Bears Trade Proposition Supplants Disappointing RB For Ex 1,000 Yard Rusher
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The Chicago Bears snuck past the Las Vegas Raiders in a mistake-filled thriller – for both teams – 25-24, on Sunday afternoon.
Whilst the Bears were certainly not perfect on the defensive side – despite two interceptions from former two-time All-Pro safety, Kevin Byard – the area that really got fans going was the run game.
Chicago Bears’ Running Backs Not Performing Well
Despite a game-sealing touchdown, D’Andre Swift had yet another disappointing game against Las Vegas, managing just 2.7 yards per carry on the day, and a similarly poor 3.3 YPC on the season.
And whilst there were high hopes for him over the past couple of seasons, former fourth round pick, Roschon Johnson has effectively been frozen out of the team, having been given no carries over the past two weeks since returning from a foot injury.
Rookie seventh round pick, Kyle Monangai, had a better day than Swift in week 4, but on the season has largely been playing with similar mediocre levels of efficiency.
It seems to be, more than anything, that head coach, Ben Johnson, is looking for his lead back to truly move the offense forward. Now, he is almost certainly not going to find him on the trade block ahead of November’s deadline, but there is a chance that he can find a new lead back – or at least one that gives a bona fide competitive push to Swift and Monangai.
Rico Dowdle Makes Sense For The Bears
So in this trade proposal, the Bears make a trade for Carolina Panthers backup running back, Rico Dowdle.
Dowdle came over from the Dallas Cowboys this past offseason, where he managed 1,079 yards rushing in his first season as the RB1. However, the Cowboys were not keen on retaining him, and instead the Panthers signed him to a modest one year, $2.75 million deal, with incentives that could get him up past the $6 million figure in 2025.
But the ex-Cowboy is very much RB2 in Carolina, behind Chuba Hubbard – who was signed to a four year extension last November.
In this proposal, the Dowdle has the opportunity to see not only get more attempts rushing, and eventually take over as the starter, but to operate in an offense filled with far more high-quality skill weapons, operated by offensive guru, Ben Johnson.
The South Carolina alum has not managed to eclipse 10 carries this season, and his efficiency metrics are way down from last season, going from 4.6 yards per carry in 2024, to 3.0 over the past four games.
Yet, how much of that is down to the crumbling offense, rather than Dowdle’s change in ability is certainly worth noting – especially since he is still just 27 years of age.
Behind the Bears’ interior offensive line that, at least on paper, has talent – and with one of the most respected up-and-coming offensive minds in the business in Ben Johnson, Dowdle could return to being a 1,000 yard + rusher, and finally give quarterback, Caleb Williams, his outlet in the ground game that the team have so desperately needed.
Chicago Bears receive: Rico Dowdle, 2026 seventh round pick
Carolina Panthers receive: 2026 fifth round pick
Chiefs HC Andy Reid Delivers Message to Patrick Mahomes After Making History
Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid has watched quarterback Patrick Mahomes set a slew of NFL records during his tenure with the team, including a big milestone in Sunday’s win over the Baltimore Ravens.
Mahomes became the youngest player in NFL history to reach 250 touchdown passes — while also becoming the fastest to do it in his career. Reid shared a message for his franchise quarterback after the game, sharing his amazement at the feat.
Andy Reid Shares Praise for Patrick Mahomes
After the Chiefs struggled on offense through their first three games of the season, dropping to 1-2, Mahomes got them out to a fast start on Sunday. He threw touchdown passes on two of the team’s first four drives, the second one giving him 250 for his career.
Mahomes — who just turned 30 earlier in the month — became the youngest player in league history to reach that mark as well as the fastest (116 career games). He beat out Aaron Rodgers, who held both records before Sunday.
Speaking to reporters after the game, Reid said Mahomes deserves all the accolades for setting the record.
“It’s phenomenal. That’s incredible,” Reid said, via SI.com. “Whatever you write good about him, he deserves, man, let me tell you. You can give him everything. He’s a joker. It’s unbelievable. We’re lucky to have him.”
Mahomes finished the game completing 25-of-37 passes for 270 yards and four touchdowns, leading his team to a 37-20 win. The Chiefs quarterback said the win was a big step forward, especially after the mistakes that plagued the team through the first three games of the season.
