Cole Kmet believed to have suffered likely season-ending knee injury in Bears' Thursday win
Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet is believed to have suffered a serious, likely season-ending knee injury in Thursday's 30-24 win over the Patriots, per Ian Rapoport. The 27-year-old was carted off at Soldier Field after an 8-yard catch late in the fourth quarter.
The Chicago Bears’ 30-24 Thursday Night Football win over the New England Patriots came at a heavy cost, with tight end Cole Kmet believed to have suffered a serious, likely season-ending knee injury.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported on Friday via Good Morning Football that, per sources, the injury is expected to end Kmet’s season — though testing was ongoing and there is no finality to the diagnosis yet.
The 27-year-old went down with 5:34 remaining in the fourth quarter at Soldier Field, after an 8-yard catch from Caleb Williams, tackled low by Robert Spillane and Christian Gonzalez. Kmet grabbed his right knee immediately, couldn’t put weight on his right leg, and was carted off, giving a thumbs-up to the crowd. He was ruled out on the spot, finishing with three catches for 28 yards. Through seven games he has 10 catches for 87 yards and a touchdown.
Bears coach Ben Johnson admitted: “I don’t think it looked very good,” with more tests Friday. Williams paid tribute: “I don’t have the words to describe what Cole is to me… I’ll be right there with him through every step of whatever the injury is.”
Kmet, a 2020 second-round pick (#43 overall) out of Notre Dame, is in his seventh season and signed a four-year, $50 million extension in July 2023. His 2027 cap number is $15.4 million, and the Bears have a clear out in the deal.
Sources: Sports Illustrated, BearsWire / USA Today, New York Post, NBC Sports / ProFootballTalk
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