Khari Blasingame

We’re counting down the Top 25 most important Bears for the 2022 season. What makes one player more important than another? That’s subjective, of course. But for our purposes it comes down to this: Are the Bears worse off if this player can’t play? Does this player have untapped potential or past greatness to live up to? Is his story going to be one fans follow closely this season?

The Chicago Bears are expected to add some fullback to their offense. Sure, when Matt Nagy technically did not have a fullback, any fullback is more fullback. At the same time, he did use a tight end, J.P. Holtz, as a versatile player who arguably was more of a fullback than anything.

CHICAGO (CBS) -- The Bears have a fullback on their rosters for the first time since 2018, after signing Khari Blasingame to a one-year deal. Blasingame, 25, has appeared in 32 NFL games over the last three seasons with the Tennessee Titans. He caught 10 passes for 97 yards, rushed for six yards on three carries, and served as lead blocker for running back Derrick Henry. Blasingame entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent for the Minnesota Vikings in 2019. He entered Vanderbilt University as a safety in 2014, oved to linebacker as a redshirt freshman in 2015, and then became a running back the following year. "We are excited about Khari and look forward to him contributing to our team's success," Bears general manager Ryan Poles said in a news release. Blasingame adds another dimension to the running game for David Montgomery and company.

The fullback is back in Chicago. The Bears announced on Tuesday that they signed free agent Khari Blasingame to a one-year contract. Blasingame has spent the last three seasons working as Derrick Henry’s lead blocker in the Titans offense. In 2019 and 2020, Henry led the NFL in both rushing yards and rushing touchdowns. He was off to another hot start in 2021, but an injury limited him to only eight games.

Blasingame signed a one-year contract with the Bears on Tuesday, Larry Mayer of the Bears' official site reports. Blasingame was not tendered a contract by the Titans and will now join the Bears as a free agent. The 25-year-old appeared in 11 games last season, compiling six yards on three carries and two receptions for four yards on two targets. However, Blasingame's value comes as a blocker, and he helped lead the way for Derrick Henry for parts of the last three seasons, including when Henry led the league in rushing in 2019 and 2020. He'll now work to help David Montgomery gain extra yards in 2022.

The Tennessee Titans will not tender pending restricted free agent Khari Blasingame, a source with direct knowledge confirmed to The Tennessean on Tuesday night. The source spoke on the condition of anonymity, as the team has not announced the transaction. The move means Blasingame, 25, will be an unrestricted free agent.

Blasingame will become an unrestricted free agent since the Titans aren't tendering him a contract for 2022, Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com reports. Blasingame missed time with a knee injury and played only 80 offensive snaps in 11 games last season, so the Titans won't tender him a contract for the upcoming campaign. The fullback received the first carries of his three-year NFL career in 2021, rushing three times for six yards.

Blasingame (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Jaguars, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports. Blasingame returned from a four-game absence in Week 12, and he played primarily on special teams in addition to earning three rushing attempts. However, he'll now be inactive in favor of Tory Carter who has yet to log an offensive statistic this season.

Blasingame carried the ball three times for six yards in Sunday's 36-13 loss to the Patriots. Blasingame was activated from injured reserve Saturday and took the field for his season debut against New England. After failing to record a rushing attempt in 2020, Blasingame immediately got some involvement as a rusher. However, even given the Titans' injury-riddled backfield, he isn't likely to see expanded involvement in the offense moving forward.

Blasingame (knee) has been activated from injured reserve by the Titans ahead of Sunday's game versus the Patriots. Blasingame has been sidelined since Week 7. He was designated to return from IR earlier in the week and apparently proved himself worthy of activation during practice. Barring any setbacks, he will be available at fullback for the Titans.

Blasingame (knee) was designated to return from injured reserve Tuesday, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports. The 25-year-old has been inactive since Week 7, and the team now has 21 days to either activate him or place him back on IR, which would end his season. Blasingame has been used exclusively as a blocker this season, failing to record a carry over six contests in 2021.

Blasingame (knee) was placed on injured reserve Saturday, John Glennon of BroadwaySportsMedia.com reports. Blasingame was already ruled out for Sunday against the Rams after also missing Week 8 against the Colts. Tory Carter should fill in for Blasingame moving forward, but he is also questionable Sunday with a shoulder injury.