The Chicago Bears just lost their best pass rusher for two weeks, and the timing could not be worse. Montez Sweat is out for the next two games after violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing substances policy. This is a massive blow to a defense that already struggled to stop the Packers. The team now faces a long road without its leading sack artist from last season.
A Sudden Silence on the Edge
Sweat has been a key part of the lineup since 2023, but he will miss Sunday’s game at Atlanta and the following Thursday match against New England. That specific schedule detail was confirmed by the Chicago Tribune on X. The league does not always say exactly what substance caused the trouble, but NBC Sports noted that a two-game ban usually points to a stimulant or masking agent. If it were steroids, the player would likely sit out six games or more. The exact reason remains unclear, yet the penalty is final and immediate.
This suspension hits right after a 31-7 loss to Green Bay where the defense looked lost. Sweat had two sacks through the first five games, contributing to the team’s twelve total sacks. He led the entire squad with ten sacks during the 2025 season. Losing that kind of production leaves a huge hole that no one can easily fill. The Bears are 3-2, but they must find a way to win without their top edge rusher.
Depth Issues Loom Large
The team activated Shemar Turner to take Sweat’s spot on the 53-man roster, but Turner is not ready to play heavy minutes. Turner is coming off a torn ACL and has only played five games in his rookie year. Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen warned that expecting new guys to play fifty or sixty snaps right away is unrealistic. He said it would be prudent to bring them in slowly without expecting them to be full-time players initially. This is a clear sign that the Bears are short on quality depth at defensive end.
Austin Booker currently leads the group with four sacks, but the unit is thin. The Bears also have to deal with injuries to starting quarterback Caleb Williams, though he is expected to return for the next game. The offense cannot carry the team if the defense collapses without its best player. The math is simple: a top pass rusher is gone, and the backup plan is limited.
Fans Are Furious
Callers venting on 104.3 The Score were furious.
“I work for a job, if I get drug tested and I fail, I lose my job,” a caller says. “He’s a millionaire. It’s a wrap. You’re a bust. You did nothing for us. Just beat it. Go home.”
