The Chicago Bears are currently listing running back Kyle Monangai week-to-week with a knee injury leaving questions about what his status for Week 1 might be. Chicago is understandably going to be hopeful that their impressive backfield tandem can be ready for the regular season, but cannot afford impatience with the easy first two weeks of the regular season. The Bears are slated to open the year against a Carolina Panthers team that was in the bottom half of the league and shouldn't be able to slow D'Andre Swift.
Chicago has two very winnable games to start the year and can afford to let Monangai rest and save his legs for when the season matters most. Not only do you have the stability of Swift, but Caleb Williams is expected to take another leap and has a wealth of targets that neither Carolina nor the Minnesota Vikings should be able to slow down in the first two weeks of the regular season.
With this in mind, Johnson and Chicago's coaching staff must take a long-term approach looking at the big picture and understanding the importance of Monangai. While Swift is the unquestioned starter it is a two-headed monster the gives the offense such elite balance and allows Williams to be at his best.
There shouldn't be any urgency to force this duo to start the season understanding its importance later in the year. If there is value in having Monangai rest for the first week or two of the regular season the Bears shouldn't hesitate to make this decision.
Bears shouldn't hesitate to protect Kyle Monangai with early-season slate offering easy path
If Chicago isn't able to win each of their first two games without the backup on the field there is something far more alarming going wrong. No question, the priority should be health and understanding the difficult matchups ahead and the NFC North battle with the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions.
Monangai is a tone-setter needed off the bench for these big moments to take pressure off Williams and offer a clear level of physicality. Chicago owes it to the franchise to understand this and realize the only decision is to bench Monangai if there is any level of concern that the injury isn't healed or putting the rusher on the field is a danger.
Swift and Williams can both shoulder a bit heavier of a load in the first two weeks of the season understanding the goal would be to have your duo healthy for a Week 3 primetime clash against the Philadelphia Eagles. No question, this is the decision the Bears must make in Week 1 if there is even a bit of doubt around Monangai's health.
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