ROSCHON JOHNSON NEWS

30 Most Important Bears of 2024: No. 28 Roschon Johnson Up next in our 30 Most Important Bears of 2024 series is Roschon Johnson, who will be competing with Khalil Herbert for the RB2 job.

JUNE 26 • USATODAY.COM

Roschon Johnson odds to win 2024 NFL Offensive Player of the Year Analyzing the favorites to win the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year award this year, Roschon Johnson does not make the list — but he is ra...

JUNE 21 • USATODAY.COM

2023 Chicago Bears Rookie Report Card: RB Roschon Johnson Breaking down running back Roschon Johnson's rookie season with the Chicago Bears and looking ahead to the 2024 offseason for the former fou...

JANUARY 16 • 247SPORTS.COM

Light usage in season finale Johnson rushed five times for 20 yards in the Bears' 17-9 loss to the Packers on Sunday.

Impact As a rookie, Johnson never had more than 10 rushes in a game. However, he was often used as a passing-down back, though he only had two games with more than four receptions. In 15 games played, Johnson rushed for 352 yards and two touchdowns to go with 209 receiving yards. During the offseason, the Bears will need to decide if the running back is ready to take on an expanded role, or if he'll remain as a passing-down specialist. Johnson has three years remaining on his rookie contract.

JANUARY 8 • ROTOWIRE

Clear No. 2 back in Week 18 Johnson is in line to serve as the Bears' unquestioned No. 2 back in Sunday's game against the Packers with D'Onta Foreman (coach's decision) declared inactive for the contest.

Impact Johnson will therefore have a chance to finish his rookie season with what should be a solid workload behind top back Khalil Herbert. The 2023 fourth-round pick enters the finale with 332 rushing yards and two touchdowns, figures he's complemented with a 34-209 line through the air on 40 targets. Johnson has logged between five and nine carries and three and six targets over the last three games, playing at least 30 snaps in each of those contests.

JANUARY 7 • ROTOWIRE

Roschon Johnson's second rush TD of '23 extends Bears' lead vs. Falcons Chicago Bears running back Roschon Johnson rushes for a 2-yard touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons, his second rushing touchdown of the 20...

DECEMBER 31, 2023 • NFL.COM

HIGHLGHT: Roschon Johnson finds end zone from 2 yards out Bears rookie running back Roschon Johnson runs for a 2-yard touchdown.

DECEMBER 31, 2023 • CHICAGOBEARS.COM

Modest output with Foreman out Johnson contributed 37 yards on nine carries and hauled in all three targets for 16 yards during Sunday's 27-16 victory over the Cardinals.

Impact The Bears were without D'Onta Foreman in Week 16 due to a personal matter, but Khalil Herbert and not Johnson was the running back to benefit from the absence. Herbert paced the backfield with 21 touches for 121 yards from scrimmage and a TD, which towered over Johnson's modest 12, 53 and zero, respectively. Perhaps Chicago's coaching staff prefers the rookie fourth-round pick to stay in a change-of-pace role, no matter who among the trio is available, but Johnson wasn't the primary beneficiary this time around. His outlook for the final two games of the campaign may not necessarily be tied to whether or not Foreman is able to suit up down the stretch.

DECEMBER 25, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Roschon Johnson Stunned Bears Fans With Huge Block That Blew Up Two Vikings Defenders Roschon Johnson single-handedly made this play possible for the Bears.

NOVEMBER 28, 2023 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Outpaces Herbert in Week 12 win Johnson rushed 10 times for 35 yards and brought in all five targets for 40 yards in the Bears' 12-10 win over the Vikings on Monday night. He also committed a fumble recovered by...

Impact The rookie notably logged four more carries than Khalil Herbert despite entering the game No. 2 on the depth chart. Johnson also outpaced his teammate through the air, checking in third in receptions, receiving yards and targets on the night for Chicago. Both Johnson's rush attempts and receiving yards were new career highs, and it will be interesting to see how the division of labor in the Bears' ground attack breaks down in Week 14 against the Lions following the Week 13 bye, considering D'Onta Foreman (ankle) is likely to be factored back into the mix for that contest.

NOVEMBER 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

HIGHLIGHT: Roschon Johnson takes Fields' short pass for 22-yard gain Bears running back Roschon Johnson takes a short pass from Justin Fields for a 22-yard gain.

NOVEMBER 28, 2023 • CHICAGOBEARS.COM

HIGHLIGHT: Justin Fields evades two possible sacks before chain-moving pass to Roschon Johnson Bears quarterback Justin Fields eludes the pressure and throws across his body to running back Roschon Johnson for a first down.

NOVEMBER 28, 2023 • CHICAGOBEARS.COM

Bears Running Game Hits Rare Rough Patch The yards proved tough to come by for D’Onta Foreman and Roschon Johnson last week and now they face another problem.

NOVEMBER 3, 2023 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Bears Running Game Hits Rare Rough Patch The yards proved tough to come by for D’Onta Foreman and Roschon Johnson last week and now they face another problem.

NOVEMBER 3, 2023 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Splits backfield work Sunday Johnson took six carries for 21 yards while catching three of four targets for 10 yards in Sunday's 30-13 loss to the Chargers.

Impact Johnson was able to pass the league's concussion protocol in time to suit up for Sunday's matchup against the Chargers. The 22-year-old wound up splitting touches with D'Onta Foreman, with neither player standing out in the box score. Both backs could struggle to develop consistent value due to fluctuating usage from an indecisive coaching staff trying to salvage a season that is clearly heading the wrong direction, and that's before the eventual return of Khalil Herbert (ankle) gets factored in. For now, assume another roughly even split between Johnson and Foreman against the Saints in Week 9.

