Bears injury report: Monangai questionable, Benedet cleared to stay at left tackle for the Bucs

Running back Kyle Monangai practiced on Friday for the first time in a month and is listed as questionable for Sunday night's game against Tampa Bay, while left tackle Theo Benedet, hurt in Seattle, finished the week with a full practice and no designation. The Bears' final report, as Shaw Local's Michal Dwojak laid it out, also lists cornerbacks Tyrique Stevenson and Malik Muhammad as questionable.

Monangai has not played since he hurt his toe, and his thumb, in the Week 4 win over the Jets on Oct. 4. Friday's limited session was his first practice since then, On SI's Mike Moraitis noted, citing the Chicago Tribune's Brad Biggs, who read it as a sign Monangai could return after next week's bye rather than on Sunday. The Bears kept him off injured reserve. Coach Ben Johnson said the back is getting better. "Those toe injuries prove to be fickle at times," he said.

The rest of the report

• Tyrique Stevenson (thumb), questionable. He played Monday and was added to the report Friday after a limited practice.
• Malik Muhammad (toe), questionable. The rookie cornerback missed the Seattle game and was limited all week.
• Theo Benedet (shoulder), no designation. He was limited Wednesday and Thursday, then practiced fully Friday. Johnson said he did not learn Benedet was hurt until after Monday's game.
• Grady Jarrett (groin), no designation. The defensive tackle left Monday's game early but practiced fully Friday.
• D'Marco Jackson (ankle), T.J. Edwards (personal) and Joe Thuney (rest) all carry no designation and are expected to play.

Left tackle, and two seasons over

Benedet's shoulder mattered because he is already the replacement. Braxton Jones hurt his knee against Philadelphia on Sept. 28, and the Bears put him on injured reserve and turned to Benedet for the Jets game, the Sun-Times reported. Jones now needs surgery on a partially torn patellar tendon and is out for the season, Moraitis reported Thursday; ESPN's injury listing has him on injured reserve after knee surgery.

Had Benedet been unable to go, the choices were thin. Ozzy Trapilo is back from the torn patellar tendon he suffered in last season's playoffs but has played only limited snaps in two games, and the alternative was moving left guard Joe Thuney outside with Luke Newman at guard, Moraitis wrote. Benedet's full practice Friday points to neither being needed against a Tampa Bay front led by nose tackle Vita Vea.

Defensive tackle Kentavius Street hurt his knee in Seattle and, by Johnson's account, is likely done for 2026; ESPN lists him on injured reserve. That leaves the interior to Jarrett, Jeffery Simmons and the rotation behind them. Tight end Cole Kmet has been out since he injured his right knee in the Oct. 22 win over New England, a season-ending injury ESPN reported the next day; Colston Loveland caught seven passes in that game and seven more in Seattle. Running back Zavier Scott (wrist) is also on injured reserve.

For Tampa Bay, receiver Emeka Egbuka (foot) is questionable and linebacker Yaya Diaby (knee) is out, according to ESPN's injury listing. Kickoff is 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC. Prices are on the game page, and the schedule is on the team page.