The Chicago Bears must close out October without defensive end Montez Sweat.
The NFL suspended Sweat two games for violating the league’s performance-enhancing substances policy. He’ll miss Chicago’s Week 6 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons and the ensuing Thursday Night Football game against the New England Patriots before being eligible to return in Week 8.
Sweat has missed one game in the last four seasons, but the 2023 Pro Bowler must take a seat as the 3-2 Bears look to keep pace in a highly competitive NFC North.
More on Sweat’s suspension
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Sweat helped propel the Bears to the playoffs last season, leading the defense with 10 sacks, 18 quarterback hits, and three forced fumbles. He recorded three quarterback hits in their first-round win over the Green Bay Packers before forcing a strip-sack in Chicago’s NFC Divisional Round loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
The 30-year-old has begun his eighth NFL season with seven pressures, four hits, and two sacks in five games. Yet his 55.9 grade ranks 81st out of 106 qualified defensive linemen on Pro Football Focus.
Chicago loses a key piece of its No. 9 defense right before facing two dangerous opponents. The Falcons have scored 103 points in their last three games behind superstar running back Bijan Robinson, and the Patriots rebounded from a rough start with a 45-17 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders last week. A.J. Brown could also return in time for Week 7’s Thursday Night Football Clash at Soldier Field.
The Bears can welcome Sweat back for a Monday Night Football game against the Seattle Seahawks on Nov. 2.
