Kyle Monangai's Injury Gives Bears RB3 Candidates a Chance to Cement Their Spots
On Tuesday, Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson confirmed second-year running back Kyle Monangai is week-to-week with a hyperextended knee. Monangai suffered the injury during Sunday's unpadded practice when Grady Jarrett took him down from behind. While no Bears fan is happy that Monangai is hurt, the injury does provide an opportunity for either Roschon Johnson or Salvon Ahmed to cement themselves as the team's RB3. These backs' first tests come on Thursday when Chicago travels to Cincinnati for joint practices.
Roschon Johnson Has a Chance to Reclaim His Role
Johnson entered training camp as the favorite to be the Bears' RB3 in 2026. Even though the former fourth-round pick hasn't lived up to his potential, he has familiarity with the coaching staff on his side.
In three seasons. Johnson has recorded 138 carries for 519 yards. Last season, the 25-year-old only logged two rushing attempts. Moreover, Johnson would have had an opportunity to log more attempts during the week D'Andre Swift was out, but he was also out with an injury.
In the Bears' preseason opener against the Browns, Johnson rushed for 34 yards on eight attempts. His best play of the day was a 19-yard run where he showed some of the explosiveness that made Chicago draft him in the first place. While it was only one preseason game, his performance gave him some momentum heading into the team's upcoming joint practice and preseason matchup with Cincinnati.
Despite his limited production on offense, Johnson's ability on special teams has helped keep him around. Still, the upcoming joint practice and preseason game against the Bengals is a big proving ground for him. If Johnson can outplay Ahmed, he'll strengthen his case to remain with the Bears and reclaim the RB3 role.
Salvon Ahmed Has a Chance to Win the RB3 Job
Ahmed's path to securing a roster spot is a bit different than Johnson's. The six-year pro has great speed, which is something Ben Johnson loves.
The 27-year-old showed his speed and ability to make plays in the first preseason game. Ahmed had the biggest play of the game when he caught a 49-yard touchdown pass from Case Keenum. On this play, Ahmed not only outran defenders, but he also weaved through traffic to find lanes to score.
While one big play won't be enough to secure a roster spot, it was an excellent way for Ahmed to begin making his case. Now, he needs to show that he can consistently make plays instead of relying on one explosive moment.
Ahmed's biggest issue in his career has been injuries. When he's been healthy, he has produced well enough for a rotational back. The 27-year-old has 593 rushing yards on 163 carries and 274 receiving yards on 40 receptions.
The biggest difference between him and Johnson is that Ahmed doesn't provide much use on special teams. However, if Ahmed keeps making plays on offense and especially if he does it against the Bengals' first-team defense, it'll be hard to deny he deserves the roster spot over Johnson.
However, if Ahmed continues making plays on offense and can show that consistency against Cincinnati, it will be difficult to deny that he deserves a roster spot over Johnson. With Monangai sidelined, Ahmed has an opportunity to make the RB3 competition much more interesting.
Comments