The Chicago Bears have brought in Daniel Thomas a free agent behind starter Matt Forte and rookie Jeremy Langford and he now has a chance to make the team while battling with Jacquizz Rodgers and Ka'Deem Carey heading into training camp and this comes as Jay Cutler has given high praise to first round pick Kevin White, who was very impressive in minicamp and OTAs.
The Bears drafted Langford in the fourth round this year, but the team did not have much behind Forte on the roster apart from Jacquizz Rodgers and Carey. The team now has added Daniel Thomas, with NFL.com reporting that the running back signed a one year deal. Thomas had worked out for the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys this offseason after he was not brought back by the Miami Dolphins.
Thomas has dealt with fumbling issues in the past and that is likely what he needs to work on the most if he is going to stick with the Bears. Thomas has done solid backup work for the Dolphins behind Lamar Miller over the past couple years, but he had just 44 carries last season. Thomas was a second round pick for the Dolphins and he has scored 10 touchdowns in his career along with 1,480 yards in four seasons.
The Bears have been looking to add more depth behind Forte and now the team has Langford, Jacquizz Rodgers, Carey and Thomas on the roster. Carey could be in danger of getting cut with Thomas coming in, as Rodgers, Forte and Langford are the likely locks on the roster. Langford has high expectations after being productive in college, while Forte is obviously not going anywhere. Rodgers could be a solid option on passing downs to help keep Forte fresh, while Thomas also has ball catching skills with career stats of 55 catches for 412 yards and three touchdowns.
According to ESPN Chicago's Jeff Dickerson, Carey needs to have a "strong preseason" to secure his spot on the roster and it comes after he had just 36 rushes for 158 yards and zero touchdowns last season. The addition of yet another running back could push some of the Matt Forte trade talk from earlier in the offseason, but it looks like the Bears are not going down that road. Forte said earlier in the offseason that he wants a new contract, but he will not be planning a hold out. There is a chance that things could change heading into training camp, but it looks like Forte will be present.
If Forte does not get a new deal he could come up in trade talks at the deadline, but it's more likely that the Bears let him play out his deal if they are not interested in a new extension. Forte made some comments to Pro Football Talk about his contract situation and said that the league is hypocritical in a sense since he could get released at any time. Either way, Forte wants a new deal and he has been one of the most worked backs in the league over the past few seasons.
