As expected, the Bears on Saturday activated running back Khalil Herbert off injured reserve in advance of Sunday's game against the Lions in Detroit.
Herbert was a full participant in practice all week after missing the last five games with an ankle injury. Starting the first five contests this year, he rushed for 272 yards on 51 carries and caught 10 passes for 83 yards and one TD.
"I feel like I'm right back where I was," Herbert said. "I had five weeks off. I've just been getting my body right, getting my mind right and I'm feeling good."
It's unclear how the Bears will divide playing time among Herbert and fellow running backs D'Onta Foreman and Roschon Johnson.
"[Herbert] has been strong, really strong during practice and we like where he is," said coach Matt Eberflus. "If he is on a pitch count, we feel great about Foreman, Roschon, we feel great about those guys carrying the load or carrying part of the duty. But Herbert's looked really well this week."
Herbert might share carries with Foreman, who excelled during Herbert's absence, rushing for at least 80 yards in three of the last four games.
"We find that balance by the production as we go and the flow of the game," Eberflus said. "We'll certainly have a plan for that in terms of reps, but tactically you look and see, 'OK, who's hot, who's running it the right way.'
"It's our job to get both guys involved because they've both played well. Certainly, Khalil played really well when he was in there, and D'Onta coming in there has done very nice for us. Different style of runners, which I think is cool, to be able to throw that at a defense. It's always hard to defend against different types and they both run the same type of runs, which is also pretty neat. It's a fortunate thing to have."
The Bears on Saturday also flexed linebackers Micah Baskerville and DeMarquis Gates from the practice squad. Baskerville, an undrafted rookie from LSU, has appeared in two games this season, playing exclusively on special teams. Gates has played in four contests with the Bears, three last year and one this season.
