Kyle Monangai Ruled Out: Patriots Catch Break vs Bears

The New England Patriots will face the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday night with Kyle Monangai ruled out for a third straight game, as the Bears running back continues to recover from thumb and toe injuries. Monangai was a non-participant on all three of Chicago's injury reports during the short week, and his absence leaves D'Andre Swift and Roschon Johnson to lead the league's top rushing attack against a Patriots defense that has held five of its six opponents under 100 rushing yards this season. Both the Patriots and the Bears enter the Week 7 game at 4-2.




Why does losing Monangai hurt the Bears rushing attack without Monangai?


The Chicago Bears are the only NFL team with two running backs over 300 rushing yards this season, and that balance is what made their ground game so hard to stop. Kyle Monangai has 324 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 60 carries in just four games, while D'Andre Swift leads Chicago with 398 rushing yards. Monangai averaged 5.4 yards per carry before he got hurt, and his best game was a career-high 146 yards and two touchdowns on 30 carries against the New York Jets in Week 4, the game in which he was injured late in the fourth quarter.


NBC Sports reported that Chicago officially ruled Monangai out on Wednesday after he did not take part in any of the team's walkthrough sessions this week. The drop-off since then has been clear: the Bears lead the NFL at 161 rushing yards per game for the season, but Chicago has failed to top 100 rushing yards in either of the two games Monangai has missed.


MORE: Patriots: Walter Rouse First Career Start Comes vs Bears




Can the Patriots run defense vs Bears take advantage at Soldier Field?


The New England Patriots run defense has been one of the steadiest units in the league, holding opponents under 100 rushing yards in five of six games this season. New England has also won three straight games, including Sunday's 26-19 win over the New York Jets, and slowing D'Andre Swift is now the clear first job for Mike Vrabel's defense on Thursday night.


Chicago still has answers. Roschon Johnson gives the Bears a physical power back behind Swift, quarterback Caleb Williams can punish defenses that crowd the line of scrimmage, and the Bears offensive line gets a boost with right guard Jonah Jackson back: Jackson was a full participant on Wednesday and carries no injury designation. The matchup is simple to frame: if the Patriots contain Swift early, Chicago's league-leading rushing attack without Monangai loses the balance that made it dangerous.




What happens next for Monangai and for Thursday night?


Kickoff between the New England Patriots and the Chicago Bears is Thursday, October 22 at 8:15 p.m. ET at Soldier Field in Chicago, streaming on Prime Video. Per reports, Monangai is considered week to week and is trending in the right direction, but there is no set return date yet. Thursday's game is the first of three straight prime-time games for Chicago, while New England is trying to extend its winning streak to four games on a short week.


New England has its own backfield news for Thursday: TreVeyon Henderson was cleared for the game earlier today, so both teams will lean on the running backs they do have available.




Frequently asked questions about Monangai and Patriots vs Bears


Is Kyle Monangai playing against the Patriots on Thursday night?

No. The Chicago Bears ruled Kyle Monangai out for Thursday night's game against the New England Patriots because of thumb and toe injuries. It is his third straight missed game.


Who replaces Kyle Monangai in the Bears backfield?

D'Andre Swift remains Chicago's lead running back, with Roschon Johnson handling complementary and short-yardage carries while Monangai is out.


When and where is the Patriots vs Bears game?

The New England Patriots play the Chicago Bears on Thursday, October 22 at 8:15 p.m. ET at Soldier Field in Chicago. The game streams on Prime Video.


More Patriots


Sources:

https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/kyle-monangai-ruled-out-jonah-jackson-set-to-play-vs-patriots

https://www.chicagobears.com/news/injury-update-bears-rg-jonah-jackson-set-to-play-vs-patriots

https://www.tsn.ca/nfl/article/bears-rb-monangai-toe-thumb-out-thursday-night-vs-patriots-n1-50240756/

Location: Boston, MA, USA

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