The Chicago Bears have been hit hard with injuries at the wide receiver position for most of the season. With Alshon Jeffery and Eddie Royal on and off the field and Kevin White still out after surgery, Jay Cutler has been forced to make something out of nothing for the team. During all of that, Matt Forte has been his safety blanket. With White not set to return for the remainder of the year, do not expect the Bears to let Forte walk away mid-season.
With the NFL trade deadline approaching, Forte's name has been circling the rumor mill. The Bears have made no indication that they will re-sign their trusted running back, but they also do not plan to let him go despite potentially eyeing draft picks to help rebuild. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Media, fans should not expect a trade for Forte to happen as the Bears are still confident they can turn this year around.
Forte is important because White is not coming back this season. After undergoing surgery for a shin injury, there was some talk that White could be seen on the field in Week 11 as he had been doing light running and workouts. However, White downplayed that idea telling the media he is nowhere close to getting back on the field for the Bears. While stressing to Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune that he is not shutting the door on a return, he is not holding his breath for one.
"I've got a ways to go," White said, via the Chicago Tribune. "I've got a ways to go. I'm not doing a lot (right now). I did some jogging last week. This week a little bit more. So it's just progressing each week."
Forte is needed if the Bears are turning around a 2-4 start for a playoff run. With Jeffery and Royal dealing with injuries, Chicago needs a run game to survive and no one else behind Forte can get the job done. With all of the injuries, the Bears thing that Cutler has become a better quarterback in the process and it could help his long-term future with the franchise.
"It probably was a blessing in disguise," quarterback coach Dowell Loggains said, via CSNChicago.com. "It's made Jay step up, be a bigger part, bigger voice. He's run meetings, been very vocal on what he expects from each individual and I think guys have responded well to him."
