Montez Sweat will miss the Chicago Bears’ next two games after the NFL suspended the defensive end without pay for violating its performance-enhancing substances policy.
The suspension was reported Tuesday. The penalty removes a starting member of Chicago’s defensive front as the Bears prepare for two games in five days.
Sweat will be unavailable against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday and the New England Patriots the following Thursday. His absence comes with another defensive end, Dayo Odeyingbo, dealing with a quadriceps injury suffered in Sunday’s loss to the Green Bay Packers.
For the Bears, the immediate issue is how to redistribute work along the defensive line while trying to correct the breakdowns that contributed to a 31-7 defeat. Chicago emerged from that game at 3-2, with its two-game winning streak over and a quick turnaround between its next two opponents.
When Montez Sweat can return to the Bears
Sweat will be eligible for reinstatement Oct. 23. That is the day after Chicago hosts New England, meaning the suspension covers both upcoming games rather than ending before the Thursday matchup.
The Bears’ schedule lists their next game after New England as a Monday night visit to the Seattle Seahawks on Nov. 2. That would be Sweat’s first opportunity to play following the suspension.
Chicago visits Atlanta on Oct. 18 before returning to Soldier Field for the Oct. 22 game against the Patriots. The short interval gives the coaching staff limited time to adjust again after seeing how its revised defensive-line rotation performs against the Falcons.
The reported suspension identifies a violation of the league’s performance-enhancing substances policy. The reporting reviewed did not identify a specific substance, and the length of the penalty alone should not be treated as confirmation of what was involved.
The practical timetable is clearer: Chicago must prepare for Atlanta and New England without Sweat, then can work toward getting him back for Seattle once he is eligible.
Austin Booker becomes a key part of Chicago’s response
The Bears have an obvious player to watch in Austin Booker, who was listed behind Sweat on the team’s depth chart. Jamree Kromah was behind Booker, while Daniel Hardy was listed behind Odeyingbo on the other side.
That chart predates both Sunday’s injuries and Tuesday’s suspension. It offers a view of the available personnel, rather than an announcement of who will start against Atlanta or how many snaps each player will receive.
Booker also supplied one of Chicago’s better defensive sequences in Green Bay. He sacked Jordan Love on consecutive plays late in the first half after the Packers took possession near midfield.
Those plays kept Green Bay from adding to its lead before halftime. They also give Booker a recent example of productive pass rushing to build on as Chicago considers how to cover Sweat’s absence.
The larger performance remained troubling. Love completed 25 of 31 passes for 367 yards and two touchdowns, and Green Bay scored touchdowns on its first two possessions.
Chicago also lost the turnover battle 5-0, complicating the defense’s assignment throughout the afternoon.
Odeyingbo left the game with a quad injury. His availability is another important variable: losing Sweat is one problem, but having to compensate for both starting ends would require a broader adjustment.
Shemar Turner’s expected return offers another option
There could be help coming back to the defensive line. The Bears were expected to restore Shemar Turner to the 53-man roster from the physically unable to perform list.
The move was likely to happen even without Sweat’s suspension. That distinction matters because Turner’s expected return should not be presented as a transaction created solely in response to the penalty.
An additional available lineman would give Chicago another option, but returning to the roster and taking over a starter’s workload are separate questions.
The Bears still must determine how the pieces fit together. Booker’s recent production, Odeyingbo’s health and Turner’s expected availability all affect that decision, with practice and the next injury report likely to clarify the choices.
Ben Johnson had already identified defensive issues
Before the suspension became public, coach Ben Johnson had addressed the mistakes Chicago needed to fix. In Monday’s remarks published by the team, he pointed to problems with defensive calls, the rush and coverage.
“Not good enough execution in all three phases,” Johnson said.
His assessment was broader than any one player’s performance. The defense allowed several explosive completions, and Johnson said the responsibility was shared between the coaches and players.
Sweat’s official team statistics show two sacks and seven combined tackles through five starts this season. Both sacks came during Chicago’s first three games, with none recorded against the Jets or Packers.
He finished the 2025 regular season with 10 sacks, 53 combined tackles and three forced fumbles in 17 starts. This year’s early production has not matched that full-season pace, but the suspension still removes a player Chicago has started every week.
Atlanta has its own availability question as the matchup approaches. Michael Penix Jr.’s rib injury was not considered serious in Monday’s reporting, although the Falcons wanted to evaluate him in practice before determining whether he could face Chicago.
The Bears therefore enter the week with decisions on both their personnel and their preparation for the opposing quarterback. What they already know is that their plan for the next two games must work without Sweat.
