The Chicago Bears finally caught a big break with their injury situation. The injury bug stung Ben Johnson's team pretty badly earlier in training camp, but the team is trending in the right direction ahead of Week 1.
With a road matchup with the Carolina Panthers on the horizon, Coach Johnson might have his two lead running backs on the field. As shown by CHGO Bears on X, D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai returned to practice on Monday.
The Bears didn't disclose the nature or extent of their injuries. Monangai missed more time, while Swift only missed a couple of sessions. However, watching them both on the gridiron without limitations is certainly an encouraging sign.
The Chicago Bears might lead the league in rushing in 2026
Of course, getting healthier is always positive, especially with such an intriguing matchup to kick off the season. That said, this is especially important for a team that will rely heavily on the running game in 2026.
The Bears' rushing attack got off to a quiet start to the Ben Johnson era. Then, as the offensive line got in full sync and rookie seventh-round pick Kyle Monangai got more opportunities, they crushed their opposition on the ground.
Johnson's team finished the season with the third-most rushing yards in the league (2,456), averaging a whopping 4.9 yards per carry. And judging by how he dealt with the offense with the Detroit Lions, we can certainly expect much more of that next season.
The Lions will most likely give Monangai a longer leash in year two. He'll get a more even share of the carries, not only because he's earned it, but also because Swift is older and entering the final year of his contract. He and the team have said all the right things about extending their partnership, but nothing is official until they put pen to paper.
The Bears have also talked about wanting to make life easier for Caleb Williams, and establishing the run is the best way to do so. They want him to take fewer risks and be better at the little things, and with opposing defenses having to pick their poison, the running back tandem might actually be the offense's MVPs.
With no injury designation and no limitations in practice, we should now fully expect Swift and Monangai to work their magic when this team hits the road to take down Dave Canales' squad. Finally, some good news on the injury front.
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