Cole Kmet Headed to IR With Season-Ending Knee Injury

Cole Kmet raises a thumbs-up as he leaves the field on a cart following his fourth-quarter knee injury

Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet will miss the rest of the 2026 season after suffering a serious right knee injury against the Patriots. Coach Ben Johnson confirms the veteran is headed to injured reserve.

Bears TE Cole Kmet headed to IR with season-ending knee injury, coach Ben Johnson confirms...

The Chicago Bears’ hard-fought 30-24 Thursday night win over the New England Patriots at Soldier Field came with a significant cost. Veteran tight end Cole Kmet suffered a serious right knee injury in the fourth quarter and will miss the rest of the 2026 season after being placed on injured reserve, head coach Ben Johnson confirmed Friday.

With just over five minutes remaining and the Bears protecting a lead, Kmet hauled in a short pass from quarterback Caleb Williams near the sideline. As he turned upfield, he was hit low by Patriots defenders Christian Gonzalez and Robert Spillane. Kmet immediately grabbed his right knee, was unable to put weight on the leg, and had to be helped up by trainers before being carted off the field. He gave a thumbs-up to the Soldier Field crowd as he left. He finished the game with three receptions for 28 yards and was ruled out shortly after.

After the game, Johnson was unusually direct for a coach who typically keeps injury details close: “I don’t think it looked very good.” On Friday, he confirmed the worst. Kmet’s injury is season-ending, and the veteran is headed to IR. Johnson called the news painful, describing Kmet as “a big part of our heartbeat” and saying, “It stinks. I hate it.” He also referred to the Illinois native as “Chicago,” highlighting his long tenure and leadership.

Kmet, 27, has been one of the Bears’ most durable and reliable players since being selected in the second round out of Notre Dame in 2020. He is the longest-tenured offensive player on the roster and signed a four-year, $50 million extension in 2023. While his receiving production has declined in recent seasons especially after the team drafted Colston Loveland in the first round in 2025 he has remained a valued blocker and “glue guy” who plays a significant snap share. This season he had 10 catches for 87 yards and a touchdown through seven games.

The loss hits both the field and the locker room. Williams spoke emotionally after the game about Kmet’s importance to him and the organization, calling him a constant presence since Williams arrived in Chicago. Teammates, including Loveland, expressed similar sentiments and said they would miss him.

We have placed Cole Kmet on Reserve/Injured

— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) October 23, 2026

With Kmet out, the Bears will lean more heavily on Loveland as the primary tight end and give increased opportunities to third-round rookie Sam Roush. Johnson indicated the team has already discussed contingency plans and believes it has options at the position. Whether Chicago makes a roster move before the trade deadline remains to be seen.

For a franchise that has seen Kmet grow from promising draft pick to steady veteran leader, the injury is a tough blow. The “train keeps rolling,” as Johnson put it, but the Bears will be without one of their most respected players for the rest of 2026.