The Chicago Bears played without Kyle Monangai when they hosted the New England Patriots on Thursday night, marking the second-year running back’s third consecutive missed game.
Chicago ruled Monangai out because of thumb and toe injuries. Both teams entered the Week 7 matchup with 4-2 records, but the Bears defeated the Patriots 30-24, improving to 5-2.
Monangai remained on Chicago’s roster and had averaged 5.4 yards per carry before the game. D’Andre Swift handled most of the backfield work, rushing 22 times for 78 yards and 1 touchdown, while Roschon Johnson added 13 yards on 2 carries.
Monangai’s injury keeps him sidelined
Monangai sustained a toe injury during Chicago’s 23-12 victory over the New York Jets on Oct. 4. A thumb injury was subsequently added to his injury designation.
He missed the Bears’ games against the Green Bay Packers and Atlanta Falcons before sitting out against New England. Coach Ben Johnson had described Monangai as week-to-week and said he was progressing in the right direction.
Because Chicago did not hold regular practices during its short preparation period, its participation reports were estimates. Monangai was listed as a nonparticipant Monday through Wednesday and was ruled out for the game.
His production has made a difference
Through 4 appearances in the 2026 regular season, Monangai has rushed for 324 yards on 60 carries, averaging 5.4 yards per attempt, with 3 rushing touchdowns.
Those numbers have made his absence notable even though Swift remains Chicago’s leading rusher. Monangai has provided an efficient alternative when both backs are available.
The Bears failed to reach 100 rushing yards in each of their first 2 games without Monangai. They improved against New England, finishing with 116 net rushing yards while Monangai missed his third consecutive game.
Swift carried the workload
D’Andre Swift entered Thursday’s game as Chicago’s leading rusher with 398 yards on 94 attempts and 6 rushing touchdowns. He also had 18 receptions for 140 yards.
With Monangai unavailable, Swift handled most of the backfield work against New England. He rushed 22 times for 78 yards and 1 touchdown and caught 4 passes for 12 yards.
Swift finished the night with 26 offensive touches as Chicago earned a 30-24 victory. He now has 476 rushing yards and 7 rushing touchdowns through 7 games.
Roschon Johnson played a limited supporting role
Roschon Johnson entered the New England game with 73 rushing yards on 22 attempts and 1 touchdown during the 2026 season.
Johnson remained part of Chicago’s available backfield, but the Bears relied primarily on Swift. Johnson received 2 carries for 13 yards, while Swift handled 22 rushing attempts.
Johnson now has 86 rushing yards on 24 attempts and 1 touchdown this season. His limited usage against New England confirmed that Swift remained Chicago’s primary option with Monangai unavailable.
Chicago’s ground game passed another test
The Bears entered Week 7 leading the NFL with 160.7 rushing yards per game. Monangai’s absence presented another test for a ground game that had been held below 100 yards in each of the previous 2 contests.
Chicago finished with 116 net rushing yards against New England. Swift accounted for 78 yards and 1 touchdown, while Williams, Johnson and Luther Burden III combined for the remaining 38 yards.
The Bears held the ball for 32 minutes and 24 seconds and controlled possession for more than 12 minutes in the fourth quarter, helping them secure a 30-24 victory.
Both teams entered the game with injury concerns
New England played without starting guards Alijah Vera-Tucker and Ben Brown, as well as cornerback Carlton Davis III. Vera-Tucker was placed on injured reserve before the game, while Brown and Davis were included on the Patriots’ inactive list.
Chicago’s final injury report ruled Monangai and linebacker Jack Sanborn out. Linebacker T.J. Edwards was listed as doubtful and was ultimately inactive, while cornerback Tyrique Stevenson was listed as questionable but remained active.
Despite their respective absences, both teams moved the ball effectively. Chicago finished with 402 total yards, while New England recorded 391 in the Bears’ 30-24 victory.
Chicago’s depth delivered on Thursday night
The Bears and Patriots both entered the matchup at 4-2. Chicago overcame Monangai’s absence and defeated New England 30-24, improving to 5-2 while dropping the Patriots to 4-3.
Swift rushed for 78 yards and 1 touchdown, while Johnson added 13 yards. Williams carried the passing game by completing 22 of 33 attempts for 308 yards and 2 touchdowns without an interception.
Monangai missed his third consecutive game, but his absence did not derail Chicago’s game plan. The second-year running back remains sidelined with thumb and toe injuries.
Fun fact: The Chicago Bears scored 44 consecutive points against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XX, eventually winning 46-10 on Jan. 26, 1986.
TL;DR
- Kyle Monangai has been ruled out against the New England Patriots because of thumb and toe injuries.
- The running back will miss his third consecutive game.
- Monangai has recorded 324 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns in 4 appearances this season.
- D’Andre Swift and Roschon Johnson are expected to shoulder the running-back workload.
- Both Chicago and New England entered Thursday’s game with 4-2 records.
This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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