It’s been an interesting start to the season for the Chicago Bears. For three quarters in Week 1, it seemed like the new hiring of head coach Ben Johnson was going to fix a lot of the issues that plagued them in 2024. However, things went completely downhill from that point on, until the team took the field against the Dallas Cowboys. A convincing victory for Chicago has put them back on the right track.
A Week 4 clash against the Las Vegas Raiders awaits, which could set them perfectly well heading into the Bye. However, the running game is the one area for the Bears that hasn’t performed as well as Johnson may have hoped for. While the passing game shows noticeable weekly growth, the ground game led by D’Andre Swift remains a question mark. Right before the game, though, it turns out his availability could also be in jeopardy.
Will D’Andre Swift Play Against the Las Vegas Raiders?
After a career year with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2023, during which he ran for 1,049 yards and earned his first Pro Bowl, Swift came to the Windy City amidst much fanfare. He continued his strong work with the Bears, ending his first year with 959 rushing yards.
However, with Johnson joining the coaching staff, after his incredible success with the Detroit Lions and their running backs, Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, many were hoping for a breakout year from Swift.
Through three games, that hasn’t been the case. Totaling just 149 yards on 42 carries, he has gotten off to a slow start this year. A small part of the reason could be a hip injury that has been bothering him throughout the year.
It had him at less than 100% last week against Dallas. And it could play into his availability against the Raiders as well. Being a limited participant in practices on Wednesday and Thursday, Chicago should have a clearer picture emerging from Friday’s practice.
However, for the time being, the official designation is going to read as questionable. Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network took to X to make the announcement, stating, “#Bears D’Andre Swift (hip), TE Colston Loveland (hip) and CB Kyler Gordon (hamstring) are all listed as questionable for Sunday.”
The Bears have to hope that Swift can be cleared by game time. Against a Raiders defense that is giving up 114 rushing yards per game, Chicago’s running attack has a real chance to get going for the first time all season.
