The bye week is over, and the Chicago Bears are getting back to work as they prepare for their Week 6 game against the Washington Commanders on Monday Night Football. Chicago’s football team went into the bye with a 2-2 record and emerged from it looking to make some improvements. I’ve highlighted three areas of concern that the team should prioritize while preparing for the big game.

P.S. — I hope to see you at the BN Watch Party one week from tonight!

Get the offensive tackle situation worked out

In case you missed it, changes are coming to the Bears’ offensive line. Second-year player Theo Benedet is in line to start at left tackle in place of Braxton Jones, who will be moving to the bench. Benedet played well enough in Week 4 after moving from the right side to the left, where he did a bang-up job protecting the blindside of quarterback Caleb Williams. However, there is still a developmental curve he needs to continue attacking as he embarks on his journey as a starting left tackle.

I’m equally excited to see how a young player who went undrafted last year approaches his new gig, and I’m worried about what a defensive wizard like Commanders Head Coach Dan Quinn will throw his way in a primetime spot. That being said, I look forward to seeing how Bears Head Coach Ben Johnson counters whatever Quinn throws his way.

Will he use tight end Cole Kmet more as a blocker? Will Roschon Johnson get some snaps on offense? He looks like he could throw in an effective chip block. Could Braxton Jones be deployed in the swing tackle role that Benedet was thrust into early in the season? Chicago has options. It just needs to pick the right one to get the job done in the moment.

Who wants to be the Bears’ RB1?

The Chicago Bears have been synonymous with quality running back play since the franchise’s inception. Everyone knows about Walter Payton and Gale Sayers. But even after those legends hung ’em up, we have been blessed to see the likes of Neal Anderson, Matt Forte, David Montgomery, Jordan Howard, and others carry the pigskin. Unfortunately, the 2025 Bears do not have a player like that on their roster. And I don’t think someone like Anderson, Forte, Montgomery, or Howard will walk through those doors at Halas Hall and into the huddle. With that being said, everything needs to be on the table when it comes to Chicago’s ground game.

MORE: Should the Chicago Bears Trade For a Running Back?

Rookie Kyle Monangai looked better in Week 4 than in Week 3, but that might be partly due to him running forward against the Raiders instead of backward like he did against the Cowboys. In a way, you could say that Monangai’s performance was a literal step in the right direction. Perhaps that should allow him to have more touches in the offense.

Third-year running back Roschon Johnson began the year seemingly in a position to reprise his role as the team’s goal-line and short-yardage back. After all, he was solid in that area last year. Unfortunately, that hasn’t been the case. In fact, Roschon has no touches or targets in the three games he has played this season. Heck, Johnson hasn’t even registered an offensive snap. I understand he missed some time during the summer because of a foot injury, but seeing his snap share dwindle to zero feels ridiculous.

WE’RE ALREADY LOOKING AT RB PROSPECTS IN NEXT YEAR’S NFL DRAFT

Things would be better if D’Andre Swift didn’t wait until the fourth quarter to assert himself as a factor back. Swift played his best ball of the year in the fourth quarter of the Bears’ Week 4 win against the Raiders. It wasn’t just the game-winning touchdown, mind you. Swift ran hard and decisively down the stretch. He gutted out some grimy yards and ran well in space. Why he hasn’t been able to do that for four quarters is beyond me. But if he doesn’t figure it out soon, Swift could be on the cusp of being dumped. Or, at a minimum, lose out on some touches.

Figure out what the Bears can do to stop the run

The Chicago Bears run defense is allowing 164.5 rushing yards per game this season. Only the Miami Dolphins (174.2 yards/game) have been worse in that regard. Bears opponents are averaging 6.1 yards per carry. To give that number some additional perspective, the best yards per carry average Walter Payton ever posted was 5.5 in 1977 when he led the league with 1,852 rushing yards, 14 touchdowns, and a whopping 132.3 yards per game. In other words, Chicago’s run defense is making opposing ball carriers look like Sweetness out there. And I hate it so much.

CHECK IT OUT: AROUND THE NFL — WEEK 5

Getting linebacker T.J. Edwards (hamsting) back in the lineup should help. When healthy, Edwards is a tackling machine who set a career high in tackles-for-loss last season. Edwards is also just one season removed from being the team’s leading tackler. A healthy Edwards would be helpful for a reeling rush defense. The return of cornerback Kyler Gordon figures to help, too. You don’t often look for defensive backs to help bolster the run defense, but aggressive deployment of Gordon as a run blitzer from the nickel corner position could be one way to help plug some holes in the defense.

In addition to the return of some injured players, the Bears need their healthy guys to step it up after the bye. Defensive ends Dayo Odeyingbo and Montez Sweat need to show why they were handed big-money contracts. Third-year player Gervon Dexter Sr. could use this moment to boost his case for an extension after the year ends. Even veteran Andrew Billings can take his game up a notch. And let’s not forget about Grady Jarrett, who signed in free agency and has been a non-factor to this point.