The Chicago Bears are officially without Kyle Monangai for their Thursday Night Football clash against the New England Patriots in NFL Week 7. It’s a tough break, with the running back sidelined due to thumb and toe injuries, making this his third straight game out of action. He was a no-go for practice on Monday and Tuesday, so the official ruling on Wednesday wasn’t exactly a shocker given the quick turnaround.
Monangai’s Absence Is A Real Blow To Chicago’s Ground Game
This isn’t just about losing *a* guy, it’s about losing an emerging contributor who had quickly become a significant piece of their rushing attack. We saw what Monangai could do back in Week 4 against the New York Jets, right? The dude went off for 146 yards and two touchdowns on a whopping 30 carries. That’s not just a good game, that’s a breakout performance that screamed “this guy’s legit.” Chicago, under head coach Ben Johnson, has built this whole run-heavy offensive identity, and Monangai’s physical running style and pure production was exactly what they needed alongside D’Andre Swift. Taking that kind of option out of the equation? It’s gonna sting.
Who Steps Up For The Bears Against The Patriots?
With Monangai unavailable, it means D’Andre Swift is absolutely going to be the workhorse, handling the majority of the backfield opportunities. We just saw Swift carry the load in their Week 6 win over Atlanta, logging 16 carries for 44 yards and two scores, plus snagging four catches for 26 yards. He’s proven he can produce. Behind him, Roschon Johnson is gonna keep on keeping on as the No. 2 back. Johnson has already seen an increased role while Monangai has been out, and you can bet he’ll get even more chances, especially on passing downs or if they need to rotate backs to keep fresh legs on the field.
This Thursday night game is a big one. Both the Bears and the Patriots are sitting at 4-2, so it’s one of those matchups that could really shape the early season. Monangai being out doesn’t mean Chicago scraps their entire run-heavy philosophy, but it absolutely removes a productive weapon. Swift is now one of the most critical players in their offensive game plan, and Johnson stepping into that expanded role is something you’ve gotta keep an eye on.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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