Bears camp: Team adds RB depth

The Bears signed rookie running back Napoleon Maxwell.

New Hampshire v Florida International — FIU’s Napoleon Maxwell runs for a touchdown against New Hampshire last year.

Down to only three healthy running backs — plus Cordarrelle Patterson — after David Montgomery’s groin injury, the Bears added a rookie rusher Monday morning.

They signed Napoleon Maxwell, who spent part of the offseason on their roster before being cut when the team whittled its roster from 90 to 80 players. In four years at FIU, he ran 392 times for 2,090 yards and 22 touchdowns.

To make room, the Bears put cornerback Michael Joseph on Injured Reserve. Joseph has been on the Bears’ practice squad since 2018, appearing in two games last year. He attended Oswego High School but never started a game, went to college at Dubuque and earned a tryout with the Bears.

The Bears will cut their roster down to 53 active roster players and — new this season — 16 practice-squadders by Saturday afternoon. They open the season Sept. 13 in Detroit.

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