The Chicago Bears are sending a loud signal about their running back situation. On Tuesday, the team signed Zavier Scott from the practice squad to the 53-man roster. Just prior to facing the Seattle Seahawks in Week 8, this move took place. It looks like Kyle Monangai will not be ready to play. The timing of this transaction is the real story here. Heavy.com reported that the Bears are bracing for the possibility that Monangai won’t play.
Monangai has been out since Week 4 with a turf toe injury and a thumb issue. He missed three straight games already. The hope was that his 10-day break would be enough for him to return. That hope seems gone now. The Bears promoted Scott because they need depth right away. Scott has played in the last three games but only on special teams. He has five tackles on 46 snaps. He is now on the active roster to replace the missing back.
The Practice Report Raises Doubts
There is more bad news for Monangai fans. According to The Chicago Tribune’s Sean Hammond, Monangai was not at practice on Tuesday. He missed the open portion of the session at Halas Hall. This is his third straight missed practice. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler originally said Monangai would miss one or two weeks. The Bears did not put him on injured reserve, which would force him to sit for four games. That decision showed they thought he would return soon. Now, that timeline looks wrong.
Head coach Ben Johnson spoke about the injury back on Oct. 16. He said, “It wasn’t something we felt required an IR stint. It remains a week-to-week situation, but as far as I know, he’s continuing to trend in the right direction.” Those words feel distant now. The team is acting like he will not be back. The injury report for Week 8 won’t come out until Thursday. But the roster move on Tuesday speaks louder than any report. If Monangai was trending right, they would not have needed Scott so badly.
The Bears have won their last two games without Monangai. D’Andre Swift has carried the load with 26 touches in the last game. Roschon Johnson has filled in too, though he lost a fumble earlier. The offense still works. But Monangai brings a hard-charging style that Swift does not. Losing him for a fourth straight game hurts the rotation. The Seahawks run defense is tough. Chicago needs all hands on deck.
The team played on Thursday night last week. They get extra rest before Monday Night Football. This rest might help Swift, but it likely won’t help Monangai heal his toe. The Bears are 5-2 and in a good spot for the playoffs. They need their best players. If Monangai cannot go, the offense must adapt. The promotion of Zavier Scott on Tuesday is the clearest sign we have. The running back will miss the game in Seattle.
