Bears rule out Kyle Monangai for Monday night at Seattle

Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson told reporters Saturday that running back Kyle Monangai will not play in Monday night's game against the Seattle Seahawks. ESPN's Courtney Cronin posted the news, and Johnson was also quoted by Sean Hammond saying, "I would count him out this week."

This is the fourth game in a row Monangai will miss. He sat out Week 5 at Green Bay, Week 6 at Atlanta and the Week 7 Thursday night game against New England while dealing with toe and thumb injuries. The toe has been the main problem since he spent time in a walking boot early this month.

What is confirmed: Monangai is out Monday. The Bears have still not placed him on injured reserve, which matches what Johnson said two weeks ago when he called him a player who would avoid IR.

What is still open: when he returns. Chicago hosts Tampa Bay on Sunday, Nov. 8, and then has its Week 10 bye. RotoWire notes he would need to be cleared to practice before the Bears consider bringing him back, so a return could slide past the bye.

D'Andre Swift stays the lead back. Roschon Johnson should keep the No. 2 role, and Zavier Scott, signed to the active roster Tuesday, adds depth behind them.

For RSO owners, bench Monangai for Week 8 and keep him rostered. Before the injuries he took over the lead job with a 30-carry, 146-yard game against the Jets in Week 4, and he is on a four-year, $4.33 million rookie contract. That cost is easy to carry while he heals, and this is the wrong week to sell low.

If you roster Swift, start him Monday at Seattle. Owners in deep leagues who need a one-week fill-in can look at Roschon Johnson, but he is a short-term bridge, not a long-term hold.

If you are thin at running back and have an open roster spot, this is a reasonable time to ask a Monangai owner about his price, since four missed games tend to lower the asking cost.

What to watch next: the Bears' practice reports for the Tampa Bay game. Any limited session from Monangai would be the first real sign he is close. A missed week of practice would point toward a return after the bye.