The Chicago Bears have shown under the Ryan Poles/Matt Eberflus regime that they are not above giving opportunities to guys from any background. It doesn’t matter if they’re a top-10 pick or an undrafted free agent. If you can show them during training camp and preseason that you belong on the roster, they’ll have a roster spot ready for you. Jack Sanborn and Jaylon Jones proved it in 2022. Tyson Bagent proved it in 2023. While the competition might be stiffer this year, the door remains wide open for somebody to make an impression.
It is still early in the training camp process. Pads haven’t even gone on yet. However, one undrafted rookie has started creating a buzz in practices. Multiple beat writers mentioned him this week. Adam Jahns and Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic mentioned one of his big moments. Courtney Cronin of ESPN was quick to point out his impressive athletic profile as well.
“Undrafted rookie running back Ian Wheeler had an impressive cutback in team drills, taking off for a long run. Running backs coach Chad Morton — one of the most enthusiastic coaches on the team — sprinted 70 yards after him to celebrate.”
Wheeler is a fascinating prospect. He never really established himself as a full-time running back in college but he did average 6.5 yards per carry. His biggest claim to fame was three kick return touchdowns, showcasing the speed and explosiveness mentioned above.
The running back room already looks set for this season. D’Andre Swift is an obvious lock, as is Roschon Johnson. Travis Homer is also likely to stay due to his special teams value. Wheeler’s best shot to crack the roster might be through the kick return job. Yet even that is currently held by Velus Jones, who was good in 2022 before rule changes gave him few opportunities last year. The new XFL-style adjustments this season give him a fresh opportunity to regain his old form. Wheeler might be the only one with the background to challenge him.
As of now, Wheeler feels like a perfect practice squad addition. He has versatility and upside. They could easily elevate him to the main roster in case of injuries, either to Jones or one of the running backs. Then again, that depends on the rookie. If he plays well enough in camp, it could force the Bears to make a tough decision. They have said their goal is always to get the 53 best players possible on the roster.
