NEWSLETTER
Chicago Bears reporters are banned from tweeting practice as it happens. But with practice being over, a wave of updates regarding running back David Montgomery came pouring out.
And the news is unpleasant:
Bears RB. David Montgomery limped off the practice field today, and was ultimately carted off. We will find out more shortly on this injury
— Mark Grote (@markgrotesports) August 26, 2020
Bears’ starting running back David Montgomery was carted away from today’s practice after injuring his left leg. Montgomery slipped before he took a handoff from Mitchell Trubisky, went to the ground and got up holding his left leg, in serious pain, per @DickersonESPN.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 26, 2020
On #Bears RB David Montgomery, I'm told team doesn't believe the injury he suffered today is to his knee.
— Adam Caplan (@caplannfl) August 26, 2020
An injury to the team’s starting running back is a big gut-punch. Bears Head Coach Matt Nagy will share more when he steps to the mic to address the media. So while the severity of the injury is unknown right now, this is an injury the Bears could ill-afford.
Last we saw Montgomery, he was running through the Vikings defensive line and giving us hope for 2020. As a rookie, Montgomery accumulated 1,074 scrimmage yards and scored seven touchdowns. A chunk of that production came in Montgomery’s final 10 games, in which he gained 658 yards on 171 carries and scoring five touchdowns. If we were to extrapolate those numbers over a full season, it comes out to 1,053 rushing yards and eight touchdowns.
No matter how you sliced them, Montgomery’s numbers represented a floor that was easy to dream on. And that’s what makes this injury all the more unfortunate. The Bears looked like they were preparing to lean on the running game. But without Montgomery, their backup plans leave much to be desired.
Tarik Cohen isn’t an every-down back. Ryan Nall is a third-year player with minimal professional experience. Artavis Pierce is an intriguing camp story, but is an undrafted free agent rookie with no professional experience. Cordarrelle Patterson is a gadget player who could do the job in a pinch, but has never carried a full season’s workload.
At this point, the Bears need to sign help. Devonta Freeman and Spencer Ware are among the free agents who come to mind as available running backs who could contribute in a pinch. And the Bears did recently bring in C.J. Prosise for a tryout. So it’s not as if there aren’t options. But don’t hold your breath awaiting a high-impact rusher to walk through the doors at Halas Hall at the drop of a hat.
UPDATE: It’s his groin.
Matt Nagy says David Montgomery sustained a groin injury that occurred during an individual drill. The team does not yet know the severity.
Prayers way, way up to #32.
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) August 26, 2020
UPDATE 2: And here’s video of the incident, which may get deleted before too long (just a head’s up).
#Bears RB David Montgomery slipped and has a groin injury. Video below shows obvious pain— Nagy “hopes” it isn’t severe. @ABC7Chicago pic.twitter.com/cGkPoyNdmA
— Dionne Miller (@dmillerabc7) August 26, 2020
