The Chicago Bears picked up an important NFL victory Thursday night, but the win came with a major cost. Chicago defeated the New England Patriots 30-24 to improve to 5-2, but tight end Cole Kmet suffered a serious right knee injury late in the game. The Bears confirmed Friday that Kmet will miss the remainder of the season.
Cole Kmet suffers season-ending knee injury
Kmet was injured in the fourth quarter after catching a pass from Caleb Williams and attempting to pick up additional yardage. He was tackled by Patriots defenders and immediately grabbed his right knee before receiving attention from the Bears’ medical staff.
Kmet was eventually carted off the field, though he gave the Soldier Field crowd a thumbs-up as he left. Following the game, Bears head coach Ben Johnson acknowledged that the initial outlook was concerning.
“We’ll know more about it tomorrow, but I don’t think it looked very good,” Johnson said.
Further testing confirmed the worst-case scenario for Chicago. Johnson announced Friday that Kmet will be placed on injured reserve and will not return this season.
The 27-year-old tight end caught three passes for 28 yards in Thursday night’s victory. Through seven games, he had recorded 10 receptions for 87 yards and one touchdown. Kmet has also been an important blocker and veteran presence for Chicago’s offense.
Bears will need to adjust at tight end
Kmet’s absence creates another adjustment for an offense that has already dealt with injuries this season. Chicago will now have to redistribute his snaps while preparing for the second half of the schedule.
The Bears could turn to rookie Sam Roush for additional opportunities, while Colston Loveland is also positioned to take on a larger role. Loveland had a breakout performance against New England, catching seven passes for 69 yards and a touchdown on 12 targets.
Kmet’s leadership could be just as difficult to replace as his production. He is the longest-tenured active Bear and has been with the organization since being selected in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Williams expressed how difficult it was to see Kmet leave the game and emphasized the close relationship between the two players.
The timing makes the injury even more significant. Chicago is now 5-2 and has won four of its last five games, putting the Bears firmly in the NFC playoff picture. Their next game comes Monday night, Nov. 2, against the Seahawks in Seattle.
Chicago will have to move forward without one of its most experienced offensive players for the remainder of the season.
