Chicago Bears practice update: D'Andre Swift, Kyle Monangai return, Rome Odunze still out

Chicago Bears running back Kyle Monangai celebrates after their 22-16 overtime win over the Green Bay Packers last season at Soldier Field in Chicago. (Mark Busch) The Chicago Bears got some good injury news Monday as they started preparation for Sunday's season-opener against the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte. Running backs D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai both returned to practice after dealing with injuries. The Bears, however, didn't get wide receiver Rome Odunze back after he left Thursday's practice early with an apparent injury. Swift left Thursday's two-hour practice during the final drill. He ran for a nice gain but then grabbed at his core and left the field quickly. It was reported that Swift suffered from a cramp. Bears head coach Ben Johnson didn't meet with reporters Monday to provide any injury updates. Monangai returned to the field after missing the past three weeks with a knee injury. He suffered the injury one day after the Bears' preseason opener against the Cleveland Browns when he tangled legs with a defensive tackle during a non-padded practice. Monangai reportedly suffered a hyperextended knee, and it kept him out until Monday. It's encouraging news for the Bears running back room that is essential to the offense's success this season. Swift rushed for a career-high 1,087 yards and nine touchdowns, while Monangai rushed for 783 yards after the team selected him in the seventh round last year. Odunze missed his first practice of camp Monday after looking like his old self over the past month, which was encouraging given how last season went. He missed the last five games of the regular season last year after a foot injury limited what he could do. Odunze returned for the team's two playoff games. The Bears are hoping that Odunze can recover from Thursday and be ready for the start of the season. Johnson will next speak with reporters before Tuesday's practice. Rookies prepare for debuts Sunday will be the first time most of the Bears rookies will take part in an NFL game. Even though they have played in three preseason games this month, the Bears rookies realized the difference that would take place Sunday in Charlotte. 'It's really exciting,' tight end Sam Roush said. 'Obviously, it will be a new experience, but at the end of the day, I'll be playing football, so I think I'll feel comfortable. It was nice to kind of get some preseason games under my belt just to continue to rep plays.' First-round draft pick safety Dillon Thieneman said it finally hit him over the weekend that he had made it to the NFL. Thieneman spent most of the spring and summer learning as much as he could to be ready for Sunday's opener. But now that he's actually game planning for the Panthers, Thieneman felt like he had finally made it. The speed of the game is something that most rookies struggle to adjust to early on in their careers. Thieneman has been working hard at catching up to the speed to be ready for whatever he faces Sunday. 'I think just more tendencies and some of the little things, just from the vets,' Thieneman said. 'You understand stuff, you understand what they're saying. But it's like understanding it and acting on it and anticipating it are a few different things. Like they'll say something in a meeting, and I'll be like, 'Yeah, I knew that was coming,' but not like jumping on it.' Chicago Bears safety Dillon Thieneman talks to teammates during their preseason game against the Cleveland Browns earlier this month at Soldier Field in Chicago. (Mark Busch) Practice notes Chicago held a light 40-minute practice Monday as players worked their way back to the field after having three days off for the Labor Day holiday weekend. The Bears mostly spent time working on individual and positional drills. They ended practice with a special teams period, while quarterbacks and some receivers worked on a drill. Players will return to the field for practice Tuesday. They'll have an off day Wednesday before going back to work at Halas Hall on Thursday and Friday. They'll then hit the road for Charlotte. Taking attendance Chicago had a near-perfect attendance Monday as they started preparing for the Panthers. Odunze was the lone player to not take part in practice. Linebacker D'Marco Jackson returned to practice for the first time in a week after he was away with an apparent injury. Defensive end Austin Booker took part in the second straight practice after he hurt himself in a joint practice with the Cincinnati Bengals earlier this month. Booker had been considered week-to-week with a groin injury. The team will officially send out its first injury report Wednesday.