Bears Make Bold Statement on D’Andre Swift Amid Struggles in the Run Game
The Chicago Bears have not established the run game as effectively as planned through the first four weeks of the 2025 regular season, but Bears head coach Ben Johnson is not pinning those shortcomings on veteran D’Andre Swift.
Swift struggled once again to generate consistent production in the run game for the Bears in Sunday’s 25-24 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, averaging fewer than 3 yards per carry for a second consecutive week and losing yardage on four of his 14 rushes.
According to ESPN’s Courtney Cronin, Swift also entered the game with a 35.7% success rate on his runs, which ranked 33rd out of 38 running backs with at least 20 carries.
When asked Monday about Swift and some of his unsuccessful red-zone carries against the Raiders, though, Johnson deflected blame away from his starter and toward other members of the offense that he feels are not “pulling their weight” — himself included.
“I don’t think our running struggles were a reflection of D’Andre Swift,” Johnson said. “I think he’s a guy that continues to run the ball very hard, even though the yards per carry aren’t where any of us want it to be right now. He’s as frustrated as anybody right now. He’s very prideful in what he can do and in what he brings to the table. And I don’t feel like everybody on offense yet is pulling their weight, and that’s myself included.”
D’Andre Swift on Pace to Hit Career-Lows for Bears
Johnson might be right that fixes in other spots on offense, such as up front on the line or out on the perimeter with the receivers, can help Swift become more productive for their offense. Through four weeks, though, Swift is on a career-low trajectory in 2025.
While Swift will likely have no trouble exceeding his career season low of 524 yards as long as he stays healthy and continues to see regular carries, he has averaged just 3.3 yards per carry through the first four games of the season, which would top last year’s career-low of 3.8 yards per carry on a career-high 253 carries for the Bears offense.
Swift has also been less productive as a pass-catcher despite remaining a regular part of the passing attack in Johnson’s new system. He has caught 13 of his 18 targets, but his yards per reception are down to 6.5 yards after he finished with a career-high 9.2 yards per reception in 2024. Some of that inefficiency is on quarterback Caleb Williams or the breakdowns in the protection, but Swift shoulders plenty of the blame himself, too.
Can Bears Solve Run Game Issues During Bye Week?
The Bears have several things to work on during their bye, but making the necessary adjustments in the run game could take priority on offense, given their struggles.
A big issue is that the Bears cannot seem to find a reliable change-of-pace option to play alongside Swift in their matchups. Rookie Kyle Monangai has given them a few good runs over the past three games, but he hasn’t been much more efficient than Swift in his limited reps. Meanwhile, Roschon Johnson has completely vanished from the offense, still waiting to take his first offensive snaps of 2025 and losing carries to D.J. Moore.
Perhaps the Bears will iron out a more consistent rotation coming out of the bye, but it still does not solve their problems with inefficiency. What’s more troubling is that there do not seem to be many issues with the run-blocking up front on the line, as the Bears rank second in the NFL in run-block win rate (76%), according to ESPN Analytics.
Could that ultimately push the Bears to consider options on the trade market? It is possible if they decide they need stronger personnel, even if they are more interested in finding a complementary back to run with Swift instead of an outright replacement.
Raiders Hit with ‘Disastrous Problem’ After Crushing Loss to Bears
The Las Vegas Raiders could be facing a disastrous problem along the offensive line after head coach Pete Carroll hinted that veteran tackle Stone Forsythe would likely replace Kolton Miller, who is believed to have suffered a high-ankle sprain that can leave him out of the lineup for multiple weeks.
Carroll told reporters, “(Forsythe) would be the first choice but this is an opportunity for Charles to make a charge for it.”
Raiders Facing a Major Dilemma at Left Tackle
GettyLas Vegas Raiders offensive lineman Stone Forsythe.
The news is far from comforting. Fans might not know much about Forsythe, but he’s struggled mightily at left tackle in limited action throughout his career.
While the 6’8″ tackle has appeared in 53 games with 14 starts, his on-field performance has often been a liability, especially against elite pass rushers.
Forsythe is best known for his poor outing against the San Francisco 49ers last season, where his efforts remain as one of the worst single-game efforts by an offensive lineman in recent memory.
In that matchup, Forsythe gave up 11 pressures to Nick Bosa alone, and an eye-popping seven pressures in just 18 pass-blocking snaps during the first half, marking the most pressures allowed in one half by any lineman that season.
That level of inefficiency could be catastrophic for the Raiders. With Miller sidelined, Forsythe would be tasked with protecting Geno Smith’s blind side — a dangerous gamble considering the team’s upcoming matchups against ferocious pass rushers like Laiatu Latu, Jeffery Simmons, George Karlaftis, and Josh Hines-Allen.
Pete Carroll may value Forsythe’s experience, but the veteran’s track record doesn’t inspire confidence. If Forsythe’s pass-blocking woes resurface, Las Vegas could find itself in a world of trouble before the bye week even arrives.
Why the Raiders Should Turn to Charles Grant Instead of Stone Forsythe
If the Raiders want to set themselves up for long-term success, the smarter move would be to allow rookie tackle Charles Grant to start at left tackle.
Drafted in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft, Grant represents the type of player both general manager John Spytek and Carroll envisioned when reshaping the Raiders’ culture this offseason.
According to The Athletic’s Tashan Reed, Las Vegas placed a heavy emphasis on character and fit when identifying prospects. Grant, standing 6’4″ and weighing 304 pounds, checked every box during the pre-draft process.
“He’s a man of high character,” said his college coach, Mike London. “I’m so proud of him, of what he’s done and what he’s still yet to do.”
Grant also impressed team officials during his top-30 visit, solidifying his reputation as a complete package. “A good athlete and a good person,” Spytek said. “He can really move his feet and run into space. (Offensive coordinator) Chip (Kelly) is super fired up about getting him in there. He fits the scheme great.”
Most importantly, Grant plays with a chip on his shoulder, something that could translate into on-field success. “I know what I can do,” Grant said. “I’ve just got to prove it to everybody.”
With Miller sidelined and Forsythe’s history of breakdowns in pass protection, now is the perfect opportunity to let Charles Grant prove himself.
Instead of risking a repeat of Stone Forsythe’s disastrous performances, Las Vegas should trust their rookie to hold down the fort and grow into a future cornerstone of the offensive line.
