The Chicago Bears will take on the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 9 of the 2025 NFL season. They will do so with a depleted running back room as D’Andre Swift and Roschon Johnson have already been ruled out for the contest.
They will have to rely on their other options this week in what is supposed to be a favorable matchup against one of the worst defenses in the league. Here’s a preview of who could step up in their absence.
How Can the Bears’ Offense Function Without D’Andre Swift?
Johnson has been lightly used during the 2025 season so far, partially due to an injury he sustained earlier in the year and also because he was buried on their depth chart upon his return. He has recorded just two carries this year, with one in each of his past two games.
Swift is a much different story as he has been the Bears’ featured running back this season and has been solid in this role. PFSN’s RB Impact metric places him as the 4th-overall player in his position through eight weeks. He trails only Rico Dowdle, Jonathan Taylor, and James Cook with an impressive 87.2 impact score.
Bears RB D’Andre Swift is out Sunday vs. the Bengals due to a groin injury. pic.twitter.com/vw9zfz9Cbl
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 31, 2025
With Swift and Johnson ruled out, they will need to count on some of their other running backs. Here are their best options this week.
Who Will Step Up for the Depleted Backfield?
The Bears have major concerns with their running back position this week, but a few candidates could step up in a major way.
Kyle Monangai
Kyle Monangai is projected to get his first opportunity to serve as the Bears’ featured running back during his rookie season. He has been relatively impressive after being just a seventh-round draft pick this year, but his workload has been capped by Swift’s strong performances in Ben Johnson’s offense.
Monangai opened the year by beating out Johnson for the primary backup role and has since been serving as the change-of-pace back in Chicago. He will look to capitalize on this opportunity in an ideal situation to break out with an elevated workload against a weak Bengals defense. He has totaled 48 touches for 247 scrimmage yards and a touchdown in his young career so far.
MORE: Will Rome Odunze Play in Week 9? Latest on Bears WR’s Injury Status
Travis Homer
Travis Homer will likely back up Monangai in Week 9 as the only other running back on their active roster currently. He is in his third year with the franchise, but he has yet to record a touch this year.
Brittain Brown
Brittain Brown may get his first elevation from the practice squad this week as the Bears navigate their injury troubles at running back. He has yet to log a touch in his career and last appeared on an active roster back in 2022 with the Las Vegas Raiders.
