The Chicago Bears head into their pivotal Week 16 clash with the Green Bay Packers with a mix of encouraging returns and expected absences-but the headline is clear: D’Andre Swift is active and ready to go.
After a week of uncertainty due to a lingering groin injury, Swift will suit up, just as reports had suggested earlier in the day. That’s a major boost for a Bears offense looking to control tempo and keep pressure off its quarterback in what’s shaping up to be the biggest game of the season.
Swift will share the backfield load with rookie Kyle Monangai, who’s been earning more touches in recent weeks. That one-two punch gives Chicago a versatile ground game to lean on in a must-win divisional showdown.
The official inactive list confirms that wide receivers Luther Burden III and Rome Odunze will not play-no surprise there, as both had already been ruled out ahead of Sunday. That leaves the Bears a bit thin at wideout, which could force the offense to lean more heavily on tight ends and the running backs in the passing game.
On the defensive side, there’s good news: linebacker Tremaine Edmunds is back. Activated from injured reserve earlier in the day, Edmunds is expected to slide right back into the starting lineup alongside T.J.
Edwards. That duo gives Chicago a strong presence in the middle of the field, with D’Marco Jackson and Noah Sewell providing depth in the rotation.
Also inactive for Chicago are linebacker Ruben Hyppolite II, quarterback Case Keenum, linebacker Amen Ogbongbemiga, and defensive lineman Jonathan Ford.
This game is more than just another chapter in the Bears-Packers rivalry-it’s the most meaningful game Chicago has played in five years. With first place in the NFC North on the line, every snap counts.
The Bears have their top running back and one of their defensive leaders back on the field. Now it’s about execution, composure, and seizing the moment.
Chicago’s playoff hopes-and perhaps its identity as a team on the rise-are riding on what happens next.