The Bears have ruled running back Kyle Monangai out for Thursday night's game against the Patriots. ESPN reported that he is out with lingering toe and thumb injuries. Pro Football Talk's Myles Simmons described him as a significant offensive contributor. Simmons also reported that one of Chicago's key offensive linemen, Jonah Jackson, is set to play.
Windy City Gridiron's Ryan Droste called Jackson's availability the positive news in the final reports. He identified Jackson as the starting right guard. Droste added that the Bears did not hold a typical practice on Wednesday, so that day's report was based on a walk-thru and injury estimation. Yahoo Sports carried Droste's piece under the headline "Jonah Jackson Ready To Go." The summaries we have do not say what Jackson's injury is or what his practice status was. Only ESPN gave Monangai's specific injuries.
Monangai's absence costs Chicago its leading rusher. He has 60 carries for 324 yards, a 5.4 average, and three touchdowns in four games this season. That includes a 61-yard run and a 100-yard day at Carolina in Week 1. His biggest game was 146 yards and two scores on 30 carries against the Jets on Oct. 4. Our game logs show no appearance from him since that game. The Bears have played twice since then, a 31-7 loss at Green Bay and a 31-23 win at Atlanta. The reporting doesn't say whether he was hurt in either game. The summaries also don't say who will take his carries on Thursday.
Jackson's return matters because of how the Bears have looked recently. They are 4-2 and third in the NFC North, with one win in their last three after the Green Bay loss. Our archive has no 2026 stats for Jackson, and his last logged game is Sept. 14, 2025, so his availability is a matter for the injury report rather than a stat line. The offensive line will be in focus against a Patriots team on a three-game winning streak.
Thu, Oct 22, 8:15 PM ET
New England is also 4-2 and second in the AFC East. It beat Buffalo 29-26 on Oct. 4, Las Vegas 45-17 on Oct. 11 and the Jets 26-19 on Oct. 18. The Patriots have scored 26 or more in all three games. Chicago's defense will have to deal with that offense while its own running game is without its main back.
Kickoff is Thursday night in Chicago. Neither the summaries nor our data give any other status updates for the Bears, so the injury reports above are the last word before the game.
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