Bears add competition at running back

The Bears added a little variety to their backfield Tuesday by signing unrestricted free agent Jacquizz Rodgers to a one-year deal.

The 5-foot-6, 188-pound former Atlanta Falcon is expected to compete for playing time with Ka'Deem Carey behind workhorse running back Matt Forte, who rushed for 1,038 yards on 266 carries and caught 102 passes for 808 yards last season.

Like Forte, "The Quizz" is an excellent receiving option out of the backfield. And, since he just turned 25, Rogers is significantly younger than Forte, who will be 30 in December, which is old for an NFL running back.

Rodgers also has a lot more tread left on his tires than Forte, who has 2,260 touches in seven seasons with the Bears but shows few signs of wear or declining ability.

In the four seasons since the Falcons drafted the versatile Rodgers out of Oregon State in the fifth round (145th overall), he has 155 receptions for 1,104 yards (7.1-yard average). He also has rushed for 1,116 yards on 305 carries (3.7-yard average) and returned 49 kickoffs for 1,177 yards, a 24.0-yard average.

In each of his three seasons at Oregon State, Rodgers rushed for more than 1,100 yards for a total of 3,877 on 788 attempts (4.9-yard average). He also caught 152 passes.

While Rodgers is undersized and has only average speed for a running back, he has missed just one game in his career and possesses excellent quickness, agility and change of direction.

Carey, at 5-10 and 207, is more capable of handling a heavy load like Forte. Carey saw only limited action last season as a rookie, after being drafted in the fourth round out of Arizona. But he averaged 4.4 yards per carry, a half-yard better than Forte.

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