(670 The Score) Veteran running back Lamar Miller could get his chance in the Bears' backfield Monday night.
The Bears may be without top rusher David Montgomery, who has been in the concussion protocol since exiting late in Chicago's loss at Tennessee on Sunday. Without Montgomery, the Bears would be left with an inexperienced group at running back that includes Cordarrelle Patterson and Ryan Nall. That's where Miller could come in.
Miller, 29, was signed to the Bears' practice squad in September, and he began to ramp back up. A Pro Bowl selection while playing for the Texans in 2018, he missed all of the 2019 campaign with a torn ACL, which he suffered that preseason. Since joining the Bears, Miller has been readying himself to return while being stashed on the practice squad.
"Lamar’s doing a great job for us on the practice squad right now," said Bears running backs coach Charles London, who coached Miller for two seasons in Houston. "Obviously, he hadn’t played football for a while before he got here, a little bit over a year. He’s learning the offense, he’s working his way through things, obviously getting some more confidence in the knee going out there making cuts and stuff. So we really like how he’s progressing.
"I know what Lamar at 100 percent looks like. And we’ve been watching him, he’s really progressing and he’s doing well. Hopefully he can contribute soon."
Miller has averaged 4.3 yards per carry over seven NFL seasons and has played for both London and Bears offensive coordinator Bill Lazor at previous stops. If he's promoted to the active roster, Miller's goal will be to give the Bears a boost offensively, but he'll be challenged to do so while running behind a depleted offensive line that has been forced to thrust reserves in key roles.
"If his number is called, hopefully he can step up big for us like he has in the past," Patterson said. "He wouldn't be here if he couldn't play ball."
The second-year running back Montgomery could still be cleared ahead of Monday, and the extra day between games offers more time for recovery. But there's always uncertainty regarding the timetable for returning from a concussion.
"Any time you lose a player like David Montgomery, that’s obviously a big loss," Bears coach Matt Nagy said. "I have so much respect for the way that he plays this game and what he does for this offense. I know that we’re far, far, far from him seeing what he can be as a running back in the league, and I am excited to see that happen."
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.