Chicago Bears running back Kyle Monangai did not practice Monday, leaving his status in doubt for Thursday’s game against the New England Patriots after he missed the last two weeks with turf toe and a thumb injury.
The team held only a walk-through, so Monday’s estimated injury report projected Monangai as a non-participant. Head coach Ben Johnson has described the injury as week-to-week and said the Bears do not plan to place him on injured reserve.
“As far as I know, he’s trending in the right direction,” Johnson said last week.
Monangai has not practiced in two full weeks. With the short turnaround before Thursday Night Football, a return this week appears unlikely, and a Week 8 game at the Seattle Seahawks looks more realistic.
Through four games this season, Monangai has 60 carries for 324 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 5.4 yards per carry. He has also caught five passes for 39 yards.
His strongest performance came in Week 4 against the New York Jets, when he carried 30 times for 146 yards and two touchdowns after taking over as the lead back in the second half.
The Bears’ ground game dropped off without him. Chicago rushed for 81 yards on 24 carries in a Week 5 loss to the Green Bay Packers and 98 yards on 33 carries in Sunday’s win over the Atlanta Falcons.
The Bears improved to 4-2 with a 31-23 victory in Atlanta. Quarterback Caleb Williams returned from a hamstring injury and completed 30 of 36 passes for 305 yards and one touchdown.
Both the Bears and Patriots enter the matchup at 4-2. New England has won three straight games, including a 26-19 victory over the Jets on Sunday.
Other Bears listed as non-participants Monday included linebacker T.J. Edwards (hamstring), guard Jonah Jackson (hip/quadriceps) and linebacker Jack Sanborn (concussion). Cornerback Tyrique Stevenson and linebacker Keyshaun Elliott were projected as full participants.
Monangai, selected in the seventh round of the 2025 draft, rushed for 783 yards and five touchdowns as a rookie. That included a 176-yard game at Cincinnati.
At Rutgers, he finished with 3,221 rushing yards, the second-most in program history, after leading the Big Ten with 1,262 yards in 2023.
The Patriots visit Soldier Field on Thursday at 8:15 p.m. ET. Oddsmakers list the Bears as a 2.5-point home favorite. Further practice reports Tuesday and Wednesday will clarify Monangai’s chances.
Chicago then receives 11 days off before traveling to Seattle on Nov. 2.
