Bears tight end Cole Kmet likely out for season with knee injury

According to multiple reports from Yahoo Sports citing NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet sustained a serious knee injury during the team's victory over the New England Patriots. The injury occurred late in the fourth quarter after Kmet caught an 8-yard pass and was tackled by Patriots defenders.

Kmet immediately grabbed his right knee and was unable to put weight on his leg. He was assisted off the field by athletic trainers and was carted off, giving a thumbs-up to the Soldier Field crowd as he left. The Bears later ruled him out for the remainder of the game.

Head coach Ben Johnson commented after the game that the injury did not look good. Kmet is undergoing further tests to determine the full extent of the damage, but the injury is widely believed to be season-ending.

Kmet, in his seventh NFL season, had recorded 10 receptions for 87 yards and one touchdown through seven games in 2026 before the injury.

The Bears will likely need to adjust their offensive plans moving forward as they await confirmation of Kmet's prognosis and recovery timeline.