Ben Johnson Adds Rookie Weapon With Jahmyr Gibbs Buzz

At NRG Stadium in Houston, the Texans are set to open the 2025 regular season against the Bears on Sept. 7. That makes any new wrinkle in Ben Johnson's offense worth noting, especially after a report that one of Chicago's newest skill players is already drawing Jahmyr Gibbs comparisons.

Johnson, the former Lions offensive coordinator, built his reputation around pace, spacing and backfield versatility in Detroit. Gibbs became one of the clearest examples of that approach. Now Johnson is in Chicago as head coach, and a new report points to rookie running back Kyle Monangai as a player whose quickness and usage traits have sparked early parallels to Gibbs inside the Bears orbit.

Ben Johnson offense gets an early rookie talking point

The comparison does not mean Monangai is expected to match Gibbs' production or role right away. Gibbs entered the NFL as a first-round pick with elite receiving value, while Monangai arrived with a different draft profile. The key detail is stylistic. Johnson's system has long favored backs who can hit creases fast, change tempo and create trouble on option routes and misdirection touches.

For the Texans, that matters because Chicago is one of the first measuring-stick opponents on the 2025 slate. DeMeco Ryans and Houston's defensive staff will spend the summer preparing for a Bears attack that now features Johnson's play-calling background layered onto a roster still adding speed. A rookie back earning Gibbs-style chatter in July does not settle anything, but it does add another variable to an opener already packed with intrigue.

Why the Texans opener against Chicago carries extra juice

Houston's defense has built its identity on speed and discipline under Ryans. The challenge against a Johnson game plan is different from facing a static run game. His better units in Detroit forced linebackers and safeties to process motion, screens and angle changes on the fly. Any player who can threaten the edge or catch the ball cleanly out of the backfield raises the degree of difficulty.

Chicago still has to sort out touches, camp roles and the pecking order once preseason reps begin. That part matters. Early offseason praise can fade once pads come on. Still, the Gibbs comparison tells you what coaches may be trying to build around Monangai, even if the final version lands smaller than the Detroit model.

Houston gets an early look at a reshaped Bears attack

The Texans will not need to wait long to see what Johnson's offense looks like in live action. The Week 1 meeting at NRG Stadium gives Houston a direct shot at testing a reworked Bears scheme from the opening Sunday of the season. If Monangai carves out a role by then, his usage on screens, perimeter runs and change-of-pace snaps could become one of the game's more interesting subplots.

Training camp and preseason usage should offer the next concrete clues on where Monangai fits. Houston opens the regular season against Chicago on Sept. 7 at NRG Stadium, giving the Texans a front-row look at whether this offseason comparison translates into real touches.

This article is a summary of reporting by Heavy. Read the full story here.