These Bears rookies have huge opportunity in season opener

Then there's Chicago's seventh-round rookie: running back Kyle Monangai. Despite being listed as the third-string running back on Chicago's initial depth chart, Monangai seems to be moving his way up to the backup running back spot. Earlier this week, he was pictured at practice in a huddle with the offensive starters, getting reps that wouldn't typically go to a third-stringer.

On its own, that wouldn't be much to go on. It's just one picture, after all. But on Saturday, head coach Ben Johnson raved about Monangai to the media, saying he trusts the rookie and that he does 'everything right'. Coming from a coach as brutally honest as Johnson has shown himself to be, this can't be waved away as coach-speak before a game.

If Ben Johnson is excited enough about a seventh-round rookie to make such a strong, public declaration of support, then you can bet that Monangai has shown him and the other coaches something special.

For both Monangai and Hyppolite, their NFL journeys begin for real on Monday night. They have an opportunity to impress the coaches with their first regular season snaps, and they've got to make the most of it.