The 22nd running back taken in this year’s draft looked like something much more Sunday.
The 22nd running back taken in this year’s draft looked like something much more Sunday.
Making his first career start and playing against the league’s worst run defense, Kyle Monangai ran 26 times for 176 yards in Sunday’s 47-42 win against the Bengals. He finished 12 yards shy of Anthony Thomas’ Bears rookie record, set in 2001 against the same Bengals. Thomas didn’t have a catch in that game — Monangai had three for 22 yards Sunday.
“I have high expectations for myself,” said Monangai, who got a game ball. “I put a lot of pressure on myself. … I expect the results I get, but it doesn’t mean I’ve satisfied or anything like that. … This is more of just letting myself know I’m on the right track.”
Monangai started because D’Andre Swift was ruled out Friday with a groin injury. Monangai and Brittain Brown, who was called up from the practice squad Saturday, paced a stellar rushing attack. The Bears ran 37 times for 283 yards, averaging 7.6 yards per carry. The only other time in franchise history they averaged so many yards and ran the ball so often came against the Steelers in 1934.
