D'Andre Swift: Practices Fully Thursday, Poised for Key Role with Bears

D'Andre Swift (hip) was a full participant in Thursday's practice. The Chicago Bears signed Swift to a three-year, $24 million contract ($15.3 million guaranteed) in free agency, aiming to make him the centerpiece of their running game. Swift excelled as the primary runner for Philadelphia in 2023, surpassing 1,000 rushing yards for the first time in his four NFL seasons. The Bears' improved offense and a backfield lacking other players with Swift's talent and versatility suggest he has a real chance to earn a three-down role in 2024. While his talent is well-demonstrated, a major limitation has been his volume capacity, with 2023 being his first season exceeding 151 carries or 512 snaps. His previous years in Detroit were impacted by nagging injuries, raising questions about his ability to handle a full workload. He had 2,878 total yards and 25 TDs in 40 games for the Lions, averaging 7.7 yards per catch and 4.6 per carry. Despite past durability concerns, Swift is expected to approach his volume limit in 2024 and needs to hold off Kenneth Gainwell.