“I’ve been proud of the guys for the way they’ve responded, getting better every week,” Mahomes said, via The Associated Press.
Chiefs Claw Back to .500 With Win Over Ravens
After starting the season 0-2, the Chiefs have put together two consecutive wins to get back to .500. Mahomes told reporters after Sunday’s game that the Chiefs knew they would be facing a challenge against the aggressive Baltimore defense and would need to respond in kind.
“When you’re playing one of the better teams in the NFL, you know you’re going to have to be a little bit more aggressive and I know their record doesn’t show, but everybody knows that’s the Baltimore Ravens, they’ve had so much success these last few years,” Mahomes said. “We had a good gameplan going in. We knew we had to raise our game and I think that we finished the game the right way.
“But it was a close game throughout until the very end there and I thought we executed at a high level in crucial situations and that’s what changes the tide of the game.”
Mahomes credited his offensive line for keeping him protected and opening up lanes for the running game.
“When they play like that, it makes my job a lot easier,” Mahomes said. “They’re starting to gel and build that chemistry that every offensive line has to do. Those young guys are getting more and more experience and they’ve played against some great defensive lines, and they’ll continue to get better and better as the year goes on, but they had a great day today and let’s build on it.”
Pro Bowl CB Rumored to Be on Trade Block, Eagles Could Show Interest: Report
The Philadelphia Eagles spent the offseason retooling their secondary, but a month into the season, injuries and inconsistency have turned it into a weekly puzzle defensive coordinator Vic Fangio has to solve.
Behind Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, the depth chart is a mashup of young players still learning on the fly and veterans who have yet to break through. With Adoree’ Jackson banged up and Jakorian Bennett on IR, Kelee Ringo has been getting more snaps, but there’s no doubt Philly could use some depth at CB.
That’s why Seattle’s Riq Woolen — a 6-foot-4 corner with freakish speed and ball skills — should absolutely be on Philly’s radar as the trade deadline creeps closer.
“With #Seahawks star CB Devon Witherspoon returning on Thursday, teams are monitoring Pro Bowl CB Riq Woolen as a possible trade target by the deadline,” Ian Rapoport wrote on X on September 28. “Woolen’s playing time has diminished, and in a contract year, teams believe he could be available.”
A Closer Look at Woolen’s Game
Woolen turned heads at the 2022 NFL Combine with a blazing 4.26-second 40-yard dash — rare speed for someone his size. Drafted by Seattle in the fifth round that spring, the converted UTSA wide receiver immediately carved out a starting job in the secondary.
As a rookie in 2022, Woolen started all 17 games, racking up 63 tackles (46 solo), 16 passes defended and six interceptions — one returned for a touchdown — tying for the league lead in picks. He also returned a blocked punt for a score that year.
The breakout earned him a Pro Bowl nod and PFWA All-Rookie honors while helping Seattle reach the playoffs. He followed up in 2023 with 16 games (15 starts), posting 53 tackles, 11 pass breakups and two interceptions along with a pair of fumble recoveries.
In 2024, Woolen remained a fixture, starting 14 times in 15 appearances and adding 46 tackles, 14 passes defended, three interceptions and a forced fumble.
Now in his second season leading the Seahawks, head coach Mile Macdonald and his staff have no loyalty to Woolen, which could make him an odd man out very soon.
Should the Philadelphia Eagles try to Trade for Seahawks CB Riq Woolen?
Pairing Woolen with Mitchell would let Fangio lean into more press-match concepts while freeing DeJean to move between nickel, safety, and pressure looks. That flexibility disappears when depth pieces like Ringo are forced into every-down duty. Adding Woolen would restore balance and keep the Eagles’ scheme as multiple as Fangio likes it.
Financially, it’s also doable. Woolen carries a modest 2025 cap hit around $5.4 million — a number the Eagles can absorb easily. The young DB is also entering a contract year, so GM Howie Roseman could treat the final stretch as a test drive: if Woolen thrives, Philly could extend him before free agency; if not, they can let him walk.
So, what might it take to trade for Woolen? A Day 3 pick with a conditional sweetener tied to playing time or interceptions might be enough.
It remains to be seen whether the Seahawks will move him, but usually, where there’s smoke, there’s fire. We’ll see if Roseman is interested in bringing him aboard.
