D’Andre Swift was a full participant in practice for the Chicago Bears on Wednesday, but then Thursday’s injury report dropped a bombshell: he was a complete DNP with a knee injury, throwing a huge wrench into their Week 4 plans against the New York Jets. This mid-week addition to the report is sparking some serious concern about his availability, and man, it’s a gut punch for a team trying to keep pace in the NFC North.
From Full Go to Full Stop, What Happened?
You see a guy practicing fully one day, you figure things are solid, right? Not so fast for Swift and the Bears. While other players like Grady Jarrett and Joe Thuney also went from full participation Wednesday to DNP on Thursday, the team was quick to clarify those were “not injury-related” and only for rest reasons. Swift’s DNP? No such luck. That “knee injury” tag is hanging out there without any sugar coating, and it’s exactly why fans are already getting that knot in their stomach. A true DNP after being cleared the day before is never a good sign, especially when you’ve got a crucial matchup coming up.
Why This Hits So Hard Against the Jets
Let’s be real, the Bears are 2-1 and trying to stay within striking distance of the 3-0 Minnesota Vikings. This isn’t the week you want key guys going down. Losing Swift, even with Kyle Monangai being a trustworthy lead back, would be a massive blow to this offense. Think about it: Caleb Williams is likely out, meaning either Case Keenum or Tyson Bagent will be under center. Those guys need all the help they can get, and a reliable running back like Swift is HUGE for taking pressure off a backup QB. The Jets aren’t some pushover team anymore, either. Their offense isn’t in bad shape, and their defense has shown flashes this year. There’s a legitimate chance they could beat the Bears in Week 4, and taking Swift out of the equation certainly makes that hill a whole lot steeper.
So, while nobody should be hitting the panic button yet on Swift’s season, this mid-week injury report is a seriously worrying sign for his chances to play this Sunday. The Bears need every advantage they can get against the Jets to keep their early-season momentum, and not having Swift out there would definitely put a dent in that. Fingers crossed we get better news, because the Bears could really use their star back on the field.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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