Roschon Johnson got his shot in the Bears backfield on Sunday, and he made enough of it to keep the conversation going.
With Kyle Monangai unavailable behind D'Andre Swift, Johnson was the next man up when Chicago needed to close out its Week 6 win over the Atlanta Falcons. The Bears had come out strong, then nearly let the game slip late, and the short turnaround before Thursday night against the New England Patriots made the late-game approach even more important. When Chicago shifted into clock-killing mode, Johnson was the back who handled the load.
He finished with 13 carries for 51 yards and a touchdown, his first since November of 2024. On the final play, he even had a chance to add another score, but he slid down short to help run out the clock and secure the win. By the time the Bears were done, Johnson had also outgained Swift before Swift was pulled.
Not everything was clean. Johnson also put the ball on the ground late, and that fumble gave the Falcons life in their fourth-quarter push. It was Chicago’s only turnover of the day.
Still, the Bears have been leaning on the running back duo setup coach Johnson prefers, and Johnson’s performance came at a time when the door was already cracked open. Monangai’s status is unsettled after he was listed as a non participant in Monday’s virtual walkthrough, which doesn’t point toward an easy return on a short week.
If Monangai is still out on Thursday, Johnson could get another chance. Swift is expected to handle most of the workload, but this offense has shown it works best when two backs are active and involved. Johnson still has to prove he can hold onto the opportunity, and the fumble didn’t help his case.
Thursday should say more about him than Sunday did. The Bears now have a clearer idea of how he fits: protect Williams, help move the chains, and don’t give the ball away. If he does that, a temporary opening might start looking a lot more real.
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