Overview
- The NFL announced Tuesday that Montez Sweat was suspended for two games without pay after violating the league’s performance-enhancing substances policy.
- Sweat will miss the Bears’ Week 6 road game at the Atlanta Falcons and the Week 7 Thursday night game versus the New England Patriots and will be eligible for reinstatement on Oct. 23.
- Chicago plans to activate Shemar Turner from the PUP list and will increase snaps for rotational rushers such as Austin Booker while Dayo Odeyingbo’s quad injury leaves further uncertainty at the other edge spot.
- Sweat is in the third year of a four-year, roughly $98 million deal and was a top pass-rush producer for the Bears, so his absence strains the defense and removes a high-paid starter from the lineup.
- Coverage and team reporting say the suspension has renewed trade-market discussion for veteran pass rush help and that the Bears’ moves before the Oct. 23 reinstatement will determine how the short-term gap is filled.