'That ain't me': Bears RB Swift laments early fumble issues

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  Courtney CroninOct 8, 2026, 05:35 PM ET

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  Courtney Cronin joined ESPN in 2017, originally covering the Minnesota Vikings before switching to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is a frequent panelist on Around the Horn and host of Best Week Ever and GameNight on ESPN Radio. She also co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN 1000. She previously worked at the San Jose Mercury News as a multimedia sports journalist.

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Bears running back D'Andre Swift delivered a succinct response Thursday to questions surrounding his early season fumbles.

"That ain't me," Swift said.

The 27-year-old running back has fumbled twice in four games with his most recent happening in the third quarter of the Bears' 23-12 win over the Jets.

As Swift made his way outside on a run to his left, Jets linebacker Jamien Sherwood lunged at the running back to make a tackle. As he was brought down, the ball popped out from Swift's left arm and was recovered by New York, which churned out a field goal after the change in possession.

"I think the one last week was egregious," coach Ben Johnson said, "It's one that we can't have. There's too many times when the ball's getting away from our body and he knows that."

Swift spent the rest of the afternoon on the sideline as Bears running back Kyle Monangai totaled a career-high 30 carries for 146 yards and two touchdowns.

Swift didn't necessarily view being taken out of the game as a benching or reset but owned the consequences of his turnover.

"I wasn't really told anything, but I do understand that can't happen," Swift said. "So I take whatever comes with that. You know what I mean? I can't put the ball on the ground. I'm putting the team and everybody else (down). I can't do that. I know that."

Swift was back at practice Thursday in limited capacity after not practicing Wednesday with knee and hip injuries. Monangai missed his second straight practice while battling multiple injuries. While Johnson said the thumb injury Monangai sustained against the Jets is "not an issue," the running back is also working through a turf toe injury which puts his availability for the next one to two weeks in question, a source told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.

The Bears gave Swift a three-year, $33.75 million contract extension two days before the start of the 2026 season. Monangai and Swift are both seventh and eighth, respectively, in rushing through four games and have helped Chicago build the league's top rushing offense.

The Bears average a league-high 196 rushing yards per game and lead the NFL in both rushing yards before contact (421) and after contact (364). The Green Bay Packers, Chicago's Week 5 opponent, are allowing 139.3 rushing yards per game (28th in NFL).

Swift's two lost fumbles, including one at the goal line in a loss to Minnesota, matches his total from 2025. His fumble against the Vikings was his first red zone fumble since Dec. 20, 2020. Swift had accounted for 156 red zone carries between that game and when he fumbled in Week 2.

"I know that's not me," Swift said. "That's not a part of my game. It hasn't been, so I'm not about to make it one. It's over with now."

While the Bears work on ball security drills at every practice, there's an extra emphasis on it this week for Swift, who returned to practice Thursday in limited capacity while dealing with hip and knee injuries.

"For me personally, yes, for sure," Swift said. "I need to make sure the ball is high and tight at all times when I'm trying to move, make moves, whatever the case may be. And I control that. So it's all on me."