The Chicago Bears will hit the road to face another AFC North foe on Sunday, looking to bounce back from last week's debacle against the Baltimore Ravens. And while the Cincinnati Bengals' defense should be an easier challenge, Ben Johnson will be playing with an undermanned squad.
For the first time this season, the Bears will have to get by without D'Andre Swift. The veteran running back didn't practice this week due to a groin injury he sustained in the win over the Washington Commanders in Week 6. He played through it in the past couple of weeks, but was ultimately ruled out for Week 9.
That leaves the door wide open for rookie RB Kyle Monangai to take a bigger role and prove what he's capable of. More than that, his success -- or lack thereof -- against the Bengals' soft run defense could also make or break the team's plans for the trade deadline.
Kyle Monangai Needs to Prove the Bears Don't Need Another Running Back
For weeks, the Bears' running back situation has been a talking point around the league. Coach Johnson preached patience with this group, and while it seemed like they had finally turned the corner with strong performances in Weeks 6 and 7, they fell back to Earth in the loss to the Ravens.
Monangai hasn't been given as many opportunities this season. He's played 155 snaps compared to Swift's 278, although his playing time has been trending up after the bye week, logging 34, 45, and 46 percent of the snaps since.
Now, with a chance to be the lead guy, he will have an opportunity to let GM Ryan Poles know that they're all set and won't need to make a move. Failure to do so, on the other hand, will force the team's hand to pick up the phone and find a more explosive complement to Swift or, even better, a starting-caliber running back.
This team was tied to stars like De'Von Achane, Breece Hall, and even Alvin Kamara, but nothing seemed imminent. The trade deadline is zooming in, and it wouldn't be shocking to see them make a run at a proven star if they lose again on Sunday.
Through the first seven games of his career, Monangai has turned 42 carries into 186 rushing yards and one score, adding six receptions on nine targets for 61 receiving yards. Now, it's time to drive those numbers up in his first career start.