The Chicago Bears are this close to being a competent football team. They’re no stranger to close games, as eight of their 13 games have been decided by one score. But they’ve won just two of those games and sit at just 4-9, in last place in the NFC North and virtually eliminated from playoff contention.
To make matters worse for Chicago, running back D’Andre Swift — who was responsible for one of the Bears’ two narrow wins, a Week Four triumph over the Los Angeles Rams — did not participate in practice today while dealing with a groin injury. If Swift can’t go, it’ll make matters harder for a Chicago team that will already be heavy road underdogs against the Minnesota Vikings on Monday Night Football. Right now, on DraftKings Sportsbook, the Bears are 6.5-point underdogs and the point total is set to 43.5, but expect both of those lines to move as injury updates are released throughout the weekend.
Swift, a Pro Bowler in 2023 as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles, has been mediocre this season, totaling 742 rushing yards and five scores with a 3.8 yards per carry average that is the ninth-worst in football. He has been somewhat effective as a receiver, hauling in 34 passes for 315 yards. Still, it’s been an overall disappointing season for Swift, who hasn’t topped 75 yards in a game since October 27. Pro Football Focus grades him as just the 47th best running back in the league.
I don’t like his chances of turning his season around on Monday night. The 11-2 Vikings are one of the biggest surprises of the season, winning in large part behind the strength of their rushing defense. Minnesota is infrequently challenged, and for good reason; they’ve allowed opposing backs to rush for just 1,134 yards this season, the second-stingiest defense in the league. They’ve also excelled at keeping running backs out of the end zone, conceding just seven scores on the ground, tied for the third-fewest of any team.
I wouldn’t have confidence in even a healthy Swift to put up a good game on Monday, much less the banged-up version that might not even play. Swift’s prospects drop even more if second-year back Roschon Johnson — who has missed most of the last two weeks after suffering his second concussion of the season and did not practice today either — makes his return in Minnesota.
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