Khalil Herbert: "I always got a chip on my shoulder" |
LAKE FOREST, I.L. - Last season, the Chicago Bears had the second-most rushing yards of any NFL team, with 2,399 yards. How they accomplished this feat was rather unusual: Six rushers over 100 yards, but none over 700 yards all season, meant they never truly had a No. 1 rusher.
Nonetheless, Khalil Herbert feels confident in the running back group Chicago has, which was boosted in the offseason with the addition of D’Andre Swift. “I feel great. It just (brings) another level to our room, just being able to go out there. You got a bunch of guys in our room, and so, being able to compete every day and show what you got,” Herbert said. “I feel like I always got something to prove, not to anybody, but to myself. Really, just showing who I am as a player. I feel like the film speaks for itself … We push each other every day, and every day is a competition.” Going into last season, Herbert was expected to take on the role of the top running back after David Montgomery's departure. That was not something he fulfilled for numerous reasons, including injuries. Ultimately, he only started in eight games in 2023. Going into the last year of his rookie contract, Herbert knows he has something to prove if he wants to stick around with the Bears. “I feel like I always got a chip on my shoulder. I came here (as) a (sixth) round pick. That’s just what it is. I feel like I’ve always had that chip,” Herbert said. “Cards have never been dealt my way my whole life. So, it is what it is. I just roll with the punches, come out on top.” His last two seasons with the Bears were under offensive coordinator Luke Getsy, which surely did not help him. However, with Chicago’s new offensive coordinator, Shane Waldron, things promise to be much different. His offensive scheme involves getting everyone the ball. It also allows the running backs to be used in diverse ways, something that can help Herbert extend his NFL career. “I feel like we’re able to do everything. We line out wide, different places, different spots,” Herbert said. “So, just being able to put us in different positions to get the ball is really big for us.” Swift and Waldron were not the only offensive additions Chicago acquired this offseason. They also revamped their receiving core, drafting Rome Odunze and trading for Keenan Allen, and now have a new quarterback in Caleb Williams. While Williams still has the ability to run with the ball, he most likely will not do that as much as the previous quarterback, Justin Fields did. Adjusting to the differing playing styles between the quarterbacks and having everyone mesh together is taking some time. But, Herbert says the group has made progress since organized team activities (OTAs) to now. “We’re still growing. We came a long way throughout OTAs and through camp. But, obviously, there’s room to grow. But, we’re definitely taking strides each and every day,” Herbert said. “Us and the defense, I feel like, go back and forth and we battle and we got a top five defense over there. So, it’s definitely a battle everyday and some days, they get us. Some days, we get them. So, trying to have that happy medium and be on every single day.” None of the starters appeared in Chicago’s preseason opener against the Houston Texans in their Hall of Game 21-17 victory. However, head coach Matt Eberflus has not yet stated if any of the starters will be playing in the second preseason game on Sat. Aug. 10 against the Buffalo Bills (Noon / NFL Network).
