Bears’ Sweat suspended two games for violating performance-enhancing drug policy
The Bears already faced the prospect of being thin at defensive end for the near future, and now they will be without Montez Sweat for the next two games.
The NFL announced Tuesday that Sweat is suspended for two weeks for violating the league’s performance-enhancing substances policy. That means he’s out for Sunday’s Week 6 game in Atlanta and the Week 7 game against the New England Patriots on Thursday, Oct. 22, at Soldier Field.
Defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo left Sunday’s 31-7 loss in Green Bay with a quadriceps injury, so his availability is in question.
That means the Bears and defensive coordinator Dennis Allen could be short-handed for multiple games after the defense experienced wildly different performances in the first five games. The Bears surrendered 478 yards and 37 points in the season-opening win at Carolina and were torched by the Packers on Sunday as quarterback Jordan Love had one of the best games of his career, completing 25 of 31 passes for 367 yards and two touchdowns.
Defensive end Austin Booker had two of his four sacks this season in Green Bay and is in line to start now. The Bears have used James Lynch at both tackle and end, and the Bears on Tuesday restored 2025 second-round pick Shemar Turner to the 53-man roster from the physically unable to perform list. Turner has been recovering from a torn ACL suffered last season.
Jamree Kromah, who has yet to play this season, and special teams mainstay Daniel Hardy are also options at end.
Sweat has two sacks, seven tackles and four quarterback hits this season but hasn’t been the dominant force the Bears hoped to see.
Coach Ben Johnson repeatedly praised Sweat during the offseason and again in training camp, saying of the 2025 season, “I would argue it was the best year of his career.” Sweat had 10 sacks and 18 QB hits last season, and the vibe was that Johnson was attempting to motivate the 30-year-old to reach another level this season.
That hasn’t happened to this point, and now the Bears will have to play two games without Sweat while also facing the prospect of Odeyingbo needing some time to heal.
Sweat has one year remaining on his contract with an $18.9 million base salary, a $100,000 workout bonus and a $2 million roster bonus. A decision on his future will be due early in the offseason as the roster bonus is due on the fifth day of the league year. No guaranteed money remains in the contract.