Kyle Monangai Hits Bears With Raw Message After Earning Game Ball in 1st NFL Start

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Running back Kyle Monangai of the Chicago Bears.

The Chicago Bears look like they have found a real one in rookie running back Kyle Monangai.

A seventh-round pick out of Rutgers (No. 233 overall), Monangai started his first-ever NFL game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, November 2. All he did in the outing was rush for 176 yards on 26 carries (6.8 yards per attempt) and add three receptions for 22 yards in an electric and chaotic 47-42 victory for Chicago.

Head coach Ben Johnson awarded Monangai the first of two game balls in the locker room following the contest, after which the RB offered a raw and heartfelt speech to his teammates.

“Hey, I appreciate everybody in this room, man,” Monangai said. “It was my first start. Nobody knew what I was gonna do, but I told ya’ll I was gonna step up to the plate. Whatever I gotta do to get the next one. Hey, five wins right there. We gonna go get a sixth one next week. Appreciate ya’ll.”

For the season, Monangai has now rushed for 362 yards and one score on an average of 5.3 yards per carry. He earned the start after a groin injury sustained by running back D’Andre Swift, which sidelined him in Cincinnati Sunday.

Swift, and the Bears running game as a whole, had come on in recent weeks. He tallied outings of 108 rushing yards against the Washington Commanders, followed by a season-high 124 yards on the ground against the New Orleans Saints in the next game. Swift took a step back last week, putting up just 45 rushing yards in a loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

Bears’ First-Round Pick Colston Loveland Produced Best Game of NFL Career Against Bengals

GettyChicago Bears tight end Colston Loveland.

Chicago’s second game ball went to tight end Colston Loveland, who finished the afternoon with six catches for 118 receiving yards and two scores, including the game-winning touchdown of 58 yards on a pass from quarterback Caleb Williams in the final seconds of the fourth quarter.

“Hey, I appreciate you guys. I love you guys,” Loveland said to the locker room. “Bro, like this [expletive] is so fun. We got to keep winning. Keep going in, working every day. Let’s keep it rolling.”

Loveland, also a rookie, was the No. 10 pick in Johnson’s first draft as a head coach. He had by far the best game of his young career on Sunday and has now amassed 17 catches for 234 receiving yards and two scores on the season.

Ben Johnson Delivers Impassioned Speech to Bears Players After 5-3 Start to Season

GettyChicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson.

It was Johnson, who handed out the game balls to Monangai and Loveland, who was easily the most impassioned speaker following the game.

“Hell yeah! Five wins man!” Johnson exclaimed to his players. “Halfway point, 5-3, and I know it wasn’t [expletive] pretty. But don’t apologize for a win in this league guys. Don’t [expletive] apologize. We did what we had to do.”

“Enjoy this win. It took all 60 minutes for that one,” Johnson continued. “Here’s what I know about this group, here’s what I know. If it is close in the fourth quarter … if it is close in the fourth quarter, you better [expletive] watch out!”

Commanders' nightmare loss to Seahawks continues to get worse with more unfortunate injury updates

The season is officially over for the Washington Commanders, and the nightmare somehow continues after the worst night in recent memory for this franchise.

The Commanders got blown out at home in primetime during a night that was supposed to be special with the throwback uniforms and Art Monk jersey retirement, but it turned into fans leaving in the middle of the second quarter, and a gruesome injury. You can move on from a loss, but seeing Jayden Daniels go down with a severe elbow injury was gut-wrenching.

Daniels' injury wasn't the only significant injury last night, as the hits continue with two more season-ending injuries

Luke McCaffrey suffers a season-ending injury

The game barely started before the Commanders suffered yet another injury, and wide receiver Luke McCaffrey went down after returning the opening kickoff. He went down awkwardly on his left side, which is now being diagnosed as a broken collarbone that will have him out for the rest of the year.

McCaffrey was starting to really find his role in the offense and special teams, and now his season comes to an end. He was second in the league in kickoff return yards with 769, and also averaged 18.5 yards per catch. The Commanders turned to McCaffrey after injuries to Terry McLaurin and Noah Brown, and he was showing a lot of promise with multiple tough catches.

He should be part of the offense next season, but another injury just shows even more how badly this team needs help at the position. The Commanders added Treylon Burks and hope to get a roster win from him, but major changes need to happen with McLaurin and Brown injured, and Deebo Samuel not under contract next season. The defense is another conversation, and they lost another starter for the rest of the season.

Marshon Lattimore is feared to have torn an ACL

The defense was an embarrassment once again, with the Seahawks blowing the team out before halftime, and it never got any better. Busted coverage and wide-open explosive plays were all over the field, and major changes need to happen on and off the field. It got even worse for Marshon Lattimore, who went down with an injury that is feared to be a torn ACL.

There's no easy way to put it, but it was a nightmare night for Lattimore. He played really well last week against the Kansas City Chiefs, but it's time to admit that this trade was a massive swing and a miss by Adam Peters. It's unfortunate to see the season go down like this for Laittmore in what is very likely his last game with the Commanders. He's under contract for next season as well, but I don't expect him to be here after the defense faces an overhaul this offseason, if not sooner.

Injuries have been the biggest headline of the season with multiple starters suffering long-term injuries, and the roster honestly needs an overhaul as well. It will be a long rest of the season, with a massive offseason coming up.

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