The Chicago Bears are entering the Ben Johnson era, which means that everybody has the chance to make a first impression. Veterans who have been on the roster for years have been feeling the pressure as Johnson has brought his intense approach to Chicago, and rookies that were taken in April’s draft are also feeling the hot seat getting warmer.
That includes a late-round pick that many had high expectations for but has already found himself on the roster bubble. With his job in jeopardy, he can’t slack off as he prepares for his first season and could lose his job before ever playing a game with the team.
Bears RB Kyle Monangai on Thin Ice Ahead of Training Camp
The Bears selected running back Kyle Monangai in the seventh round of April’s draft, but many believed he could make an immediate impact in Johnson’s offense. Monangai was a workhorse for the Scarlet Knights, toting the ball 498 times over his final two seasons. He was productive with those touches, running for 2,541 yards, 5.1 yards per carry, and 21 touchdowns.
With a rugged running style, some believed Monangai could take over the same role that David Montgomery has in Johnson’s offense in Detroit, where the former Bear racked up 25 rushing touchdowns over the past two seasons. Monangai’s 4.39 relative athletic score was also similar to the 5.16 RAS Montgomery put up during his pre-draft process, but he hasn’t proven to be the same player during offseason workouts.
Laurence Holmes of 670 The Score speculated on Monangai’s chances of making the team out of the Bears’ offseason program and admitted he “wouldn’t be shocked” if the 23-year-old was cut ahead of the start of the season.
“I’m not as fascinated with Kyle Monangai as everyone else is,” Holmes said on the “Spiegel & Holmes” show on June 18. "I wouldn’t be shocked if he got cut... That doesn’t mean he won’t get re-signed, but seventh-round picks get cut. And there are also other cuts that go on in the NFL where they might go, ‘Oh – that guy that just got cut from New England would be a really good fit for what we do.'"
The good news for Monangai is that there isn’t a lot of direct competition on the depth chart. Roschon Johnson is coming off a tough season, and Travis Horner projects more of a special-teams contributor. But if Monangai doesn’t show anything during training camp, he could wind up on the practice squad or looking for a new team by the time this season rolls around.