Running back Travis Homer is entering the second year of his deal with the Chicago Bears, but his roster place might be stolen by an undrafted rookie — especially if the team wants to save money.
The Bears signed Homer, a 25-year-old running back, to a two-year, $4 million contract last offseason. According to Bleacher Report’s Kris Knox, the seasoned RB could be cut to free up salary space.
“Releasing running back Travis Homer could be a much simpler path to a bit extra cap space. While Homer adds value on special teams, he doesn’t provide much offensively, and Chicago has many of running back choices,” Knox said on May 20.
“An undrafted rookie like Ian Wheeler or John Jackson III could probably replace Homer on special teams. Releasing him would save $1.9 million in cap space.”
Cut Candidate Travis Homer’s Role With Bears Has Been on Special Teams
Homer appeared in 16 games for Chicago last season, with the majority of his snaps coming on special teams (he played only 1% of Chicago’s offensive snaps in 2023). He played 61% of the team’s special teams snaps and recorded 7 total tackles.
The 5-foot-10, 202-pound Homer, a sixth-round pick by the Seattle Seahawks in 2019, has never finished with more than 25 carries in any of his five seasons in the NFL.
In his four-year tenure with the Seahawks, Homer played in 49 games (two starts) and amassed 453 yards and a touchdown on 83 carries (5.5 yards per carry). He has largely been a role player over his career, and one the Bears didn’t utilize much.
Considering the Bears didn’t incorporate Homer into their offensive game plan at all last year, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he were cut before the start of the 2024 regular season.
Bears ‘RBs Room Looking Promising Heading Into 2024 Campaign
Last year, with Khalil Herbert, D’Onta Foreman, and Roschon Johnson carrying the rock, the Bears had the NFL’s second-best rushing attack, averaging 141.1 yards per game. Both Herbert and Johnson will return in 2024, but Foreman, who inked a contract with the Cleveland Browns this offseason, will not.
Foreman has been replaced by D’Andre Swift, a former Philadelphia Eagles starting running back who carried for 1,049 yards and five touchdowns last season while averaging 4.6 yards per carry.
In 109 runs, Foreman accumulated 425 yards and four rushing touchdowns, averaging 3.9 yards per carry as a reserve. Swift promises to be a more prolific runner while also serving as a playmaking receiving target for rookie quarterback Caleb Williams.
“It’s a great running back room,” Swift stated after signing with the Bears in March. “I was really familiar with it before I came here. There is plenty of skill in the running back room. I don’t expect anything to happen, no matter how it plays out. I’m going to come here, work, and earn whatever position they have for me.”
