Bears flatten Jets 23-12 as Monangai runs for 146 yards and Bagent stars in relief of Williams

The Chicago Bears are finding ways to win without Caleb Williams. Kyle Monangai rushed for 146 yards and two touchdowns and Tyson Bagent passed for 268 yards as the host Bears beat the New York Jets 23-12 on Sunday at Soldier Field, Reuters reported.

Chicago (3-1) held New York (1-3) to 157 total yards and seven first downs while rolling up 492 yards and 34 first downs of its own, as the Jets lost their third game in a row. Bagent finished 25-of-34 in his first start since December 2023, subbing for Williams, who missed his second straight game with a right hamstring injury, the Associated Press reported. Bagent did not technically take the first snap — Case Keenum lined up at quarterback for the opening play before Bagent took over.

Monangai, on 30 carries, scored on a 1-yard run on fourth-and-goal late in the first quarter and added a 5-yard touchdown with 2:26 left in the third. Cairo Santos kicked three field goals for Chicago, while Jason Sanders answered with kicks of 36 and 30 yards for New York. The Jets’ only touchdown came on Geno Smith’s 58-yard pass to Isaiah Williams with 9:16 left, but Sanders missed the extra point.

New York got its first interception since the 2024 season finale when safety Minkah Fitzpatrick picked off Bagent in the second quarter, ending a 20-game drought. Rome Odunze had six catches for 94 yards for the Bears, whose defence permitted just one touchdown for the second straight game, per the team’s official recap.

Sources

• Reuters: https://www.reuters.com/sports/nfl/kyle-monangai-tyson-bagent-stand-out-bears-flatten-jets—flm-2026-10-04/
• Associated Press (via La Nación): https://www.lanacion.com.ar/usa/kyle-monangai-scores-2-tds-as-the-chicago-bears-beat-the-new-york-jets-23-12-nid04102026/
• chicagobears.com: https://www.chicagobears.com/news/game-recap-bears-ground-jets-improve-to-3-1
• Sportradar (final 23-12): https://sportradar.com/?q=1816505473857837402