The Chicago Bears got their fourth straight win on Sunday against the Saints, but it came at a high cost. Wednesday's official injury report revealed a long list of key contributors with various ailments. Bears insider Brad Biggs shared the report on X, which had Tyrique Stevenson, Cole Kmet, DJ Moore, D'Andre Swift, and Roschon Johnson as non-participants in practice. Cairo Santos, Grady Jarrett, Braxton Jones, and Nahshon Wright, on the other hand, were limited participants.
The most important aspect of the injuries is the number of key playmakers on it. Between Kmet, Moore, Swift, and Johnson, the Bears could be severely short-handed against the Ravens on Sunday. This also creates an opportunity for some of the offensive players lower on the pecking order. The biggest beneficiary of them all could be RB Kyle Monangai.
Kyle Monangai Could Be in Line for a Monster Game vs. Ravens
Monangai is already carrying a ton of momentum into Week 8. Against the Saints, he had the best game of his career, running for 81 yards on 13 carries and a touchdown. He had a career-high 15 touches and a total of 94 yards from scrimmage. This earned him 31 offensive snaps, the most he has played all season. Per Pro Football Focus, he was the third-best offensive player for the Bears, with a 73.8 overall grade.
If Swift and Johnson miss Week 8, Monangai could be in line for an even larger role. With Travis Homer as the only other healthy RB on the roster, the seventh-round pick could get all the carries he can handle against a very poor Ravens defense.
It's important to remember that Swift had an injury designation last week as well; he was a limited participant with the same groin injury in Thursday's practice. He eventually suited up and had a huge game, running for 124 yards and a touchdown. So, a similar situation could certainly be in play.
Monangai and Swift being healthy together is obviously the best-case scenario for the Bears. Swift's big-play potential and breakaway speed, combined with Monangai's dependability, make them a fascinating duo similar to the Lions' RB duo Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. If anyone knows how to use a dynamic duo in the backfield, it is former Lions OC Ben Johnson.
The rookie running back has already proven himself to be a worthy RB2, making Roschon Johnson expendable. If anything, Monangai is in line to threaten Swift for more carries. Week 8 will show a lot more about where the RB rotation will be in the second half of the season.