General manager Ryan Poles and the Chicago Bears are in an interesting spot heading into the NFL trade deadline.

Two weeks ago, the team was 4-2 with very real playoff aspirations and a chance to make crucial improvements to the offensive line and pass rush. It’s possible Poles still decides to make a move to bolster the protection for Caleb Williams ahead of Tuesday’s 3 p.m. CST deadline, but after losses to the Washington Commanders and Arizona Cardinals, the Bears are in a much different position at 4-4.

In two weeks, storylines have shifted from, “Which elite pass rusher or guard could Poles push to acquire” to “Has head coach Matt Eberflus lost the locker room”.

The reality of the Bears’ situation is that they’re unlikely to make a big splash on deadline day. But in a worse position last season, Poles acquired Montez Sweat from the Commanders ahead of the deadline, which immediately improved the all-around performance of the Bears’ defense.

Maybe Chicago finds a deal that makes sense in the long run, but teams aren’t lining up to trade away above-average linemen, either.

Khalil Herbert traded to Cincinnati Bengals

[7:47 a.m.] The Bears are sending running back Khalil Herbert to the Cincinnati Bengals in exchange for a 2025 seventh-round pick.

Herbert, a fourth-year player out of Kansas and Virginia Tech, hadn’t received much work in Chicago this season, posting just 16 yards on eight carries. The former sixth-rounder was inactive for Chicago’s last two games, and his role with the offense had been non-existent since Week 4.

Herbert was drafted by Ryan Pace in 2021, and from his rookie year through last season, picked up 1775 yards on the ground on 364 carries. His 4.87 yards per carry made him a key piece of Chicago’s backfield, but Poles’ free agency acquisition of D’Andre Swift last March moved Herbert down the depth chart. His shortcomings as a pass protector and reliable receiver made it tough for the 26-year-old to carve out a role outside of special teams coverage.

For Cincinnati, running back Zack Moss will be sidelined “indefinitely” according to head coach Zac Taylor after sustaining a neck injury against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday. Moss split carries with second-year back Chase Brown, so Herbert figures to receive a healthy share of the load until Moss can return.

Chicago Bears’ upcoming draft capital

2025 NFL Draft: (8)

• 1st round
• 2nd round
• 2nd round – via Carolina
• 3rd round
• 5th round
• 6th round – via Pittsburgh (can become 4th if Justin Fields plays 51% of Steelers’ offensive snaps in 2024
• 7th round – via Cleveland
• 7th round – via Cincinnati

2026 NFL Draft: (7)

• 1st round
• 2nd round
• 3rd round
• 4th round
• 5th round
• 6th round
• 7th round