RB Curtis Brinkley to Bears, Pending Physical

According to the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Chicago Bears will sign free agent running back Curtis Brinkley Monday afternoon, pending a passed physical.

Brinkley, 27, was released by the Chargers at the end of last season. He did have some upside as a backup to Ryan Mathews and Mike Tolbert a couple of seasons ago, but now is clearly expendable.

The criticism of Brinkley is that he can catch balls out of the backfield but struggles when rushing the pigskin. He likely won’t challenge for anything more than the third-string back at best with Armando Allen‘s injury.

And as if it was meant to be, Brinkley’s first game in a Bears uniform will appropriately be against San Diego this Thursday night at Soldier Field.