Kyle Monangai, the Bears’ workhorse running back, logged a monstrous 30 carries in Sunday’s 23-12 victory over the Jets, piling up 146 rushing yards and two touchdowns. But head coach Ben Johnson confirmed Wednesday that Monangai isn’t just shaking off that massive workload, he’s “feeling” every single one of those touches heading into the Packers game this weekend. Johnson straight up told reporters, via Courtney Cronin of ESPN, that Monangai “had 30 carries and he feels like he had 30 carries,” which, yeah, you can bet he does.
He Earned Every Single Yard (And Then Some)
Monangai was an absolute force on Sunday, tearing it up against the Jets’ defense for those 146 rushing yards and finding the end zone twice. That kind of production is exactly what you want from your lead back. He wasn’t just running the ball, either, he added one reception to his tally, pushing his total touches up even higher. The guy truly put the team on his back in that 23-12 win, and his effort was undeniable.
It’s Not the Thumb, It’s the Grind
While a lot of the talk around running backs often centers on injuries, Coach Johnson was clear: Monangai’s thumb injury is a non-issue. That’s good news, but it highlights the real story here. The concern isn’t some lingering health problem, it’s simply the sheer physical toll of carrying the ball 30 times in an NFL game. That kind of workload is grueling, and it’s definitely going to take a few days to recover from.
Monangai is expected to be available for this weekend’s clash against the Packers, which is a massive relief for the Bears faithful. However, Johnson hinted that the running back might get some much-needed rest during the practice week to ensure he’s as fresh as possible. The team’s first injury report of the week is set to drop later today, which will provide more insight into how they plan to manage his workload leading up to Sunday.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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