Bears Fear Cole Kmet's Season Is Over After Knee Injury in Patriots Win

The Chicago Bears are bracing for the worst on tight end Cole Kmet. NFL Network reported Friday that Kmet is likely to miss the rest of the season with a knee injury sustained in Thursday night's 30-24 home win over the New England Patriots. Kmet was carted off the field in the fourth quarter after grabbing his right knee when he was tackled low following an 8-yard catch. He finished the game with three receptions for 28 yards.

Head coach Ben Johnson told reporters after the game that the injury did not look good, and Kmet was scheduled for further testing on Friday to confirm a diagnosis. The 27-year-old has 10 receptions for 87 yards and one touchdown in seven games this season, starting three of them.

Kmet, drafted by Chicago in the second round out of Notre Dame in 2020, has one season remaining on a four-year, $50 million contract extension he signed in July 2023. Over 107 career games, 94 of them starts, he has collected 298 catches for 3,026 yards and 22 touchdowns. His absence would strip quarterback Caleb Williams of one of his most experienced pass catchers as the Bears push deeper into the season.