Bears RB Khalil Herbert going on injured reserve
Chicago Bears running back Khalil Herbert #24 runs the ball during the first quarter against the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field on Sunday. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Bears running back Khalil Herbert is headed to injured reserve after hurting his hip late on a kick return late during Sunday’s loss to the Lions.
His loss is a blow to the league’s best rushing attack. He averaged 6 yards per carry, which is tied with the Cowboys’ Tony Pollard for the most by any healthy running back in the NFL.
Herbert has run 108 times for 643 yards this season while sharing backfield duties with David Montgomery. Montgomery, who is in the final year of his contract, has run 115 times for 434 yards, an average of only 3.8 yards per carry.
The Bears could turn to Trestan Ebner to help take Herbert’s place. The rookie from Baylor has run 18 times for 46 yards and, like Herbert, has returned kicks for the Bears.
Herbert has been one of the breakout stars of the Bears’ offense. Only in his second season, he joints quarterback Justin Fields, tight end Cole Kmet and receivers Darnell Mooney and Chase Claypool as offensive building blocks for a rebuilding team.
Bears head coach Matt Eberflus was mum Monday when asked about Herbert, saying that the team wouldn’t address anyone’s injury status until the league-mandated injury report was due Wednesday.
Players who go to IR must miss at least four weeks.