The Chicago Bears’ ground game faces a familiar test this weekend as they travel to Atlanta without one of their most productive runners.

Kyle Monangai has been ruled out for Sunday’s Week 6 matchup against the Falcons because of thumb and turf toe injuries that have already cost him the previous contest.

Head coach Ben Johnson described the second-year back as week-to-week and “trending in the right direction,” while confirming he will not be placed on injured reserve.

That outlook offers some longer-term optimism, yet it leaves Chicago short-handed for the immediate task in Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Monangai’s absence was felt sharply in the Bears’ 31-7 loss to the Packers last weekend. Without him, Chicago managed only 81 rushing yards, its lowest total of the season and a sharp drop from the league-leading pace the offense had established under Johnson.

D’Andre Swift carried the bulk of the load that afternoon, finishing with nine attempts for 43 yards and a touchdown, though he was limited in the second half while dealing with lingering hip and knee concerns.

Those issues appear resolved; Swift was notably absent from this week’s injury report and is expected to serve as the clear lead back against Atlanta.

The contrast with earlier performances highlights what the Bears will miss. In Week 4 against the Jets, Monangai exploded for 146 yards and two scores on 30 carries after Swift fumbled in the third quarter.

Johnson praised the young runner’s hard, physical style and the spark it gave the unit.

Through the first four games, Monangai had piled up 324 yards and three touchdowns, numbers that put him slightly ahead of the veteran Swift in several categories and underscored the complementary pairing that powered Chicago’s third-ranked rushing attack a year ago.

With Monangai sidelined for a second straight week, the Bears will lean more heavily on Swift, who signed a three-year extension worth roughly $34 million before the season.

Roschon Johnson figures to see an increased role as the primary backup, particularly in passing situations, though the offense’s identity under Johnson has been built on sustained ground success rather than a committee approach.

The Packers game showed how quickly the run game can stall when the preferred tandem is incomplete, forcing the Bears into longer downs and exposing the passing attack.

Chicago enters the Falcons game looking to reestablish the physical identity that defined its early success. Swift’s health is a clear positive, and Monangai’s trajectory suggests he could return sooner than later.

For one afternoon in Atlanta, however, the Bears must prove they can move the ball on the ground without the back who has frequently provided their most explosive early-down production this season.