A strong run game has been Bears quarterback Caleb Williams’ best friend this season, albeit an unreliable one.
Friday, it got worse.
The Bears ruled out running back D’Andre Swift, who has battled a groin injury for weeks, for Sunday’s game in Cincinnati. Rookie Kyle Monangai will start in his place.
The injury puts even more of an onus on Williams to run the Bears’ offense efficiently — and to be dangerous through the air.
“When the run game’s working well it opens up the pass game,” Monangai said. “When the pass game’s working well, the run game does the same. Everything’s complementary, and we’re just trying to get both of them going.”
Swift, who has never missed a game as a member of the Bears, didn’t practice all week because of the groin injury. He missed one day per week leading up to the Bears’ last two games with the same malady, saying he felt pain during the win against the Commanders.
This week, though, the injury became less about maintenance.
“A little bit for us is, we got to protect him from himself too,” coach Ben Johnson said. “We talked early in training camp that at some point this season, you’re not going to be feeling good. You got to be able to play at a high level, despite being 80, 85% of how you normally feel, and he’s at that spot right now. So I think he’s gonna pay dividends for us down the stretch here.”
The Bears also ruled out receiver Luther Burden (concussion), running back Roschon Johnson (back) and defensive end Dominique Robinson (ankle). Tight end Cole Kmet and cornerback Tyrique Stevenson, who missed last week’s game with back and shoulder injuries, respectively, will play.
Monangai, a seventh-round rookie from Rutgers, has 42 carries for 186 yards this year. In the last two games, though, he’s run 20 times for 105. He and special teamer Travis Homer are the only two running backs on the active roster, but the Bears figure to promote Brittain Brown from the practice squad on Saturday. If Swift’s injury lingers, the Bears could look for depth before Tuesday’s trade deadline.
Monangai is used to a heavy workload, though. Only five college running backs ran more often than his 607 carries from 2022-24.
“My mission in a way is to tire the defense out, to try to get them to not want to tackle me anymore, the way I’m attacking them downhill,” he said. “It allows me to feel the game better. Eventually once I get a feel for what they’re doing that day and who I can attack more and what I can do, I feel like I get better as it gets going.”