Antone Smith Signs with Chicago Bears, Jacquizz Rodgers Placed on IR

The Chicago Bears replaced one former Falcons running back with another Monday, signing Antone Smith and placing Jacquizz Rodgers on season-ending injured reserve.

Bears coach John Fox said Rodgers suffered an arm fracture in Sunday's 18-17 win over the Kansas City Chiefs. Rodgers, 25, signed a one-year contract with Chicago after spending his first four NFL seasons in Atlanta. He carried the ball 14 times for 41 yards and made one reception for 10 yards through the first five weeks.

Smith, 30, is coming off a six-year stint in Atlanta, where he emerged as a special teams maven. While he has just 29 carries and 15 receptions to his name, Smith was a mainstay with the Falcons before being released in September in an injury settlement. The Florida State product suffered a hamstring injury in camp and was recovering from a broken leg suffered in 2014. 

The Bears will likely look for Smith to fill a special teams-heavy role rather than actually carrying the ball. Rookie Jeremy Langford and second-year back Ka'Deem Carey should compete for the primary backup role behind Matt Forte. Langford has the inside track, already carrying the ball 10 times for 24 yards this season. Carey is yet to receive a carry.

Adding Smith will lessen (if not eliminate) the need for Langford and Carey to risk themselves on special teams. Overall, though, Smith's signing is unlikely to do much to help or hurt the Bears as they continue digging themselves out of their early-season struggles. 

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