Bears RB Khalil Herbert to miss multiple weeks with ankle injury; Chicago adds Darrynton Evans

The Chicago Bears will be without their leading rusher for some time.

Running back Khalil Herbert is expected to miss multiple weeks with an ankle injury suffered in Chicago’s Week 5 win over the Washington Commanders, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported Sunday morning, per sources.

To remedy Herbert’s absence, Chicago is signing Darrynton Evans off Miami’s practice squad, Pelissero added. Evans spent the 2022 season on the Bears’ practice squad and active roster, totaling 97 total yards on 15 touches in six games.

Through five games, Herbert was pacing the Bears’ backfield with 272 rushing yards on 51 carries. The third-year back had also added 10 catches for 83 receiving yards and a touchdown.

But during Chicago’s offensive explosion in D.C. on Thursday, Herbert didn’t finish the game. Joining him on the sideline were fellow backs Roschon Johnson (concussion) and Travis Homer (hamstring), who were knocked out with injuries, as well. By the end of the 20-point victory, Khari Blasingame was getting the bulk of Chicago’s carries (eight for 26 yards).

Moving forward, the Bears should lean on Johnson (when he’s cleared) and Evans, but also D'Onta Foreman, the seven-year veteran who was inactive for Thursday’s game. Foreman, 27, played in Week 1, totaling 24 total yards on seven touches. He’s coming off his best professional season in 2022, when he racked up 914 rushing yards and five scores for Carolina. In the interim, he will be a reliable presence for Justin Fields — himself a threat on the ground — offensive coordinator Luke Getsy and the Chicago attack.

The Bears (1-4) host the Minnesota Vikings (1-3) next week in a battle of NFC North bottom-dwellers.