The Bears got something — a very little something — in exchange for running back Khalil Herbert.
On Tuesday morning, hours before the NFL’s 3 p.m. trade deadline, they sent the running back to the Bengals for a seventh-round pick in 2025.
Herbert is in the final year of his contract. He was a healthy scratch Sunday — one of only two on the Bears’ active roster — for the second consecutive week.
He played only 27 offensive snaps this season, stuck behind starter D’Andre Swift — who got a three-year, $24 million deal in March — and backup Roschon Johnson. Veteran Travis Homer is a special teams stalwart for the Bears; his return from a finger injury led to Herbert being a healthy scratch.
Thank you God 🙏🏾🐅 #WhoDey
— Khalil Herbert (@JuiceHerbert) November 5, 2024
The Bears sent Herbert to a spot that offers him opportunity. The Bengals needed running back depth behind starter Chase Brown after Zack Moss suffered a neck injury last week. To land Herbert, the Bengals made an in-season trade for the third time in 52 years.
Herbert and his agents talked to general manager Ryan Poles about a trade leading up to the deadline.
When asked last week if he wanted to be traded, Herbert told the Sun-Times, “It’s not up to me.” Later he said he hoped to contribute for the Bears.
“I want to be here and be able to help this team when I get the opportunity,” he said.
Running backs coach Chad Morton acknowledged Herbert’s frustration in not playing.
“It’s tough, right?” Morton said last week. “It’s the morale thing — just keeping him motivated so he’s not in the tank. He’s done a tremendous job of just being a pro. I love that guy to death, man. He still works hard every single time, takes all the scout team reps, hasn’t complained one time.
“You can see the sadness. He’s a human, too. He wants to play, he wants to be active, he wants to help.”
Thank you for everything, @JuiceHerbert 💙 pic.twitter.com/82zqOFOvVv
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) November 5, 2024
Herbert ran for 1,791 rushing yards in his first three years with the team, but only had 16 rushing yards this year. The former sixth-round pick from Virginia Tech will become a free agent at the end of the year.
The Bears aren’t expected to trade for a big name Tuesday but could make a minor move or two. Guard Nate Davis is available despite the Bears’ offensive line injuries.