LAKE FOREST, Ill., — Rookie running back Kyle Monangai has spent all of his first season as the backup to D'Andre Swift in Chicago's offense, seeing an uptick in carries as the year has gone on. Now, in Week 9, Monangai will get his first start of his career as the Bears face off against the Cincinnati Bengals.
With Swift missing the game due to a groin injury, the Bears are turning to Monangai for the start. His first start will come against a Bengals' defense that ranks dead last in the NFL, allowing 151.9 yards per game this season. Even so, Monangai is preparing like he would for any other game so far in his NFL career.
"It's been good. I think that we attack it just like every other week, just trying to learn who our opponent is," Monangai said. "And by the end of the week, we get more confident with the game plan. So nothing changes for us in that aspect?"
The Bears' rushing attack has improved as the weeks have gone on, especially out of the bye week. In Week 7 vs. the Saints, Monangai had 81 yards on 13 carries and found the endzone for the first time. He complimented Swift as Chicago's rush game took over that day.
Chicago uses Swift in a variety of ways out of the backfield. Monangai doesn't expect the Bears to change anything in terms of how they want to use him in the offense.
"But I don't feel like I have to do anything above anything that I've done already in terms of the way I play," Monangai said. "I think what I do well as a running back, and what I've been asked to do, that won't change. I think I just need to continue what I'm doing, and whether that just comes with more reps, it comes with more reps, but I'm not going to try and go above and beyond. I'm going to stay within myself and then execute the game plan."
For the Bears, the rushing attack will look a bit different outside of just this change. Travis Homer will back up Monangai as Roschon Johnson will also miss the game due to a back injury. Brittain Brown is expected to be elevated as the third back and DJ Moore likely will get some reps back there as well.
The Bears may need to rely on the run game to get them going on offense early, and if they can do that, it should open the pass game as well.
"As an offense, everything's complementary. When the run game's working well it opens up the pass game," Monangai. "When the pass game's working well, the run game does the same. Everything's complementary, and we're just trying to get both of them going. Yeah. To get both of them done."
Monangai's first big NFL moment begins on Sunday, and if he can deliver, it would make that seventh-round selection even bigger for the Bears.
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