Could Bears turn to Montee Ball at RB?

With Matt Forte’s right knee injured — though, coach John Fox said Monday, not severely enough to warrant surgery or a season-ending diagnosis — the Bears could need another running back sooner than later.

Former Bronco Montee Ball could be an option, ESPN’s Chris Mortensen wrote Monday. The former Heisman Trophy finalist at Wisconsin played for Fox in Denver in 2013-14. He started three games last year, finished on Injured Reserve and totaled only 55 carries for 172 yards. He was waived this preseason.

He does, however, know Adam Gase’s offense.

Be it Ball or someone else, the Bears seem likely to investigate the running back market if they feel Forte will miss a game. Jeremy Langford is penciled in as the team’s starter, but those behind him are questionable. Ka’Deem Carey doesn’t have a touch this season and has been a healthy scratch in more than half the team’s games. Antone Smith played in his first game Sunday, but has not taken a carry in Gase’s attack. He’s had to learn the system, which is word based, after playing in a numbers based system in Atlanta.

The only rusher on the practice squad is Paul Lasike, a rookie who played at BYU after starring as a rugby player.

Follow me on Twitter @patrickfinley

Email: pfinley@suntimes.com