The Chicago Bears got the kind of injury update they were hoping to avoid on Kyle Monangai.
Monangai left Sunday’s practice after getting tangled up with Bears defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, and while he was able to walk off the field, the team still waited on an MRI to get the full picture. ESPN NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler later reported that Monangai suffered a hyperextended knee injury and is expected to miss multiple weeks. The Bears viewed the MRI as a positive, but the news still puts him on the shelf for a stretch.
It’s the second injury Monangai has dealt with after the soft-tissue issue he picked up at the start of training camp, and the timing is far from ideal. His absence now threatens his availability for the Bears’ Week 1 matchup against the Carolina Panthers.
Monangai’s injury adds to an already crowded camp injury list that has included Coby Bryant and Luther Burden III.
Last season, Monangai ran for 783 yards and five touchdowns in his rookie year. A seventh-round pick, he made an early impression and eventually beat out Roschon Johnson for the backup job.
With Monangai out, the Bears’ depth chart at running back suddenly looks wide open again. Johnson and Salvon Ahmed had been fighting for the third-string role, and both could now wind up on the roster with a chance to contribute.
Johnson led the Bears in rushing during their 34-10 preseason win over the Cleveland Browns, while Ahmed provided a spark with a 49-yard touchdown catch.
For a team that has already leaned on Monangai as a strong complement to D’Andre Swift’s speed, the setback is a tough one. The Bears now have to regroup and sort through their running back options over the next two weeks.
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