The Chicago Bears are heading into an important matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 9 that could shape their strategy ahead of next week’s trade deadline. A win over Cincinnati could give the Bears plenty of ambition to become buyers with a 5-3 record. A loss, on the other hand, would leave them sitting at .500, wondering if it’s worth the cost to dive headfirst into the trade market.
While Sunday’s game will have a big impact, so will some of the developments leading up to the contest. Injuries are the fastest way to force a general manager to react ahead of the deadline, and D’Andre Swift may have just become the fulcrum that sends Ryan Poles to start calling other teams.
According to the Bears’ official injury report, Swift did not practice for the second straight day due to a groin injury. While Swift could change his status by getting on the practice field on Friday, it’s a clear message that running back should be Chicago’s priority as they look to upgrade the team at the deadline.
D’Andre Swift’s Injury Could Push Bears Into the RB Trade Market
The ground game has been a staple of Ben Johnson’s offense dating back to his time with the Detroit Lions. But the Bears' rushing attack hasn’t been anything like the one he had with David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs. Chicago ranks 10th in the NFL with 124.6 rushing yards per game entering Week 9. However, outside of Swift, who has 464 yards, four touchdowns, and 4.6 yards per carry this season, no one else has really contributed.
Kyle Monangai was hailed as a sleeper pick as a seventh-round selection in this year's draft, but the Rutgers product has been a disappointment with 186 yards and a touchdown on 42 carries. While those stats look rough, they’re also propped up by an 81-yard performance with a touchdown against the New Orleans Saints on Oct. 19.
Roschon Johnson is further down the depth chart, but he has just two attempts for 17 yards through the first seven weeks. That usage suggests that Johnson hasn’t earned the trust of his new coaching staff and has created whispers about bolstering the back end of the depth chart. But Swift’s situation may have kicked that luxury item into a necessity.
Swift’s groin issues are nothing new, as he battled a groin ailment during the 2021 season and was listed as questionable with another groin injury for one week during the 2024 season. He was also listed as questionable over the past two weeks due to the current groin injury, but fought through it to carry the ball 30 times for 169 yards and two touchdowns.
If Swift’s groin injury isn’t getting better, it would benefit Chicago to grab some insurance. If they feel better about Monangai’s performance than the stats appear, they could roll with him as a starting running back. But it could also put them in the mix for an overall upgrade, such as Breece Hall of the New York Jets, Tony Pollard of the Tennessee Titans, or Alvin Kamara of the New Orleans Saints.
Those three options would represent a big swing by the front office to improve the running game, but it may be necessary with Swift battling a nagging injury.