Bears’ Montez Sweat makes humbling admission on PED suspension

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Bears’ Montez Sweat makes humbling admission on PED suspension

Originally posted on NFL on ClutchPoints
By Troy Finnegan, ClutchPoints | Last updated Oct 28, 2026 12:23 AM ET

The Chicago Bears are 5-2 in Ben Johnson’s second season as head coach and are once again looking like playoff contenders in the NFC. However, the Chicago defense has been suspect at times this season, just as it was last year when the Bears lost to the Los Angeles Rams in the Divisional Round.

Defensive end Montez Sweat was supposed to be one of the cornerstones of this unit ever since being traded to Chicago back in 2023. However, he has not lived up to that standard and produced the pass-rushing prowess that the Bears had hoped. Then, matters got worse this season when Sweat was suspended for two games due to a PED violation.

The Bears went 2-0 without Sweat in the lineup, taking down the Atlanta Falcons and the New England Patriots without him. After that win over New England, Sweat was reinstated.

Heading into Week 8, the standout defensive end made a humbling admission on his suspension.

"It was tough. Nobody wants to go look someone in the eye after you've done something detriment like that to the team, but I mean, those are the things you have to do to move forward."

Montez Sweat on his conversation with Ben Johnson: ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/7gyZndzoTK

— CHGO Bears (@CHGO_Bears) October 27, 2026

“It was tough. Nobody wants to go look someone in the eye after you’ve done something detrimental like that to the team, but I mean, those are the things you have to do to move forward,” Sweat said.

Sweat recorded two sacks and two tackles for loss so far this season in five games before the suspension, so the Bears will be hoping for even more production now that he is back. Chicago has a major weakness on the defensive line and has even been floated as a team that could be looking for help in that department at the trade deadline, but getting some strong production from Sweat would certainly help the issue.

The Bears have a difficult stretch of schedule coming up, starting with a clash against the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks on Monday night in Week 8. Following that one, the Bears will take on the Buccaneers heading into their bye, and taking momentum into the week off will be paramount for Johnson and company as they chase an NFC North title down the stretch of the season.

This article first appeared on NFL on ClutchPoints and was syndicated with permission.

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