The Chicago Bearsgot good news on the injury front as running back Kyle Monangai returned to practice on Friday ahead of Sunday night's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Monangai has missed the last four games with a toe injury, and this was the first time he's practiced since before Week 5's game against the Green Bay Packers. He's officially questionable for Week 9. Monangai's absence has been a huge blow for Chicago's previously top-ranked run game, and his return will help balance things out alongside D'Andre Swift.
On Friday, head coach Ben Johnson discussed Monangai's current situation, specifically the length of time that he's missed.
"Getting better, so like I said last time we brought him up, each injury is a little bit different,
and you try to get a timeline, an approximation of what you think it could be, and some guys come back a little bit sooner, some guys take a little bit longer, so those toe injuries, those can be fickle at times, and that's what this one's proved to be.”
Here's a glimpse of Monangai back on the practice field, from the media in attendance:
#Bears RB Kyle Monangai (toe) practiced today for the first time since his injury during a 146-yard game vs. the Jets on Oct. 4.
— Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) November 6, 2026
It's a positive sign for a potential return on the other side of the bye week. pic.twitter.com/yO7yZ4OBRB
Kyle Monangai (thumb/toe) BACK on the practice field 👀
— CHGO Bears (@CHGO_Bears) November 6, 2026
He is officially QUESTIONABLE for Sunday pic.twitter.com/5bQpd6x849
While Monangai is officially questionable for Sunday night's game, you have to wonder if the team will opt to rest him and give him an addition week of rest (with Week 10's bye) before he makes his return on Nov. 22 against the New Orleans Saints.
"I'm hoping every week," Johnson said of Monangai's return. "I'm hoping every day and every week he'll be back out there for us."
Well, it sounds like that time is coming. Whether it's Sunday night or two weeks from now, we'll have to wait and see.
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: LOOK: Bears RB Kyle Monangai returns to practice
