The Chicago Bears will be without starting tight end Cole Kmet for the remainder of the season after testing confirmed a serious right knee injury sustained late Thursday night. Head coach Ben Johnson said Friday that Kmet is headed to injured reserve and will not play again this year.
How it happened and reaction
Kmet injured his knee late in the fourth quarter after hauling in a short, nine-yard pass from quarterback Caleb Williams near the Bears’ sideline. The play ended with a heavy collision involving Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez and linebacker Robert Spillane; Kmet was attended to on the field and teammates gathered around him before he was carted to the locker room.
Williams, visibly moved after the game, said, "I don't have the words to describe what Cole is to me, what Cole is to this team, this organization." Johnson acknowledged after the game that the outlook did not look promising and on Friday confirmed the team’s worst fears following medical testing.
Immediate roster and offensive implications
The Bears had praised Kmet's contributions since training camp; offensive coordinator Press Taylor called him "everything we are about" this summer. The seven-year veteran will miss the rest of the season, forcing the team to reshuffle the tight end workload.
Chicago will lean on Colston Loveland and rookie Sam Roush at the position for the remainder of the year, a short-term plan Johnson confirmed as the club prepares to move forward without Kmet's veteran presence. The team also announced Kmet will be placed on injured reserve.
The injury came in a victory over New England. While the win helps the club's standing, losing Kmet alters personnel and game-plan options for the coming weeks as the coaching staff adjusts matchups and play-calling without one of their primary tight-end targets.
Johnson spoke highly of Kmet even as he delivered the difficult update, saying the organization holds the 2020 draft pick in high regard. The Bears now must integrate Colston Loveland and Sam Roush into expanded roles at tight end.
