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Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet will not return this season after suffering a serious right knee injury in the team's victory over the New England Patriots, head coach Ben Johnson confirmed on Friday. The injury occurred late in the fourth quarter after Kmet caught a pass. Johnson stated that Kmet is out for the season but did not disclose the specific nature of the knee injury.
The loss is a significant blow for the Bears. Kmet, 27, is in his seventh season with the team and is the longest-tenured player on the roster. Among Bears tight ends, he ranks second only to Mike Ditka in both pass receptions and receiving yards. Kmet also has deep ties to the Chicago area: he grew up in the northwest suburbs and attended St. Viator High School in Arlington Heights.
Dave Archibald, Kmet's high school football coach at St. Viator, expressed support for the tight end and his family. "I feel for Cole and for Emily, his wife, and family, and obviously for the city of Chicago that loves him and loves how he represents our city, the team, the McCaskey family, the Bears organization," Archibald said. He also believes Kmet will handle the setback with the same professionalism he has shown throughout his career. "But the flip side, too, I think Cole is a professional, and he's faced adversity at different times in his athletic career, whether that was high school or Notre Dame, and now I think we'll see him go through it with that same professionalism," Archibald added.
Despite Kmet's absence, the Bears have other options at tight end. Colston Loveland is expected to take on a larger role, while rookie Sam Roush will likely see increased playing time. Johnson said nothing changes with the team's playbook because of Kmet's injury. The Bears improved to 5-2 with the win over the Patriots and will look to maintain that momentum as they move forward without one of their longest-serving players.
Key Analysis
Kmet's season-ending injury leaves a void in the Bears' offense, but the team appears prepared to adjust with Loveland and Roush stepping up. The tight end's absence is felt both on and off the field, given his tenure and local connections. How Chicago adapts will be crucial as it aims to build on its 5-2 start.
Originally reported by yahoo.