Not many Chicago Bears fans would have thought Roschon Johnson would be in the Week 5 Green Bay Packers chat, but here we are.
ESPN NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler gave a concerning update regarding Bears running back Kyle Monangai, who is dealing with turf toe and a thumb injury. The thumb isn't the issue, but Fowler said the toe injury puts him in jeopardy of playing the next game or two. Monangai will try to play through the injury.
During practice this week, Monangai missed Wednesday and Thursday, leaving his status for the Packers game up in the air. It certainly sounds like Johnson might be finding him in the biggest role of his two years.
Roschon Johnson could make massive impact in Bears-Packers Week 5 showdown
Johnson has focused primarily on special teams through the first four weeks of the season, racking up five tackles, mostly on kickoff coverage. He has been a force and helped more than anyone could have imagined, but his role in the Week 4 23-12 win over the New York Jets changed slightly.
D'Andre Swift got a quiet benching after having his second fumble in three weeks. Monangai then got hurt and could not finish the game. That left Johnson to finish the game as the lead back.
In the fourth quarter, Johnson ran for 16 yards on four carries and caught a seven-yard pass. He showed Bears fans why they had drafted him in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Sure, his numbers weren't sexy, but Johnson got the job done with what he had. He showed his power and ran straight up the middle. His longest run of the game was an 11-yarder to help the team control the line of scrimmage and time of possession.
Johnson had more production in the second half of the fourth quarter than he did all of 2025. He only had two carries for 17 yards in seven games with the Bears.
Monangai does not sound like someone who is going to play against the Packers, which would be a major loss for the Bears, since he is eighth in the NFL in rushing yards with 324. That would put Swift in line to be the lead back, but his two fumbles in three games have many concerned.
The good thing about Johnson's game is that it mirrors Monangai's: both are physical backs who aren't afraid to lower their shoulders. Johnson may not have Monangai's breakaway speed in the open field, but Chicago only needs him to be the guy who can pick up the tough three to four yards. Swift can handle the outside zone runs to use his speed.
This could be a career-defining game for Johnson, who has been a disappointment since coming to Chicago because he never ran with the starting job and eventually lost the backup job. He's got a chip on his shoulder heading into 2026 after an offseason where everyone questioned his roster status.
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Johnson has a chance to silence the critics and prove himself an effective running back if given the opportunity.
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