The Chicago Bears have turned the page over to Week 10 and are gearing up for a contest against the New York Giants at the friendly confines of Soldier Field.
Running back D'Andre Swift missed last week's game with a groin injury, but it appears that he'll be back in action. Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune posted that Swift was a full participant on Thursday, along with Kyle Monangai (ankle).
With it appearing that Swift will return to the lineup, the Bears now have a big decision to make regarding the breakdown of carries in the backfield.
D’Andre Swift Was a Full Participant on Thursday for Bears
When Swift was sidelined against the Bengals, Monangai took the lion's share of snaps, playing in 74% of the snaps. He finished with 176 rushing yards and 22 receiving yards. The Rutgers product showed a ton of potential in that outing and opened the door to getting more snaps.
After a dominant showing like that, the Bears will look to get him more action. Head coach Ben Johnson added that he is confident in every playmaker on the team and hopes that it sparked some competition.
That comment can easily be taken as a vote of confidence for the rookies Monangai and Colston Loveland, who had breakout performances last week. Nonetheless, there's no way that Swift won't be incorporated.
This season, the Georgia product is leading the team in rushing yards (464) and rushing touchdowns (4). Before missing the contest against the Bengals, Swift had gone over 100 rushing yards in two of his last three games.
In addition, Swift has logged more than 50% of the offensive snaps in six games this season. Meanwhile, Monangai has seen his snaps increase, playing in at least 45% of the snaps in three consecutive outings.
Having a 1-2 punch in the NFL is massive and was a recipe for success during Johnson's tenure as offensive coordinator with the Detroit Lions. This is definitely a bonus for the offense as a whole and Johnson as a playcaller.
A more balanced rushing attack will help take pressure off Caleb Williams and the passing game. It'll also keep both running backs fresher throughout the contest, but no player wants to see the ball come his way less. Even if Swift gets the majority of the snaps, Monangai will still get involved.
There may even be a point when the offense chooses to ride the hot hand, and that could feature either running back. There's no clear answer right now, but this will be something to watch for in Week 10.