Bears down to 2 healthy RBs in practice

The Bears practiced Monday with just two healthy running backs: starter D’Andre Swift and backup Brittain Brown, whom they signed two weeks ago.

They remain without their three remaining running backs: Roschon Johnson (calf), Kyle Monangai (soft tissue injury) and Travis Homer (foot). The team expects Monangai, the seventh-round rookie, back somewhat soon. Still, the Bears could pursue running back depth via waivers after Tuesday’s 3 p.m. deadline to cut the roster to 53 players — or perhaps a trade beforehand.

“We're depleted a little bit in that area as you can see, and so, we got to find ways to get our guys the ball,” offensive coordinator Declan Doyle said before Monday’s practice. “That doesn't always have to be the running back; that can be a wideout, that can be a tight end, but we'll continue to try to get the balls and the ball in the hands of our playmakers.”

Receiver DJ Moore remains an option — he’s worked on and off with the running back group — though the expectation is that he’ll remain primarily a receiver and venture into the backfield for special packages.

“We’re trying to get the ball in the hands of playmakers,” Doyle said. “Whoever those people are and where they may be aligned pre-snap can change but, yeah I’ll leave it at that.”

Notes

• The Bears put fifth-round rookie cornerback Zah Frazier, who missed all of training camp with what the team called personal reasons, on the reserved/non-football injury list. He was spotted at Halas Hall last week but coach Ben Johnson said Friday he was no closer to returning to practice.

• Asked whether Braxton Jones had locked in the starting left tackle job, Doyle praised his meeting and practice habits but said the answer would likely come from Johnson. Jones has been settled in with the first team the past two games.

• Linebacker Tremaine Edmunds and cornerback Kyler Gordon were on the field Monday but did little. Players not spotted: receivers Devin Duvernay and J.P, Richardson, cornerback Josh Blackwell, linebacker Amen Ogbongbemiga, interior offensive linemen Bill Murray and Doug Kramer, and defensive end Austin Booker.