Swift and Monangai return to Bears practice, Odunze still out

Running backs D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai were back on the fields at Halas Hall on Monday afternoon as the Bears got in a 40-minute bonus practice in advance of the season opener, but wide receiver Rome Odunze remained out. The Bears returned to work from a three-day weekend for what will be a slightly altered schedule before the Week 1 meeting with the Carolina Panthers on Sunday at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C. Swift and Odunze both exited early during a long, hot practice Thursday. ESPN reported Swift, who was in pain, suffered a cramp. Odunze appeared to have a right leg or ankle/foot issue. He tried to continue in Thursday's practice but was pulled out. Coach Ben Johnson recently referred to the third-year receiver as 'Mr. Consistency.' Johnson won't speak with reporters until before practice Tuesday, and the Bears will release the first injury report of the season Wednesday afternoon. The team will practice Tuesday, Thursday and Friday this week, and Wednesday will be a day off for players. Getting Swift and Monangai back is key. Monangai had been sidelined since Aug. 16 after suffering a hyperextended right knee when he got tangled up in practice with defensive tackle Grady Jarrett. Odunze's status remains unknown, but at least the Bears have solid depth at his position. Swift has been one of the best-looking players since the Bears reported for training camp in July. He had a career-high 1,087 rushing yards and nine touchdowns last season and is entering a contract year. Johnson has been bullish about Odunze, who led the team in receiving through the first half of last season before a foot injury sidelined him and then affected his play when he returned. 'I know the dialogue about his foot and all that, and yet you didn't see any setback from that regard,' Johnson said last week. 'I thought he looked completely healthy. I showed a highlight of him to the team just the other day, cracking one of the safeties in the joint practice. That inspires me to — not want to get him the football — but I need to get him the football when I see things like that. 'He's doing all the little things, the things that maybe other people don't notice and the coaching staff is very appreciative of because it's going to help us win games. He's going to be a key cog in what we do.' Odunze was the only player on the active roster not spotted during practice.