Silence has settled over Halas Hall since the preseason ended. The Chicago Bears haven't made any notable roster moves other than reshuffling the depth chart and practice squad. Many have wondered if GM Ryan Poles might have plans to make an aggressive move for last-second help for his team going into the opener against Minnesota. He did so last year with the trades for Darrell Taylor and Chris Williams. Thus far, nothing has materialized. It looks like this is the roster the Bears will go into Monday night with.
However, that might soon change. A source informed SM that the Bears have worked the phones and are looking for running back help. Injuries have hindered the position for weeks. Roschon Johnson is dealing with a foot issue, while Kyle Monangai missed the final two preseason games with a soft tissue problem. The name mentioned that Chicago is interested in is Travis Etienne. The former 1st round pick has been productive for the Jacksonville Jaguars, but finds himself in a crowded backfield under a new coaching staff.
Etienne would be a good fit with the Chicago Bears.
What stands out immediately with him is the versatility. He's a big, solid back who can run the ball between the tackles. What separates him from others is how good he is in the passing game. Etienne has 132 catches across three seasons. He cracked 1,000 yards in his first two years. Jacksonville faces a dilemma, though. His contract situation is coming up, and they may not want to pay him. Don't forget they also have Tank Bigsby and drafted two more running backs in April. Unloading Etienne for some draft capital might be the best thing for the team from a business standpoint. The Chicago Bears have every reason to explore this possibility. While they may not want/be able to pay him, he would significantly boost their rushing attack. It all depends on whether the Jaguars are willing to pull the trigger.
