Cole Kmet injury update: Bears tight end carted off with knee injury in win over Patriots

The Chicago Bears beat the New England Patriots 30-24 on “Thursday Night Football,” but the win came with a worrying loss: tight end Cole Kmet was carted off late in the fourth quarter with an injury to his right knee.

As of early Friday, Oct. 23, the team had not announced a diagnosis.

What happened to Cole Kmet?

With under six minutes left in the game, Kmet caught an 8-yard pass from Caleb Williams along the Bears’ sideline. According to ESPN and ProFootballTalk, Patriots linebacker Robert Spillane and cornerback Christian Gonzalez both hit him low, and Kmet immediately grabbed his right knee.

Trainers helped him up, but he could not put weight on his right leg, ESPN reported. He was carted to the locker room and gave the Soldier Field crowd a thumbs-up on his way out. The Bears quickly ruled him out for the rest of the game.

Reports differ slightly on the clock: ESPN put the play at 5:46 to go, ProFootballTalk said the cart took him off with 5:34 remaining, and USA TODAY said the injury came with 5:31 left.

Kmet finished with three catches for 28 yards.

Cole Kmet injury update: what did Ben Johnson say?

Coach Ben Johnson said the team would learn more about the severity on Friday. “I don’t think it looked very good,” Johnson said, according to ESPN. Bears Wire quoted him as saying, “We will know more tomorrow but I don’t think it looked very good.”

No MRI results or official diagnosis had been reported at the time of writing. Until the team gives an update, any timeline is speculation.

Caleb Williams on Kmet

Williams spoke at length about his tight end after the game. “It was tough,” he said, per ESPN. “I don’t know exactly what it is and all of that, but obviously being carted off is never good. You’re at least going to miss some time. I don’t have the words to describe what Cole is to me, what Cole is to this team, this organization.”

Williams added that he believed Kmet is the longest-tenured Bear and promised, “I’ll be right there with him through every step of whatever the injury is.”

Fellow tight end Colston Loveland said: “Love that guy. We’re going to miss him, for sure. I’m praying for him.”

What it means for the Bears

Kmet has been a durable, important piece of the offense. ESPN reported that entering Week 7 he had logged the eighth-highest offensive snap count on the team and had missed only one game to injury in his seven-year career. Bears Wire noted that lately he has contributed more as a blocker than as a pass catcher, and that he played a key blocking role against New England.

If he misses time, Bears Wire said, rookie Sam Roush would get more opportunities behind Loveland.

FAQ

Is Cole Kmet’s injury serious? The team doesn’t know yet, or hasn’t said. Johnson’s first impression was that it “didn’t look very good,” and more information was expected Friday.

Which knee did Cole Kmet hurt? His right knee.

Did the Bears win? Yes. Chicago beat New England 30-24 at Soldier Field on Thursday night.