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The Chicago Bears are signing former Green Bay Packers tight end Robert Tonyan and former running back D’Onta Foreman from the Carolina Panthers to one-year contracts, sources tell Adam Schefter of ESPN.
Foreman’s deal is worth $3 million, a source said.
Tonyan becomes the second key offensive player to leave the Packers in free agency, following Allen Lazard, who signed a four-year contract with the New York Jets earlier this week. The Packers are also negotiating with the Jets to trade quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who said on “The Pat McAfee Show” Wednesday that he wants to play for New York this season.
In Chicago, Tonyan joins a tight depth chart led by Cole Kmet, who had 50 receptions for 544 yards and seven touchdowns last season.
A torn ACL midway through the 2021 season slowed Tonyan, but at the end of last season he was back in shape. Even with the slow start to 2022, he caught a career-high 53 assists for the second 50-plus season in his career.
He made the most of his opportunities, catching 79.1% of his goals last season for the fourth-highest receiving percentage among tight ends.
As for Foreman, he’s the second running back Chicago has gotten this offseason, joining Travis Homer. The Bears are looking to replace David Montgomery, who has agreed to a three-year contract with the Detroit Lions.
Last year, Foreman signed a one-year contract with Carolina to help support star Christian McCaffrey. It turned into a starting job after McCaffrey was traded to the San Francisco 49ers six games into the season.
Foreman, 26, responded with 914 yards and a career-best 4.5 yards per carry. He was at his best in a season-ending game against the Lions when he rushed for 165 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries to win the NFC Offensive Player of the Week award.
He was able to keep a promise made to his father days before his father was killed in an accident involving a vehicle in October 2021.
“I told him that if I ever had another opportunity, I was going to take it and make the most of it,” Foreman said.
Foreman thought his NFL career was over after being released by the Atlanta Falcons in August 2021. Then in November, he was signed by the Tennessee Titans after star guard Derrick Henry was injured. He responded with 566 rushing yards in nine games, including three starts.
He has 2,166 total yards and 12 total touchdowns in 43 games over five NFL seasons.
ESPN’s Rob Demosky and David Newton contributed to this report.