Kmet’s injury and official status
Cole Kmet will miss the remainder of the 2026 season after suffering a serious right-knee injury Thursday night, Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson confirmed Friday. Kmet, 27, exited the Bears’ 30-24 win over the New England Patriots in the fourth quarter after appearing unable to put weight on his right leg and being carted off the field.
Johnson described the injury as “serious” and said Kmet will be placed on injured reserve, removing him from the active roster for the rest of the season. “He’s a big part of our heartbeat,” Johnson said in addressing the team’s coaching staff and media about the loss.
Immediate roster consequences for the Chicago Bears
The Bears will now formally move Kmet to injured reserve, a procedural step that confirms he will not return this year. Kmet had played most of Thursday’s matchup before the injury forced him from the field late in the game; the team nonetheless secured the victory, 30-24.
With the placement on IR finalized by the coaching staff, the Bears must adjust their active roster and tight-end rotation the remainder of the season. Johnson’s acknowledgment of Kmet’s central role signaled the coaching staff recognizes the void the injury creates, though the head coach did not provide further specifics on replacements or schematic changes.
The timeline for Kmet’s recovery beyond this season was not disclosed; the club’s public updates focused on the immediate outcome that he will not be available for the rest of 2026. The Bears’ handling of roster moves and any additional announcements on depth-chart adjustments will come through the team as they prepare for upcoming games without Kmet.
