The Bears don’t need to rush Kyle Monangai back, and the schedule gives them every reason to be patient.
Chicago is calling the running back week-to-week with a knee injury, and that immediately puts his Week 1 availability in question. But with two very manageable games to open the season, the safest path is also the smartest one: let Monangai heal if there’s any doubt at all.
That’s especially true because the Bears have other answers. D’Andre Swift is the starter, and the early part of the schedule should give him plenty of room to carry the load.
Chicago opens against a Carolina Panthers team that was in the bottom half of the league, and the expectation is that Carolina won’t be able to slow Swift. The next game, against the Minnesota Vikings, is also viewed as one the Bears can handle without forcing Monangai onto the field too soon.
The bigger picture matters here. Caleb Williams is expected to take another leap, and he has a strong group of targets around him. That means Chicago can lean on its passing game and on Swift while keeping Monangai on the sideline if needed.
Johnson and the Bears’ coaching staff need to treat this as a long-term decision, not a short-term one. Swift is the clear lead back, but Monangai gives the offense a second dimension that makes it more balanced and gives Williams more room to work. That kind of value is worth protecting.
There’s no reason to force the issue in September when the tougher stretch is still ahead. The Bears know what’s coming later in the year, including NFC North games against the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions, and they also have a Week 3 primetime matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles circled on the calendar.
If Chicago can’t win its first two games without Monangai, that points to a deeper problem. Otherwise, the decision is straightforward: protect the back, trust Swift, and keep the long view in focus.
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Bears Suddenly Have A Week 1 Worry They Couldn't Afford
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Chicago is now waiting for more information ahead of its opener against the Carolina Panthers, with the status of both players suddenly part of the conversation. Any preseason injury is worth watching, but this one lands with a little more weight because of where it hits and when it happened. The Bears had enough to sort out already, and now they are hoping the latest update does not turn into a bigger problem. [Read more 🡒]