The Chicago Bears lost more than a hard-fought win's afterglow on Thursday night. In the fourth quarter of a 30-24 victory over the New England Patriots, tight end Cole Kmet suffered a serious right knee injury — and on Friday, head coach Ben Johnson confirmed the worst: Kmet will miss the remainder of the 2026 season.
The seventh-year veteran, a locker-room fixture and offensive mainstay since the Bears drafted him in 2020, will be placed on injured reserve after testing confirmed a season-ending knee injury. The blow arrives just as Chicago, now 5-2, is positioning itself as a legitimate NFC contender in Johnson's second season.
A Promising Night Turns Sour: How Kmet's Knee Gave Way
With less than six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Kmet caught an eight-yard pass from quarterback Caleb Williams and began running up the sideline when his right knee buckled — the kind of non-contact sequence that immediately signals trouble — before a Patriots defender finished the tackle. Kmet grabbed at his knee, stayed down, and was tended to by trainers before being loaded onto a cart and driven off the field. He was quickly ruled out.
Chicago closed out the win behind Williams, who completed 22 of 33 passes for 308 yards and two touchdowns, with wide receiver Rome Odunze adding four catches for 69 yards and a score. But the postgame mood was tempered by the sight of one of the team's most respected veterans leaving on a cart.
Ben Johnson's Reaction: 'He's Going to Be Sorely Missed'
Speaking to reporters Friday, Johnson confirmed Kmet had suffered a "serious" knee injury and would be placed on injured reserve, ending his season. The coach did not downplay the impact.
"He's one of the guys that I can count on, whether it's a messaging standpoint or getting the pulse of the team," Johnson said. "He's going to be sorely missed."
Those words underscored Kmet's value beyond the stat sheet. Even as his receiving role had evolved, Kmet remained the offense's emotional anchor — a tone-setter in the run game, a trusted voice in the huddle, and a player Williams and the young skill group leaned on.
Colston Loveland Steps Into a Bigger Role
Kmet's absence thrusts second-year tight end Colston Loveland — the No. 10 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft — into the clear No. 1 tight end role. Loveland was already emerging: as a rookie, he led the Bears with 58 receptions for 713 yards and six touchdowns, earning the team's Rookie of the Year honor and a NFC Offensive Player of the Week award.
Through seven games in 2026, Kmet had just seven catches for 59 yards and a touchdown, per ESPN, as the offense increasingly featured Loveland as a pass-catcher and leaned on Kmet for blocking and short-area work. Even so, coaches credited Kmet for setting the standard in a young tight end room that now must grow up fast.
Timeline: From Cart Off to Injured Reserve in a Day
- Thursday, Oct. 22 — fourth quarter: Kmet injures his right knee on an eight-yard reception and is carted off with roughly 5:34 left.
- Thursday night: NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports the Bears fear a serious, potentially season-ending injury.
- Friday, Oct. 23: Testing confirms the severity, and Johnson announces Kmet will be placed on injured reserve, ending his 2026 season.
Kmet's Legacy and a Looming Contract Question
Drafted 43rd overall out of Notre Dame in 2020, Kmet has been a rare constant for a franchise that cycled through coaches and quarterbacks early in his career. Across seven seasons, he has 298 receptions for 3,026 yards and 22 touchdowns, building a reputation as one of the league's more complete tight ends.
The injury also complicates his financial future. Kmet signed a four-year, $50 million extension in 2023, and 2027 is the final year of the deal, carrying a $15.425 million cap hit. Set to turn 28 next March and now facing a significant knee rehabilitation, Kmet could face difficult conversations about his future in Chicago as the Bears build their offense around Loveland and Williams.
Where the Bears Stand: 5-2 and Chasing Minnesota
Despite the loss, Chicago is in its best position in years. Thursday's win lifted the Bears to 5-2, second in the NFC North behind the undefeated Minnesota Vikings. A year ago, Johnson guided the Bears to an 11-6 record, an NFC North title, and a playoff victory — the first of Kmet's career — and the 2026 team has kept that momentum rolling.
What's Next for Chicago's Offense
The immediate answer is more Loveland, with the Bears leaning on Williams, Odunze, DJ Moore, and the running game while the second-year tight end absorbs the bulk of Kmet's snaps. Expect Chicago to elevate or sign a blocking-first tight end to handle the in-line duties Kmet anchored, but the identity of the offense now runs through Loveland and the passing attack.
For Kmet, the focus turns to recovery and a 2027 return. If his rehabilitation goes well, he could still be a factor — but the injury adds real uncertainty to what was already shaping up as a pivotal offseason for his contract.
The Bottom Line: Key Takeaways
- Cole Kmet is out for the rest of the 2026 season with a serious right knee injury and will be placed on injured reserve.
- The injury occurred on an eight-yard catch from Caleb Williams late in Thursday's 30-24 win over New England.
- Ben Johnson called Kmet "sorely missed," emphasizing his leadership and locker-room presence.
- Colston Loveland steps up as the Bears' primary tight end.
- Kmet's contract and long-term future in Chicago now carry added uncertainty.
