Bears sign D’Andre Swift to three-year extension

After missing a few weeks of practice with a hyperextended knee he suffered in camp, Monangai was back at practice on Monday to begin prepping for Week 1’s game against the Panthers. Monangai’s status will be worth checking when the Bears release their first injury report on Wednesday, but it sounds like he’ll have a chance to play this week barring any setbacks. In addition to Monangai, D’Andre Swift, who left last Thursday’s practice with cramps, also returned to the field.

Well, this is a pleasant update. Swift was seen leaving practice earlier today, “apparently holding at his midsection or core area.” After a brief scare, everything appears to be fine for the Bears’ starting running back. Swift enters 2026 as a safe RB2, playing in an expectedly efficient and explosive offense. Backfield mate, RB Kyle Monangai (knee), is currently rehabbing an injury, but last we heard, he has a chance to play in Week 1 against the Panthers. Swift could vault into a top-12 positional ranking if Monangai is unable to play.

According to Hammond, Swift “came off the field apparently holding at his midsection or core area” after taking a carry during team drills. Bears coach Ben Johnson labeled No. 2 RB Kyle Monangai (knee) as “week-to-week” on August 18th, though it was believed Monangai would have a chance to play in Week 1 against the Panthers. If Monangai is active and Swift is sidelined, Monangai would be a high-end RB2 at worst.

According to Schefter, initial tests indicate Monangai’s knee is structurally sound. He is scheduled to undergo an MRI to confirm the results, but it sounds like Monangai avoided suffering a consequential injury. This is great news for the second-year back, who warrants standalone FLEX treatment if his knee checks out. Starting RB D’Andre Swift can easily shoulder a few extra touches if Monangai needs to be eased into action next month.

According to the Chicago Tribune’s Brad Biggs, Monangai “got tangled up” with DT Grady Jarrett when the injury occurred. The second-year running back was able to walk off the field and into the locker room under his own power. The fact that the cart was not needed might be a good sign, but unfortunately, we are simply in wait-and-see mode for the time being. Bears RBs Roschon Johnson and Brittain Brown sit on the depth chart behind him. Starting RB D’Andre Swift could absorb a big chunk of Monangai’s workload if he misses time.

“I want more than (the Super Bowl),” Johnson told The Athletic. “I want to have the highest-scoring offense ever, which happens to be the 2013 Denver Broncos. I know how many points per game they scored (37.9), and I want to surpass them. I want shutouts. I want blowouts.” It’s enough to make a fantasy manager hyperventilate. The Caleb Williams-led Bears would have a long way to go if they are to eclipse the legendary 2013 Denver offense led by Peyton Manning — an offense that supported a range of viable to high-end fantasy options. Chicago last season ranked ninth in points per game (25.9), just behind the Colts. The Bears ranked tenth in points per offensive snap and 14th in red zone touchdown rate. If the Bears are to somehow challenge the 2013 Broncos, Johnson would likely need to call a far more pass-heavy game than he did in 2025, when the Bears were among the run-heaviest offenses in the NFL. If Johnson is indeed intent on maximizing points, everyone from Williams to Colston Loveland to D’Andre Swift to Rome Odunze to the injured Luther Burden could be major fantasy factors in 2026.

Studesville spent 2022-25 serving as the Dolphins’ assistant head coach and running backs coach under former Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel. According to the Chicago Sun-Times’ Jason Lieser, over the past year, Johnson has mentioned multiple times that he is fascinated by McDaniel’s creativity in the run game. Lieser did not elaborate on which tactics Johnson is interested in learning more about, but a cursory PFF data review shows the Dolphins used lead run concepts at the league’s third-highest rate (32.5 percent) last year, while Johnson’s Bears used them at just a 14.6 percent rate. Adding some of the creative — and successful — concepts that Studesville learned from McDaniel can only be viewed as a good thing for Bears RBs D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai.

Swift did not see a target in this one, as all the passing-down work instead went to rookie Kyle Monangai. Swift’s season ends with a regular-season rushing line of 223-1,087-9, marking the second time in his career that he has surpassed 1,000 yards in a season. Operating as the “lightning” to Kyle Monangai’s “thunder,” Swift was a key player in head coach Ben Johnson’s two-man committee approach, and wound up leading the bears in carries, rushing yards, and rushing touchdowns. Still under contract through next season, Swift should be back with the Bears but will likely remain in a split backfield with Monangai at best. Monangai could be poised for a bigger role in his second season.

Swift scored a touchdown late in the contest, and also had a terrific catch where he reversed direction on a swing-out that set up another. The 26-year-old received 15 touches while Kyle Monangai turned eight carries into 27 yards with one 22-yard reception. Swift will remain the RB1 — with Monangai involved — in the Divisional Round against the Rams or Eagles.

The Bears gained only four first downs in the first half and were held off the scoreboard until early in the fourth quarter, a game environment that limited the veteran back to only 11 touches in the loss. More late-game heroics from quarterback Caleb Williams eventually tied the game at 16 before Goff and the Lions stole the win on a last minute field goal as time expired. The bigger picture for Swift is that he continued to operate as the primary back in what was once a timeshare situation with Kyle Monangai, the latter of whom managed only 14 yards on six carries and 15 yards on his lone reception. Swift and the Bears now prepare to host the Packers in the Wildcard Round after the Eagles also lost in Week 18.