The injury report on Wednesday only dug the Bears’ situation deeper. Running back Kyle Monangai is still listed as a non-participant. This comes right after a brutal 31-7 loss to the Green Bay Packers where the offense could not find a rhythm. The team held a walk-through, but the official report estimates Monangai would have been ruled out for a full practice. He missed the last game with turf toe, and now he is gone again.
This is not just a minor setback. The defense is already shorthanded, and losing more bodies makes the task of stopping the Falcons nearly impossible. Montez Sweat is suspended for two games for violating the league’s performance-enhancing substance policy. He will lose about $2.3 million in pay. With Sweat out, the pass rush relies on inexperienced players. Dayo Odeyingbo suffered a quadriceps injury last week and will likely miss time too. He is not on injured reserve, but he is not ready to play either.
The Linebacker Situation Gets Worse
T.J. Edwards is another major blow for the Bears. He injured his hamstring last week, and it is a reaggravation of a preseason issue. Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reported that the injury is not considered severe, but the team will be cautious. Fowler wrote, “Bears linebacker T.J. Edwards injured his hamstring last week, and though it’s not considered severe, it is a reaggravation of a preseason hamstring issue, so the Bears will likely be cautious.” Edwards has 16 tackles and two tackles for loss through the first five games. Losing him leaves a massive gap in the middle of the field.
Head coach Ben Johnson took the blame for the defensive struggles against the Packers. He said, “It’s a collective deal going on,” via the Bears. He admitted that bad rushes and bad coverage showed up together. The defense has been inconsistent, and now they are missing their best players. The Falcons might start Michael Penix Jr. or Tua Tagovailoa. If Penix starts, the Bears need every healthy defender they can get. They do not have that luxury right now.
A Stress Test for the Secondary
Cornerback Kyler Gordon is the only bright spot, but he is not playing yet. He has been on the physically unable to perform list since training camp. He returned to practice on Sept. 30, but the team is moving slowly. Ben Johnson said, “I think mentally he’s pretty sharp right now.” He added, “We’re in the middle of this stress test, making sure that he’s physically prepared to play in football games.” Gordon must be activated by next week or he is lost for the season.
The trade of Gervon Dexter to the Falcons for Clark Phillips III was supposed to help the defense. Johnson called it a “win-win for both sides in terms of him getting a fresh start and going down to a really good style of defense that matches his skillset.” But the defense has not looked good since the trade. They gave up 31 points to the Packers and now face a team that could score more. The Bears need to find a way to stop the run and pressure the quarterback without their top guys.
The active roster contains just four healthy edge rushers for Chicago. They might sign someone to the practice squad, but that is not a guaranteed fix. The team is in a rough spot with Monangai out, Edwards questionable, and Odeyingbo sidelined. The next game is a true test of depth. If the Bears cannot find a spark on defense, they will struggle to stay in the race.