OCTOBER 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Roschon Johnson Returning to Different Looking Backfield Roschon Johnson is returning from a concussion but the backfield definitely looks different than when he was injured.

OCTOBER 27, 2023 • CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM

Halas Hall Notebook: Roschon Johnson cleared to play, Jaylon Johnson contract update Roschon Johnson is set to return for the Chicago Bears, adding to the rushing attack. Plus, the latest on Jaylon Johnson's contract.

OCTOBER 26, 2023 • 247SPORTS.COM

Out of concussion protocol Johnson said Thursday that he cleared the concussion protocol and is ready to play in Sunday's road game against the Chargers, Chris Emma of 670TheScore.com reports.

Impact Players in the protocol for head injuries aren't permitted to speak to the media, so Johnson's comments more or less pave the way for him to put an end to a two-game absence. His upcoming role is in some question, though, after D'Onta Foreman reeled off 187 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns over the last two games with Khalil Herbert (ankle, IR) sidelined. In five games this season, Johnson is averaging 4.9 yards on his 25 carries, has hauled in 11 of 12 targets for 58 yards and scored one rushing TD.

OCTOBER 26, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Another full practice Johnson (concussion) practiced fully Thursday.

Impact The uncapped session marks Johnson's second in a row, but it's unclear if he's passed through the final phase of the protocol for head injuries. On Wednesday, coach Matt Eberflus noted Johnson had "one more hurdle" to get past in order to see his first game action since sustaining a concussion Week 5 in Washington, per Chris Emma of 670TheScore.com. Having said that, the Bears may not indicate whether that has happened until they post their final practice report of Week 8 on Friday. If Johnson gains clearance to play Sunday at the Chargers, he may split the backfield reps with D'Onta Foreman with Khalil Herbert (ankle) still on injured reserve.

OCTOBER 26, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Full practice, still in protocol Johnson (concussion) was a full practice participant Wednesday.

Impact Johnson's activity Wednesday marks his first practice participation of any sort since he suffered a concussion Oct. 5 at Washington. Head coach Matt Eberflus told Chris Emma of 670TheScore.com earlier Wednesday that Johnson has "one more hurdle" to pass before he'll clear the five-step concussion protocol, likely indicating that the running back needs to meet with an independent neurologist. Once that step is behind him, Johnson should be good to rejoin the Bears backfield, but considering D'Onta Foreman has put together 187 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns over the last two games with Khalil Herbert (ankle) on injured reserve, it's unclear what kind of workload will be available to Johnson.

OCTOBER 25, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Returning to practice Bears head coach Matt Eberflus said that Johnson (concussion) will return to practice Wednesday but remains in the NFL's concussion protocol, Chris Emma of 670TheScore.com reports.

Impact Eberflus said Monday that Johnson has "one more hurdle" remaining before exiting the protocol and being deemed good to go for Sunday's game against the Chargers. Johnson's only remaining steps may be to return to full-contact practice and then gain clearance from an independent neurologist, however, and taking the field Wednesday represents noteworthy progress. D'Onta Foreman has looked impressive as the lead man in Chicago's backfield over the last two weeks, but Johnson should be able to carve out a role Week 8 if cleared to play.

OCTOBER 25, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Could be back in action Week 8 Head coach Matt Eberflus said Monday that Johnson remains in concussion protocol, but the Bears are optimistic that the running back will play Week 8 against the Chargers, Brad Big...

Impact Eberflus suggested that Johnson has one hurdle to clear before exiting the protocol, so the 22-year-old rookie may only need to return to a full-contact practice and receive the green light to play from an independent neurologist before being deemed good to go for this weekend. While both Johnson and Khalil Herbert (ankle) have been sidelined for the Bears' past two games, D'Onta Foreman has emerged as Chicago's lead runner, carrying 31 times for 154 yards and adding four catches for 33 yards while finding the end zone three times between Weeks 6 and 7. Herbert will remain on injured reserve for at least another two weeks, but if Johnson is back in action this Sunday in Los Angeles, he could challenge Foreman for the No. 1 role out of the backfield. At the very least, Johnson should be able to unseat Darrynton Evans as the top change-of-pace complement to Foreman after Evans averaged just 3.5 yards on 23 carries and two yards on four targets over the past two games.

OCTOBER 23, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Not playing in Week 7 Johnson (concussion) has been ruled out for Sunday's game versus the Raiders.

Impact Johnson has been in the concussion protocol for more than two weeks since being diagnosed with a head injury Thursday, Oct. 5 against the Commanders. He's yet to practice in the meantime, giving no indication of making progress through any of the five phases. With Johnson sidelined again and Khalil Herbert (ankle) on injured reserve, the Bears backfield will be composed of D'Onta Foreman, Travis Homer and Darrynton Evans in Week 7.

OCTOBER 20, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Misses practice again Johnson (concussion) didn't practice Thursday.

Impact Johnson still hasn't practiced since suffering a concussion in Thursday night win over Washington in Week 5. Travis Homer, on the other hand, returned to full practice participation Thursday after missing last week's game with a hamstring injury. If Johnson can't play Sunday against the Raiders, it'll likely be D'Onta Foreman leading the rushing attack again while Homer and/or Darrynton Evans handle the obvious passing situations and perhaps some carries.

OCTOBER 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Not practicing yet Johnson (concussion) isn't practicing Wednesday, Courtney Cronin of ESPN.com reports.

Impact Johnson hasn't practiced since suffering a concussion in a Thursday night win over Washington in Week 5. He missed the Week 6 loss to Minnesota in which D'Onta Foreman and Darrynton Evans handled the backfield work while Johnson, Khalil Herbert (ankle) and Travis Homer (hamstring) all sat out. Another missed practice suggests Johnson is in danger of missing a second game this Sunday against Las Vegas.

OCTOBER 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE