The 4-3 Chicago Bears will play the 3-5 Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium in a Week 9 matchup. Here’s what you need to know before kickoff (noon, CBS-2).

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5 things to watch — plus our predictions

Bears coach Ben Johnson looks on from the sideline in the first quarter against the Ravens on Oct. 26, 2025, at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)

The Bears ruled out D’Andre Swift with a groin injury after the running back missed all three days of practice this week. Backup Roschon Johnson (back) also was ruled out after sitting out all week.

Rookie Kyle Monangai will step into Swift’s role, and the Bears activated Brittain Brown from the practice squad Saturday.

Sunday will be the first game Swift has missed since joining the Bears before last season. He’s the team’s leading rusher with 100 carries for 464 yards and four touchdowns and has added 18 catches for 192 yards and a TD. Swift is the linchpin in coach Ben Johnson’s play-action game. Read more here.

Bears Q&A: Can Caleb Williams be counted on to break through with other 2nd-year QBs flourishing?

Rookie Kyle Monangai — a ‘jack-of-all-trades’ running back — takes center stage

Bears running back Kyle Monangai makes a move in the first quarter against the Vikings on Sept. 8, 2025, at Soldier Field. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)

A seventh-round draft pick out of Rutgers, Kyle Monangai is the type of hungry, young running back who wants to learn from his mistakes. Through five games, he had played 29.1% of the offensive snaps. The last two weeks he played 45.5%, eating away at some of starter D’Andre Swift’s playing time. For the first time this season, Swift played fewer than half the snaps last week in Baltimore.

Then on Friday, the Bears ruled out Swift with a groin injury. Third-string running back Roschon Johnson also will miss the game because of a back injury.

That leaves Monangai as the clear favorite to see the bulk of the action Sunday. Asked this week about taking on the majority of the handoffs, he said it’s nothing new for him. Read more here.

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Bears’ Caleb Williams is aware of Drake Maye’s strong 2nd season but doesn’t compare draft-class QBs

Bengals QB Joe Flacco expected to play vs. Bears

Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco calls a play against the Jets on Oct. 26, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco is expected to play Sunday against the Chicago Bears at Paycor Stadium, according to a report from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Flacco has been nursing an AC joint sprain in his throwing shoulder this week, and the team officially listed him as questionable. But the expectation is he will give it a go. The Bengals are 1-2 in Flacco’s three starts for them, but their offensive output has improved dramatically. They’re averaging just under 30 points per game since Flacco arrived. Read more here.

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Bengals defense holds a players-only meeting, seeking a turnaround before facing the Bears
NFL fines Ravens $100K over inaccurate injury report involving QB Lamar Jackson vs. Bears

Do the Bears have a move at the trade deadline this year?

Bears general manager Ryan Poles throws a football on the field before the game against the Cowboys on Sept. 21, 2025, at Soldier Field. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

Ryan Poles has been active enough in late October and early November that as long as he remains the Chicago Bears general manager, questions will come annually: Will the Bears be active at the trade deadline?

‘Tis the season, and it was even a question a veteran player posed during the week at Halas Hall.

“Think we make a move?” he asked. Read more here.

Bears sign ‘fiery’ C.J. Gardner-Johnson to bolster their banged-up secondary

Eagles safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson celebrates an interception Dec. 8, 2024, in Philadelphia. (Yong Kim/The Philadelphia Inquirer)

C.J. Gardner-Johnson doesn’t really care what anyone calls his style of play.

The Bears signed the veteran defensive back in the hope of shoring up a depleted secondary. Gardner-Johnson comes to Chicago with a reputation for poking the bear, so to speak. Call it antagonistic. Call it instigating. Call it annoying.

As far as Gardner-Johnson is concerned, people can call it whatever they like.

“I don’t feel like (it’s) instigating on the field, but if you take it that way, it’s just being a fiery player and ready to compete and win,” Gardner-Johnson said Wednesday after his first practice with the Bears. Read more here.

What we learned from the Bears, including DE Austin Booker ‘impatiently’ awaiting his return
Bears cornerback Kyler Gordon placed on injured reserve and will miss at least 4 games

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/02/chicago-bears-cincinnati-bengals-week-9/