The NFL has handed Chicago Bears defensive end Montez Sweat a two-game suspension without pay.
As a result, Sweat will be unavailable for Sunday’s matchup against the Atlanta Falcons and next Thursday night’s game against the New England Patriots.
Why is Montez Sweat suspended?
The league confirmed that the suspension stems from a violation of its policy on performance-enhancing substances. However, the NFL has not provided additional details regarding the nature of the violation involving the Bears pass rusher.
The 30-year-old will be eligible to return from his suspension on Friday, October 23, after the Bears complete their Week 7 matchup against the New England Patriots.
Who will replace Sweat?
{{/usCountry}}The 30-year-old will be eligible to return from his suspension on Friday, October 23, after the Bears complete their Week 7 matchup against the New England Patriots.
Who will replace Sweat?
{{/usCountry}}Sweat has recorded five tackles and two sacks across the Bears’ first five games, ranking third on the team in sacks. The defensive end is coming off a productive previous season in which he finished with 53 tackles and a career-best 10 sacks.
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Sweat typically lines up on Chicago’s left side of the defensive front, leaving Austin Booker as the likely replacement in that spot during his absence.
Bears face concerns over edge-rusher depth
The Bears’ problems at edge rusher extend beyond Sweat’s suspension. Dayo Odeyingbo, another important member of Chicago’s pass-rushing unit, suffered a quad injury and exited early during the team’s Week 5 game against the Green Bay Packers.
Odeyingbo has made a notable impact this season, accumulating three sacks and 14 pressures in five games. He ranks second on the team in sacks and leads Chicago in pressures, making his status particularly important with Sweat set to miss time.
The Bears have not yet shared details about the severity of his injury or how long he might be sidelined. Should Odeyingbo also be unavailable, Chicago’s ability to pressure opposing quarterbacks could take another hit.
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Austin Booker has emerged as a bright spot, delivering three sacks across his last two outings. With four sacks through five games, he currently leads the Bears in the category and is closing in on his personal best of 4.5.
Still, Chicago cannot rely on Booker alone to carry the pass rush.
Bears edge-rusher depth
The team’s options behind him are limited, with Daniel Hardy, Jamree Kromah and James Lynch among the remaining edge rushers on the 53-man roster.
Without established depth at the position, the Bears could find themselves in a difficult situation if Odeyingbo is forced to miss games alongside Sweat.