Will the Bears Late-Round Rookie Rise to the Occasion?
The injury bug strikes the Bears once again. This time, it has affected the running game. D’Andre Swift and Roschon Johnson have both been ruled out for Week Nine. One of the biggest problems for most of the year had been at the running back position. However, after the bye week, the team was able to find a spark. Unfortunately, these injuries may have sidelined this. All hope is not lost, though, as there is serious faith in an overlooked player.
Kyle Monangai was a seventh-round pick this year. Coming into the season, he had some praise, but as a late-round pick, there were not that high of predictions for him. With the injury to Johnson, he quickly became the primary backup. This has led to a quiet year so far, as he only has 42 carries for 186 yards and a touchdown. Additionally, he had six catches for 61 yards. The spark in the run game also provided the seventh-round pick with the chance to prove himself. In Week Seven against the New Orleans Saints, he ran the ball 13 times for 81 yards and a touchdown. This game proved that some of the preseason hype was real, and it is important to the team that he continues to perform.
Chicago's season has been full of ups and downs. After losing the first two games, they rattled off four wins in a row. Then, this past week, they lost to the Baltimore Ravens. They now turn their attention to the Cincinnati Bengals, which, similar to the Bears, have had a mixed start to the season. The one constant for the Bengals has been that the defense has had a tough start. With this in mind, it is too early to call a game a must-win, but it certainly is a game that Chicago should win. This is where Monangai comes in.
While the offense has been inconsistent, this week is a perfect time to try to get it right. In order for that to happen, the run game needs to be serviceable at the very least. It may not be realistic to imagine the running game being as productive as past weeks, but there is certainly the potential. If Monangai produces, then the Bears may be looking at an offensive explosion this week. This becomes a pivotal chance for him to not only gain a larger role the rest of the season, but to potentially cement his name in the future of the team. The team now hopes that they have found a hidden gem right when they have needed it the most.
