The Denver Broncos have long been known for their legacy of talented running backs, and former third-round pick (No. 71 overall in 2018) Royce Freeman is part of that history. Recently, Freeman joined the Chicago Bears’ practice squad on December 11.
While Freeman hasn’t yet seen game action with his new team, he’s been keeping tabs on his former one. The Broncos’ strong season has brought a smile to his face.
“I’ve seen many people, man, playing in this league – coaches and players alike,” Freeman told Clocker Sports on December 18. “Sometimes you can’t keep track, you’re bouncing around so much. But when I see a familiar face, man, it’s great. Because I know how much the game means to a lot of the guys. And to see them keep going definitely gives me more energy, more juice.”
Several of Freeman’s former teammates remain with the Broncos, including Courtland Sutton and Garett Bolles. During Freeman’s tenure in Denver, the team never managed more than seven wins. His time overlapped with former head coach Vic Fangio and running back Melvin Gordon, who led the team in rushing during Freeman’s final season with the Broncos.
Fast forward to 2024: the Broncos boast a 9-5 record heading into Week 16 and have a 92% chance of making the playoffs, according to NFL.com’s postseason outlook as of December 18.
Royce Freeman’s Career Shift After Injury
Freeman started the first eight games of his rookie season under the Broncos’ defensive coordinator-turned-head coach at the time. However, an ankle injury sidelined him, and he lost his starting role to Phillip Lindsay, who now co-hosts “The Drive” on 104.3 The Fan in Denver. Freeman didn’t regain his starting position until the season finale. Over those first eight games, Freeman showcased his potential, rushing for 309 yards and scoring four touchdowns on 71 carries.
Since then, Freeman has amassed 1,792 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns on 471 carries over five seasons. However, he’s started just one of the 65 games he’s played since losing his starting role in Denver. He was cut in 2021 to make room on the roster, leading to a journeyman career.
Freeman has since spent time with multiple teams, including the Carolina Panthers, Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans, and Los Angeles Rams. Most recently, he rushed for 319 yards on 77 carries with the Rams during the 2023 season.
Embracing Versatility
The Chicago Bears, currently 4-10 and enduring an eight-game losing streak, already have established backs in D’Andre Swift and Roschon Johnson. They also rely on emergency options like Travis Homer and Darrynton Evans. Despite the crowded backfield, Freeman is eager to contribute in any way possible.
Reflecting on his growth since his rookie year, Freeman credited his time with the Broncos for teaching him versatility.
“Rookie Royce Freeman [was] very, very green, obviously, coming into the league and everything,” he said. “Diving more, I guess, into honing my skills, I’d say. Definitely adding more to my repertoire. So as much as I’ve played along the years, I’ve added many things, like I said, going from starting back to a third-down presence of a back and special teams; definitely in Denver.”
This adaptability has helped him carve out a place in the league.
“Adding those to my game definitely, I feel like, helped and kept me along in the league this far,” Freeman added.
Freeman emphasized his versatility as a key asset when discussing what he could bring to the Bears’ backfield. He’s still familiarizing himself with the playbook after joining just days before their Week 15 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
With three games remaining in the season, Freeman might get a chance to demonstrate his value and prove he’s ready for a bigger role.
