Bears Receive Major Injury Updates on Offense Before Giants Game
The Chicago Bears are dinged up heading into a critical Week 9 matchup with the New York Giants at Soldier Field, but the health updates across the roster in the Windy City Thursday were almost exclusively positive.
Chicago’s running game has come to life in a huge way during the middle of Ben Johnson’s first campaign as head coach, as the team is now second in the NFL at 144.4 rushing yards per game. D’Andre Swift was a big part of that change across two outings against the Washington Commanders and New Orleans Saints in mid-October, while rookie Kyle Monangai notched 176 ground yards in a win over the Cincinnati Bengals last week.
Swift missed the Bengals game with a groin injury, while Monangai suffered an ankle injury during the contest. However, the team upgraded both back to full participants in practice on Thursday — a good sign that Chicago’s run game will be at full force this weekend as the team tries to move to 6-3 on the season.
Rookie pass-catchers Luther Burden III (wideout) and Cole Kmet (tight end) also fully participated in practice for the first time this week on Thursday. Both are moving through the league’s mandatory concussion protocol.
Meanwhile, wide receivers DJ Moore (hip/groin) and Rome Odunze (ankle/heel) were limited participants in practice after sitting out on Wednesday.
Bears Must Get Healthy Ahead of Brutal Month-Long Stretch of Schedule
GettyChicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams.
Essentially every meaningful skill position player on Chicago’s offensive roster, save for quarterback Caleb Williams and receiver Olamide Zacchaeus, remains on the injury report just three days ahead of the team’s game against the Giants, which is obviously cause for concern.
However, if most (or all) can find their way to Soldier Field on Sunday, the Bears have a chance to position themselves favorably heading into perhaps the most difficult stretch of their 2025 schedule.
Following this week’s game against New York, Chicago will travel to Minnesota (4-4) to take on the Vikings. The Bears will return home for one week against the Pittsburgh Steelers (5-3) before consecutive road contests vs. the Philadelphia Eagles (6-2) and Green Bay Packers (5-2-1).
Chicago’s success over that month of contests will determine both the Bears’ chances at winning the NFC North Division and their shot at a playoff berth of any kind. The Giants (2-7) are the only team remaining on Chicago’s schedule with a losing record, save for the Cleveland Browns (2-7) on December 14.
Bears Defense Among Worst in NFL Halfway Through Season
GettyChicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson.
Encouraging is the fact that the Bears are coming off a season-high 47-point performance in a road win over the Bengals. Far less encouraging is the fact that the defense afforded Cincinnati 42 points in the contest.
The Bears are 26th in the league in total defense, surrendering 368.8 yards per game to their opponents. Chicago also ranks 29th in total points, giving up 28.4 points per contest. The team has afforded more than 40 points to opponents on two occasions this season, last week against Cincinnati and Week 2 against the Detroit Lions.
And while those two results have skewed the numbers slightly, the Bears defense has a half-season sample size at this point. What the statistics say is that Chicago needs to get better on that side of the football, but also that the franchise is going to go only so far as its offense takes them.
Hence, how important it was for the Bears to get most of their most talented offensive players back out onto the practice field Thursday.
Dave Canales Drops the Hammer: Fires Three Panthers Rookies After Night Out Following Missed Practice
In a stunning move that has sent shockwaves through the NFL, Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales made a bold decision by firing three Panthers rookies following their actions earlier this week. The players, who had been excused from practice on Wednesday due to “health reasons,” were caught partying at a local nightclub just hours after missing the team’s scheduled session.
The fallout from this incident was immediate. According to multiple Panthers insiders, the situation escalated quickly after footage emerged showing the rookies at the club. Dave Canales, who has built a reputation for holding his players to high standards of professionalism and integrity, wasted no time in taking decisive action. After reviewing the footage and confirming the reports, Canales chose to fire the players, sending a clear and unequivocal message to the NFL world about his stance on accountability.
“If you think skipping practice and lying about it makes you a Panther, think again — not on my field, not under my watch,” Canales stated firmly. The words echoed across the sports world, stirring both admiration and surprise. For some, Canales’ decision is a reminder of the fine line between privilege and responsibility in the NFL. For others, it’s a harsh, but necessary, reminder that actions off the field can have as much impact as those on it.
This move comes at a time when the NFL has been grappling with issues surrounding player conduct, especially concerning rookie players who may struggle to adjust to the demands of professional football. Canales, known for his no-nonsense leadership, emphasized that professionalism is expected not just during game days but in every aspect of a player’s life.
The decision to fire the rookies, who had failed to attend practice under the guise of illness only to be found out partying hours later, has raised questions about how far teams should go to instill discipline. While some believe that firing the players was an overreaction, others see it as a necessary step to maintain team culture and integrity.
Canales’ swift action highlights the growing trend in the NFL where off-field behavior is increasingly coming under scrutiny. In an era where social media amplifies every move players make, this incident underscores the pressure on young athletes to not only perform but also to uphold the values of their teams.
The three rookies’ futures now hang in the balance as they face the consequences of their actions. While they may have been dismissed from the Panthers, their careers in the NFL are far from over. They will likely have to work hard to rebuild their reputations and prove that they can meet the expectations of a league that demands more than just athletic talent.
As for Dave Canales, his leadership continues to be defined by a commitment to integrity and accountability, qualities that have earned him respect throughout the NFL. His decision to fire these players, while controversial, may very well set the tone for how team culture is managed in the league moving forward.
