First Roschon Johnson. Then Khalil Herbert. Thursday was a painful night for Chicago Bears running backs.
Latest Khalil Herbert Injury Update
Herbert left the Bears’ game against the Washington Commanders with an ankle injury. His right leg got pinned under him while adjusting to try to catch a third-down pass from Bears QB Justin Fields.
Herbert was ultimately able to walk off under his own power and went straight to the blue medical tent. Following a brief evaluation, he left the tent and attempted jogging on the sidelines to work out the issue bothering him.
Herbert did return briefly to the game, but it was clear he wasn’t right physically. The Bears later listed him as questionable to return, but his night was done.
Here’s the play where Khalil Herbert was injured. pic.twitter.com/FcEOjAe8To
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) October 6, 2023
After the game, Bears coach Matt Eberflus had no update on Herbert’s condition:
“I don’t know yet. I really don’t know,” he said. “I don’t know, I’ve got to talk to the trainers. I don’t know the whole detail of it yet.”
Herbert entered the game with 196 rushing yards on 41 carries. He got banged up less than an hour after Johnson, his primary backup, was ruled out of the game with a concussion. Fullback Khari Blasingame took Herbert’s spot in the lineup the next time the Bears’ offense took the field.
MORE: Chicago Bears Depth Chart
Early Friday morning, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that Herbert said he was ‘fine’ following the ankle injury. Additionally, he wouldn’t specify the nature of the injury but admitted it looked bad. ‘God is good,’ he said.
#Bears RB Khalil Herbert said postgame he’ll be ‘fine’ after injuring his ankle. Wouldn’t specify nature of injury but admitted it looked bad. ‘God is good,’ he said. Herbert had 76 yards on 10 carries.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) October 6, 2023
Fantasy Impact of Khalil Herbert’s Injury
If the Bears aren’t able to get Herbert back up to speed by their next game, their backfield might be thin, especially if Johnson can’t get out of the concussion protocol.
Travis Homer, who is dealing with a hamstring injury, was the only other running back that was active for Chicago. Homer is unlikely to inherit a significant workload if Herbert is forced to miss time.
D’Onta Foreman has been inactive recently, but he would likely step up to share this backfield with Homer if the Bears’ top two RBs miss Week 6.
However, with a 10-day break in between games, it’s likely that Johnson would return in time from his concussion. The same might be true for Herbert.
— Pro Football Network Fantasy Director Kyle Yates
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