Bears could cut ties with 25-year-old playmaker who could garner interest from Cowboys and Packers originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The Chicago Bears‘ running back room should return as one of the team’s top strengths in 2026.
D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai formed a dynamic duo in the backfield last season, as Swift had nearly 1,400 scrimmage yards and ten touchdowns, while Monangai rushed for 783 yards on 4.6 yards per carry as the backup.
With Swift and Monangai locked in as the primary backs for the Bears this season, Roschon Johnson’s future is now in the spotlight.
Johnson played in just seven games in 2025 due to injuries, but even when he was active, the Texas product didn’t receive many touches, primarily due to the rise of Monangai.
Heading into 2026, Johnson is slated to be Chicago’s RB3, but Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton believes there’s a possibility the Bears just end up cutting ties with the 25-year-old before the start of the season.
“Entering a contract year, Johnson isn’t going to see much action on offense in the No. 3 spot. Don’t be surprised if the Bears cut him, giving the 25-year-old tailback a chance to catch on elsewhere,” Moton said.
Cowboys and Packers should have interest in Johnson if cut by Bears
Though Johnson hasn’t been able to make a consistent impact for the Brars after being drafted in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, a fresh start could be what he needs to unlock his potential.
Johnson is a powerful runner who thrives in short-yardage situations. This was on full display in 2024 when he tallied six touchdowns in 14 games, all coming from inside the opponent’s 20-yard line.
If Chicago does cut Johnson, the 227-pound running back could head elsewhere and compete for an RB2 job with another team, and the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers could be possible landing spots.
Dallas and Green Bay already have high-level starters in their backfields in Javonte Williams and Josh Jacobs. However, both teams have a ton of questions behind their top guys, as the Cowboys are banking on Jaydon Blue to step up, while the Packers are waiting to see whether MarShawn Lloyd can put it together in his third season.
However, if Dallas and Green Bay want to add more competition to their running back rooms, Johnson could emerge as a target if the Bears let him go.
Johnson has already proved that he can flourish in a power back role, and the young playmaker would pair well with Williams or Jacobs in that case.
Chicago could retain Johnson on the roster for 2026 to serve on special teams and get the occasional carry, but cutting him after the training camp would make sense. If the former Longhorn hits the market, the Cowboys and Packers should look into signing him, depending on the state of their running back groups by that time.