and D’Onta Foreman. While Herbert will be the lead back, Johnson could certainly push for additional reps as the season wears on.
“I feel like any of us in that room, it’s no dropoff,” Herbert said. “We got a bunch of guys that get their ball in their hands, take it the distance, make big plays. I feel bad for defenses having to defend. When one of us gets tired and the other goes in, and it’s the same thing. One gets tired, another goes in, it’s the same thing. Having that is definitely a big benefit.”
As Johnson continues to impress, it’ll be interesting to see how quickly he can climb the depth chart as a rookie.
