Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet out for the season after injuring his knee against the New England Patriots; fans react to loss

CHICAGO (WLS) — The Chicago Bears will be without tight end Cole Kmet for the remainder of the season after he injured his right knee during the fourth quarter of Thursday night’s game against the New England Patriots.

The Bears did not provide details on the nature of the injury.

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Kmet, 27, was injured late in the match and was subsequently sent off the field. His absence comes as the Bears’ offense gains momentum following the return of quarterback Caleb Williams from a hamstring injury.

“It’s a tough loss, definitely. Bears fans are definitely going to think about it. You know, he stepped up last year, too, with some major catches for us,” Bears fan Gustavo Baptista Defaria told Weather Mark Tavern in the South Loop.

Bears coach Ben Johnson expressed his disappointment with the injury.

“It stinks. It does. I hate it for him. I hate it for his teammates too,” Johnson said.

Kmet, now in his seventh season with the Bears, is the longest-tenured player on the roster. Among Bears tight ends, he ranks second behind Mike Ditka in receptions and receiving yards.

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Originally from Chicago’s northwest suburbs, Kmet attended St. Viator High School and became one of the team’s most visible players in the community, making him a fan favorite.

Dave Archibald, Kmet’s football coach at St. Viateur High School, said he expects the tight end to remain a strong presence for his teammates during his recovery.

“He’ll be the best teammate he can be and continue to be a great teammate to everyone in his group and he’ll love the city that loves him and go into rehab full-on. I have no doubt about it,” Archibald said.

With Kmet sidelined, other players at the position are expected to take on larger roles, including second-year tight end Colston Loveland and rookie tight end Sam Roush.

Despite the setback, some fans expressed confidence in the team’s ability to adapt.

“I have a lot of confidence in Ben Johnson. I mean, you know, I’m sure he’s going to rotate somebody. I’m sure we have the right replacement,” Bears fan Vishal Shah said.

“It’s a team sport, so I hope everyone comes back and as a team we can do it,” Bears fan Mendkhuu Enkhbayar said.

Kmet’s injury comes at a pivotal time in the season. The Bears are 5-2 and continue to chase the Minnesota Vikings, who dominate the NFC North with a 5-0 record.