After missing the entire 2019 season and the first half of the 2020 campaign, Lamar Miller will return to regular season action. Per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, the Bears plan to promote the veteran RB from the practice squad for tomorrow night’s game against the Vikings (Twitter link).
Miller, who has put together 1,000-yard seasons for both the Dolphins and Texans in his career, earned his first Pro Bowl nod after his 2018 season with Houston, when he amassed 973 yards in just 14 games on a 4.6 YPC average. Unfortunately, he suffered an ACL tear during the 2019 preseason and was not re-signed the following year.
He hooked on with the Patriots in August, but he was released before the season began. He took visits with several clubs, including the Bears, before signing with Chicago’s taxi squad in October.
The Bears already lost Tarik Cohen for the season due to a torn ACL, and David Montgomery‘s concussion will sideline him for the matchup with Minnesota. So Miller suddenly finds himself as the top option in a backfield that needs a jolt, as Chicago is averaging a league-worst 82.3 yards per game on the ground this season.
But while the Bears are in the midst of a three-game losing streak, they are still 5-4 and in contention for a playoff berth. If Miller can replicate his 2018 performance with Houston, that will be a big boost to the Bears’ postseason push.
Not a bad move. We’ll see how much Miller has left, but it’s not a bad move at least to try, given Miller’s experience as a starter and versatile play style. Even though he’s still new to the team and players, Miller will likely be able to run a couple of basic routes out of the backfield to help Foles-which likely would not be the case with a rookies back who was just brought up with no practice time. We’ll see if it works.
A lot will depend on that horrendous offensive line. Walter Payton wouldn’t gain much with those clowns.
Agreed. Miller’s ability to catch I think will be important.
Can’t be much worse than what the running game currently is.
At this point the Bears might as well ask Bobby Douglass to come in for a workout.
Time to shake it up