The NFL suspended Chicago Bears defensive end Montez Sweat without pay for two games Tuesday for violating the league’s performance-enhancing substances policy. The ban strips a struggling Bears defense of its most experienced edge rusher for the next two weeks.
Sweat will miss Sunday’s road game against the Atlanta Falcons and Chicago’s Week 7 Thursday night matchup with the New England Patriots. He is eligible for reinstatement on Friday, Oct. 23, and is set to return for the Bears’ Monday, Nov. 2 game against the Seattle Seahawks, according to CBS Sports.
The Montez Sweat Suspension Announcement
The NFL announced the suspension Tuesday, citing a violation of its performance-enhancing substances policy.
What It Means For Chicago’s Pass Rush
The timing compounds an already uneven season for Sweat and for Chicago’s defense. Through five games in 2026, Sweat posted seven tackles and two sacks, third-most on the team, but his production has trailed his career norms. His quarterback pressure rate of 8.8% this season is lower than any full-season mark he has posted since 2019, and his average time to sack of 7.18 seconds is a career worst, nearly two seconds slower than his previous low.
The Bears enter the suspension at 3-2 after a Week 5 loss to the Green Bay Packers, with their pass defense already under strain, according to Sporting News, which called the suspension a “massive blow” to a defense that lacks a strong pass rush. Chicago’s defensive front is thin on the edge, a gap that makes Sweat’s absence more significant than his recent sack numbers alone would suggest.
Sweat’s Track Record
Sweat’s absence removes a player who led the Bears in sacks, tackles for loss and quarterback hits in 2025. He also forced six turnovers through pressure last season, a total that ranked second in the NFL according to Next Gen Stats. Sweat earned his only Pro Bowl nod in 2023 while splitting that season between the Washington Commanders and the Bears.
What’s Next
No information on an appeal has been reported. Sweat is set to sit out Sunday’s game at Atlanta and the Week 7 Thursday night game against New England before he becomes eligible to return on Oct. 23. His first game back is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 2, against the Seahawks.
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