Khalil Herbert’s hip injury and subsequent trip to injured reserve opened up roster space ahead of Sunday’s Bears game against the Falcons.
And a little less than 24 hours before kickoff, the team made a move to elevate running back Darrynton Evans onto the active roster to help fill the gaps Herbert left behind:
Evans, 24, was a Bears waiver claim during the offseason. And he was someone we thought might be in the mix for an increase in playing time with Herbert on IR. A third-round pick (93rd overall) by the Titans in the 2020 NFL Draft, Evans hasn’t yet made a significant impact at the pro level. Between injuries and being behind all-world stud rusher Derrick Henry on the Tennessee depth chart, there hasn’t been much room for Evans to operate. The Appalachian State product has played just seven games in his career, five of which came during his rookie season in 2020. But perhaps Herbert’s injury will provide an opportunity for Evans to find a niche in Chicago.
For what it’s worth, Evans makes a ton of sense as an option to fill both of the roles Herbert was in before his injury. Not just in terms of taking carries as part of a timeshare with David Montgomery, but also as a kick returner. Evans returned nine kicks for 206 yards (22.9 avg) in 2020. That return gig seems wide open as long as rookie Velus Jones Jr. remains in the dog house as a healthy scratch. So maybe this is an area where Evans can flash. He (and others) will have four games to do so, as the earliest Herbert can return to the lineup is for the Bears’ Dec. 24 game against the Bills. Lots can happen between now and then. So stay tuned.