When the Chicago Bears went through the draft process, it’s clear the front office and coaching staff targeted players who can contribute immediately for this team on both sides of the ball and help bring out some needed competition.

Over the weekend, the Bears rookies reported back to team facilities for the start of training camp, with the first practice set to begin on Wednesday.

Training camp is the moment those rookies can start establishing clear roles on the team heading into the season and for seventh-round rookie Kyle Monangai, the new practice environment will give him the opportunity to show off his best traits.

Coming out of Rutgers, Monangai is a physically tough player. I mean this guy recorded 2,541 yards and 21 touchdowns over his final two seasons against tough BIG10 defenses and I’m excited to see what he can do when the pads come on.

That style of play alone is what the Bears are hoping to see out of all their running backs, but specifically out of the RB2 role behind D’Andre Swift.

Head coach Ben Johnson’s offense in Detroit excelled because he had two different style backs in Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. With Swift as his new “Gibbs” finding that next “D-Mont” is very important during training camp.

While Monangai can fit that role, third-year back Roschon Johnson does as well and showed how effective he can be as a physical runner on short-yardage situations in 2024. But, earning that #2 role will have to come from more than just being a physically imposing ball carrier.

Here's #Bears QB Caleb Williams dumping off a pass to RB Kyle Monangai during a drill. #DaBears pic.twitter.com/BX1pHaEP9s

— Josh Buckhalter (@JoshGBuck) May 28, 2025

Blocking is going to be a key component for every offensive player in Johnson’s scheme, and for running backs that includes pass protection, an area Monangai majored in while at Rutgers.

“Quarterback is the most important person on the field from an offensive perspective, so protecting the quarterback comes first,” Monangai said in April. “You gotta protect the quarterback and protect the ball is the philosophy I was raised in. So, every chance I get to protect my quarterback, to make the proper block, it doesn’t always have to be a knockout, but I always have a level of intensity that I think is unmatched that I bring.”

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For Monangai, looking out for his quarterback means even more than just stepping up to make a block. Rutgers’ running back coach Damiere Shaw went over a play with Sean Hammond of the Chicago Tribune in which Monangai recognized a blitz being shown by the defense and took the initiative to change the protection for his QB.

“When he saw the look, he observed for a second and he went up and changed the protection,” Shaw said. “(He) told the quarterback, ‘Hey, no we’re going to get into this protection.’ Told the O-line, ‘Hey, we’re going to slide to this guy,’ and he picked up exactly the guy who was going to be free.” via Chicago Tribune’s Sean Hammond

That kind of blitz recognition paired with his blocking ability and running style will give Ben Johnson everything he’s looking for out of that role and he’s already seen some of those hidden traits which is what made him recognize Monangai as a standout player during minicamp a few weeks back.

“I appreciate the attention to detail and the pride he takes, and how quickly he’s picking things up as well” Johnson said of Monangai.

Once the pads come on and real plays start being executed against Dennis Allen’s defense with a multitude of exotic blitz packages, Monangai can continue impressing his coaches with these traits and create a path toward a big role as a rookie.

The Chicago Bears’ offense is banking on these 4 key factors working out in its favor during training camp

Real football is finally back.