Chicago Bears RB Khalil Herbert was just starting to flourish for fantasy football managers before an ankle injury caused him to miss multiple weeks. After three games, fantasy managers are starting to wonder when the Bears’ running back may return.
Let’s take a look at the latest injury update for Herbert, when he could return, and what it means for his fantasy value.
Latest Injury Update on Khalil Herbert
Since Herbert was placed on injured reserve ahead of Week 6, we haven’t heard much of an update on his ankle injury. Herbert suffered a high ankle sprain in the 40-20 victory over the Washington Commanders on Thursday Night Football in Week 5. We then found out that weekend that he would likely miss significant time.
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The Bears placed Herbert on IR around a week later, confirming they would be without him for at least a month. We should get an injury update next week when Herbert could potentially return to practice. It seems unlikely we will hear anything significant before that — unless Herbert suffers a setback.
The usual timeframe for a high ankle sprain is in the three to four-week region, so Herbert should be close to returning.
When Can Herbert Return?
Herbert is eligible to return in Week 10. Being placed on IR means that a player must miss a minimum of four games. Herbert has already missed three, meaning that Week 9 will be the last mandated absence.
As soon as Chicago returns to practice ahead of Week 10, Herbert will be eligible to return. We should get an idea if he can suit up by Wednesday of next week.
Assuming we don’t get an update from head coach Matt Eberflus before that, Wednesday is when the Bears will be able to designate Herbert to return from IR. That opens a 21-day window for him to be activated to the 53-man roster.
Chicago has no deadline to designate Herbert to return. They don’t even have to bring him back this year. However, once they designate him to return, the clock starts ticking. If the Bears do not activate Herbert inside that 21-day window, he must remain on IR for the remainder of the season.
Herbert’s Fantasy Value for 2023
Just before the injury, Herbert had come into his own for fantasy managers. In those last two games, he had carried the ball 28 times for 179 yards. He also added 19 receiving yards on four receptions from eight targets.
That two-game span saw him average 9.9 fantasy points per game in non-PPR scoring and 11.9 fantasy points per game in PPR.
In the first three games of the season, Herbert had struggled. He had totaled just 93 rushing yards and 64 receiving yards on six receptions. That left him averaging 5.23 fantasy points per game in non-PPR and 7.23 fantasy ppg in PPR. Unfortunately, just as he turned it around, is when he got hurt.
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In Herbert’s absence, D’Onta Foreman stepped up in one game, but the others have been a messy backfield situation. We have no idea how this situation will look when Herbert returns. Before he was hurt, he had been working as the starter, with Roschon Johnson as the backup and Foreman inactive.
Foreman’s monster performance in Week 7 may have changed that equation, though. The role Herbert is now walking back into is unclear. Fantasy managers could test the market now to see if others are willing to pay for Herbert as a clear starter. If so, it may be worth making the move.
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