Last summer, Chicago Bears running back Ian Wheeler captured the attention of fans of HBO’s “Hard Knocks” with his heartwarming story. He put his medical school career on pause to pursue his lifelong dream to play in the NFL.
Wheeler’s impressive speed and playmaking ability made him a dark horse contender for a roster spot. But that all came crashing down when he suffered a torn ACL in the preseason finale. “Hard Knocks” captured the moment his mother consoled him after the game, which tugged at the heartstrings of fans across the globe.
While Wheeler’s rookie season was over before it even started, he remained with the team as he rehabbed back from his injury. Now, roughly one yea alter, Wheeler is back making plays on the practice field in training camp.
In last Sunday’s preseason debut against the Miami Dolphins, Wheeler had seven carries for 20 yards. The only problem was that he had a touchdown run negated by a formation penalty on the offense. On the touchdown that didn’t count, Wheeler showed exactly what makes him special, which is his tenacity combined with his speed.
If Wheeler ever gets a chance to play in a regular-season game, which is certainly possible at this stage of the game, you may see what he looks like with a real offensive line in front of him.
Wheeler is an easy guy to root for, whether it’s his talent, his medical school journey, his comeback story or the fact that he’s just an incredible human being. Keep an eye on him as training camp and preseason progress, as he may be someone who can help the Bears win football games.
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Ian Wheeler is someone for Chicago Bears to keep an eye on as camp moves forward
Reporting by Vincent Parise, Bears Wire / Bears Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
