Khalil Herbert vs. David Montgomery: Has the Rookie Taken Over as the Lead Back for Bears?

The Chicago Bears rank dead last in the NFL in both total offensive yards and passing yards, but even in the midst of another torturous offensive year for their fans, they may have found a silver lining.

Running back Khalil Herbert from Virginia Tech is off to a blistering start in his first NFL season. The sixth-round rookie has started three games for Chicago since starting back David Montgomery went down with a hyperextended knee in Week 4 against the Detroit Lions. In those three games, Herbert has rushed for an average of 90.7 yards per game, running for 4.9 yards a pop.

Even more impressive? Herbert's best game of his young NFL career came against the one team that nobody runs on in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Despite being blown out 38-3, Herbert rushed 18 times for 100 yards, becoming the first running back all season to go over 100 yards against Tampa Bay and the first since Dalvin Cook last season on Dec. 13, 2020.

Montgomery had also been effective through his first four games, rushing for 77.3 yards-per-game for 4.5 yards-per-carry, but with Herbert playing as well as he is, we may be looking at a potential "Wally Pipp" scenario for the third-year running back from Iowa State.

Will Khalil Herbert be the Starter Once David Montgomery is Healthy?

Judging by the Bears' inability to adapt and change on offense, I don't think Montgomery is in jeopardy of losing his job. If anything, it's placed Chicago in a unique spot to potentially consider trading Montgomery, who was dominant for Chicago in the second half of last season.

However, the days of Montgomery getting 20+ carries consistently for the Bears' offense are likely over. Herbert's ability to move the chains and be the one saving grace for this offense can't be overstated for a Bears team that has seen its Super Bowl odds at WynnBET move all the way down to 500/1 this year despite only being 3-4; as well as +2250 to win the NFC North.

Chicago needs every bit of help it can get offensively, and if that means using Herbert as a pass catcher or rotating him in along with Montgomery, the Bears 100% should. Whether head coach Matt Nagy actually decides to do so is something completely different.