Chicago Bears running game looms as huge factor vs. Green Bay Packers — but will Kyle Monangai play?

When it comes to the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers, you can never take any statistical advantage as a given. But there’s one phase of the game — at least on paper — the Bears seem to have the Packers over a barrel: the running game.

The Bears enter Sunday’s Week 5 matchup at Lambeau Field boasting the No. 1 rushing offense at 196.3 yards per game. Conversely, the Packers run defense ranks 28th, allowing 139.3 yards per game.

However, Bears running backs coach Eric Studesville doesn’t see a vulnerability at all.

“The (defensive) front is impressive,” he said. “The backers are really impressive. I think (linebacker) Zaire Franklin’s a good addition for them. (Linebacker Edgerrin) Cooper going down (with a torn Achilles) is different, but (Isaiah) McDuffie’s going to be in there. He’s going to play his tail off.

“The safeties (Evan Williams and Xavier McKinney) and the nickel (Javon Bullard) are really good players, and so I think this day is going to be a great challenge for us. But if we go and do what we’re supposed to do, we’ll have a chance.”

Bears running backs Kyle Monangai and D’Andre Swift rank seventh and eighth among the league’s rushing leaders with 324 and 311 yards, respectively.

Monangai ranks sixth among qualifiers with 5.4 yards per carry.

According to Next Gen Stats, Monangai reaches the line of scrimmage in just 2.50 seconds on average, the fastest mark among 39 running backs with at least 30 carries.

“He’s aggressive and decisive,” Studesville said. “He’s a vertical cut, but he’s a tough, physical runner, runs behind his pads. He brings a physicality to our offense, and that gives us juice.”

On a 30-carry, 146-yard day against the New York Jets, Monangai had 106 yards after contact — the fifth-highest mark in a game this season, behind two runs apiece from the Atlanta Falcons’ Bijan Robinson and Kansas City Chiefs’ Kenneth Walker — and three runs of at least 10 yards.

After Swift fumbled in the third quarter, Monangai finished with 19 carries for 96 yards, including a 26-yarder, and a touchdown.

“Happy for him,” Swift said Thursday. “He finished the game how he’s supposed to. Had a hell of a game.”

The hiccup for Week 5 is that Monangai missed a second consecutive day of practice Thursday with thumb and toe injuries. Coach Ben Johnson said earlier this week that the thumb injury shouldn’t be an issue, but he hadn’t addressed Monangai’s toe injury.

Swift was limited in practice with hip and knee injuries. He had 15 carries for 58 yards against the Jets, but the biggest blemish of his day was the lost fumble, his second of the season.

“That ain’t me,” Swift said. “So I’m not about to make it a thing. Just be more conscious of it.”

Another flaw for the Bears has been their lack of effectiveness in the red zone (42.11%, ranked 30th), an area of emphasis all week. But red-zone rushing probably has been particularly galling for Ben Johnson, as big a disciple of the run as there is in the league.

In the first series against the Jets, Swift saw touchdown runs from the 3- and 1-yard lines reversed on replay. The Bears turned the ball over on downs.

On the next series, the Bears drove to the Jets 4, but it took three straight tries for Monangai to cross the goal line.

“Very” frustrating, Swift said. “Because I think if we clean up the red-zone scoring we’ll be in a better position offensively with points and things like that. But got to get it in there. Got to score on the first drive.”

Swift’s other fumble this season also came in the red zone: He fumbled near the goal line against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 2.

The Bears converted 100% of red-zone trips against the Panthers, but the fact they went 0-for-3 against the Vikings and converted 40% versus the Philadelphia Eagles and 29% against the Jets over the last three weeks has been “disappointing,” offensive coordinator Press Taylor said.

“Certain teams have played us maybe a little bit differently than we planned for based on whatever they saw on us,” he said. “So we’re trying to make sure we do a great job self-scouting, things like that.

“But ultimately it’s something we got to get cleaned up, and I think we’re on the right track of doing that. But it’s got to show up for us.”

Injuries

Guards Jonah Jackson (ankle) and Joe Thuney (pectoral) and right tackle Darnell Wright (ankle) all returned to practice Thursday after missing Wednesday’s session.

Quarterback Caleb Williams (hamstring) and linebacker Keyshaun Elliott (quad) missed practice.

However, defensive backs Kyler Gordon (calf) and Cam Lewis (hip) were full participants, as were linebacker Noah Sewell (Achilles) and Shemar Turner (knee).

Gordon, Sewell and Turner remained on the reserve/physically unable to perform list as of Thursday but have been practicing in their respective 21-day return-to-pay windows.