Chicago Bears’ Montez Sweat Suspended for Two Games

Chicago Bears defensive end Montez Sweat has been suspended for two games without pay for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drug policy. Sweat, now in his eighth season in the NFL and his third full year with the Bears, will miss the team’s Week 6 game against the Atlanta Falcons and Week 7 against the New England Patriots. The 30-year-old is set to be reinstated on October 23.

The specific substance responsible for Sweat’s positive test was not disclosed. This development occurs at a challenging time for the Bears, who are already facing issues on their defensive line. Dayo Odeyingbo exited the Bears’ recent defeat to the Green Bay Packers with a quad injury and was unable to return to the game. As of Monday, head coach Ben Johnson had not provided an update on Odeyingbo’s condition.

To address these concerns, the Bears activated Shemar Turner from the physically unable to perform list. Turner had been recovering from a torn ACL sustained on October 26, 2025. However, according to defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, it is “unrealistic to think” anyone coming off the PUP list would be ready to manage “50, 60, 70 plays in a game.” Thus, Turner’s role is unlikely to cover the workload typically managed by Sweat in the near term.

This season, Sweat has recorded seven tackles and two sacks in the Bears’ first five games.