The Chicago Bears have played the last two weeks without quarterback Caleb Williams. They've been without key members of the secondary since the jump. Braxton Jones missed Week 4. Players like D'Andre Swift have, on occasion, popped on the injury report.
Yet, they're 3-1 heading into a crucial matchup versus the Green Bay Packers this weekend. There's a mentality that goes along with sustaining success in the face of injury woes, and running back Kyle Monangai was able to characterize it.
“Everyone puts the work in as if they’re the starter," Monangai said. "You never know when your name is going to get called. Case (Keenum) last week, Tyson (Bagent) this week, everybody. It’s a group effort at the end of the day. It’s not one single person and
we understand that. We put the work in day in and day out during the week and it showed today.”
It's logical that Monangai would mention Case Keenum and Tyson Bagent as part of his overview of the Bears' apparent next-man-up mentality. Keenum was thrust into action against the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night in Week 3 while Bagent handled the work in Week 4's tilt with the New York Jets. Both quarterbacks experienced a high level of success through their respective starts in the absence of Caleb Williams.
Monangai himself might have benefited from the same type of situation. Whether it was an outright benching or a continuation of the knee injury that had landed him on the injury report during the week, we did not see D'Andre Swift for most of the second half following a third-quarter fumble. Monangai carried that mentality to 146 yards and a pair of scores on the ground, finishing off a game the Bears had controlled since the jump.
Whether it's Monangai, one of Bagent or Keenum, Theo Benedet, or any of the host of defenders that have been thrust into regular duty, it's clear that the mentality Monangai describes is real, and the Bears have been all the better for it through the first quarter of the season.
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Kyle Monangai on how Bears' preparation is propelling them early on
