Cole Kmet is officially done for the season, a gut punch for the Chicago Bears after he landed on injured reserve this past Friday. That right knee injury he picked up Thursday night isn’t just a minor setback, it means Kmet is out for the rest of the year, leaving a massive hole in their offense.
A Tough Blow: Kmet’s Impact And Injury
This is a brutal one, especially when you look at Kmet’s history. Before this, the dude had missed just one game in seven whole seasons. That’s durability you can build a team around, and it shows how much they’re going to miss him. Through seven games this year, Kmet had racked up 10 catches for 87 yards and punched in a touchdown. Those aren’t eye-popping numbers, but his role goes way beyond the stat sheet.
Ben Johnson’s Emotional Farewell To A ‘Glue Guy’
Bears coach Ben Johnson didn’t mince words when talking about Kmet, making it clear how much this injury stings. He called Kmet “one of my favorites for a number of reasons,” even recalling their first interaction at the combine. Johnson heaped praise on the tight end, saying, “I’ve got so much respect for the player that he is, but also the person, the leader. He’s everything we want to be about here.” That’s high praise, calling him “one of the glue guys” and someone Johnson could always count on. The coach even added that Kmet is “Chicago,” a huge part of the team’s “heartbeat.” You can feel the frustration when Johnson says, “it stinks. It does. I hate it for him. I hate it for his teammates as well.”
But you know how it goes in this league. Johnson summed it up perfectly: “And yet the train keeps rolling along. Someone else has to step up.” That’s the reality of the NFL, cold as it is. Now, the Bears have to figure out who steps into that crucial “glue guy” role and how they fill the void left by their injured tight end. It’s a tough road ahead, but if Johnson is right, someone *will* step up.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
Leave a Reply