Montez Sweat is officially back on the field for the Chicago Bears after serving a two-game suspension for failing a performance-enhancing drug test. Get this, though: the pass-rusher actually claimed the whole thing “was a surprise,” according to the Associated Press, even as he apologized to his teammates and fan base this week.
“Devastating” Time Away and a Tough Apology
Sweat expressed his relief to be back, stating it “was devastating” to be away from the team. He said the biggest miss was “just being in the locker room around my guys.” Imagine having to face your head coach after a move like that. Sweat acknowledged it was tough looking head coach Ben Johnson in the eye, stating, “Nobody wants to look someone in the eye after you’ve done something detrimental like that to the team, but those are things you have to do to move forward.” It sounds like he is ready to put it behind him.
Bears Held Strong, But Sweat Is a Game-Changer
So, how did the Bears manage without their veteran pass-rusher? They actually snagged wins against the Atlanta Falcons and New England Patriots while Sweat was sidelined. They mixed in a bunch of blitzes to cover his absence, and cornerback Kyler Gordon stepped up big time, grabbing four combined sacks in those two games. Still, there is no doubt the Bears’ defense gets a serious boost with Sweat returning. He is a force, too, racking up 10 sacks last season, which was his second-highest mark, and a career-high 12.5 during his Pro Bowl year in 2023. This season, he has already got two sacks through the first five games and you know he is looking to add to that total now that he is back in the mix.
All eyes are on Monday when our Seahawks roll into Chicago to face Sweat and the Bears. This is not just any game, folks; it is being called a highly anticipated NFC showdown between potential contenders. Our defense has been stepping up, but with Sweat back and likely fired up, Sam Darnold and the offense will need to be ready for everything. Let us get loud, Seattle, and cheer on our Hawks!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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