Bears seventh-round rookie Kyle Monangai shines in first start

CINCINNATI — The 22nd running back taken in this year’s draft looked like something much more Sunday.

Making his first career start and facing the league’s worst run defense, Kyle Monangai ran 26 times for 176 yards in the Bears’ 47-42 victory Sunday against the Bengals. He finished 12 yards shy of Anthony Thomas’ Bears rookie record, set in 2001 against the same Bengals. Thomas didn’t have a catch in that game — Monangai had three for 22 yards.

“I have high expectations for myself,” said Monangai, who got a game ball. “I put a lot of pressure on myself. I expect the results I get, but it doesn’t mean I’m satisfied or anything like that. This is more of just letting myself know I’m on the right track.”

Monangai started because D’Andre Swift was ruled out Friday with a groin injury. Monangai and Brittain Brown, who was called up from the practice squad Saturday, paced a stellar rushing attack. The Bears ran 37 times for 283 yards, averaging 7.6 yards per carry. The only other time in franchise history they averaged so many yards and ran the ball so often came against the Steelers in 1934.

“I’m not surprised,” coach Ben Johnson said. “That’s kind of who [Monangai] has been since he’s been here. Very reliable. He’s going to do what you’re coaching. He’s hard to bring down. That showed up.”

Brown, who had never carried the ball in an NFL game before, ran five times for 37 yards and scored on a 22-yard touchdown in the third quarter. He was only in the game because Monangai’s ankle needed to be taped up on the sideline. Monangai was ready to go back in, but coaches held him back for one more play.

Quarterback Caleb Williams ran five times for 53 yards, and receiver DJ Moore had a 17-yard touchdown run. Moore’s touchdown run was originally spotted at the 1-yard line, but the Bengals challenged it, thinking he fumbled along the left sideline and through the side of the end zone. Replays showed Moore didn’t fumble — and, in fact, scored.

“He felt like he had possession of it,” Johnson said.

Injuries pile up

One week after missing the first game of his Bears career because of a back problem, tight end Cole Kmet left the game in the second quarter after being concussed. He caught Williams’ third-down throw, which was high, and was hit by Bengals linebacker Barrett Carter as he fell to the ground.

Cornerback Josh Blackwell also suffered a concussion. Dayo Odeyingbo, the Bears’ big-money acquisition at defensive end, hurt his ankle in the fourth quarter and didn’t return.

Notes

Tight end Colston Loveland became the first Bears rookie tight end with at least 100 receiving yards since Mike Ditka in 1961.

• Williams was the first starting quarterback to catch two passes in an NFL game since George Taliaferro in 1953.

• Cornerback C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who was signed Wednesday, sacked Joe Flacco in the second quarter. Defensive ends Montez Sweat and Austin Booker had one sack apiece.

• Bengals receivers Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase each had triple-digit receiving yards, with Higgins catching seven passes for 121 yards and Chase catching six balls for 111.

• Bears receiver Rome Odunze was held without a catch for the first time in his career. He said he should have caught one of his three targets, a pass in the end zone that was behind him but hit him in both hands.

• Tory Taylor punted the ball 69 yards in the second quarter, a career long and the third-longest by a punter this year.