Packers reportedly expressing interest in Matt Forte

Now that the Chicago Bears have made it clear that they want nothing further to do with Matt Forte, could he possibly be headed to one of their big-time divisional rivals?

According to a report by Adam Schefter of ESPN on Tuesday, the Green Bay Packers are “expressing interest” in the free agent running back.

Packers expressing interest in Bears free-agent RB Matt Forte, per source.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 8, 2016

The 30-year-old Forte, who announced on Instagram last month that the Bears would not be re-signing him, rushed for 898 yards and four touchdowns over 13 games for Chicago in 2015.

Packers backup running back James Starks is a free agent and the presence of former Bears teammate Julius Peppers on the Green Bay roster beckons for Forte. With Forte on the back nine of his career, if he wants to join a contender, the Packers are about as safe a bet as any. Forte makes sense for Green Bay since he can make an impactful contribution in both their ground game and their passing game and is surprisingly durable (just eight missed games over his last eight seasons).

Still, Forte would have to be open to splitting carries with Eddie Lacy, much like he had to do in Chicago last season with rookie Jeremy Langford. Perhaps this is just Green Bay sending another, more subtle message to Lacy to get his act together?

Whatever the case may be, as a longtime bellcow back now on the wrong side of 30, Forte probably isn’t commanding top dollar from any team. A chance to compete on the Packers and stick it to the Bears in their own division might be as good of an opportunity as any.

H/T ProFootballTalk