The right knee injury suffered by tight end Cole Kmet during the Chicago Bears' Thursday night win over the New England Patriots could end his season.
According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Kmet is undergoing tests on his knee Friday to determine the severity of the injury, which is believed to be serious enough to rule him out for the rest of the season.
Kmet was carted off late in the fourth quarter after making an 8-yard catch. As he ran towards the first-down marker, he was hit was Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez and linebacker Robert Spillane and immediately began clutching his knee.
Cole Kmet Goes Down Holding His Knee After The Play.
— SM Highlights (@SMHighlights1) October 23, 2026
He Made The Catch, Then Stayed Down Grabbing That Knee. Not The Sight Anyone Wanted To See.
The Bears Need Him Out There. Everybody's Holding Their Breath On This One.
Get Up, Big Man. pic.twitter.com/97yECqUhNp
After getting assistance to his feet by athletic trainers, Kmet was carted off as he could not put weight on his right leg. He gave a thumbs-up to the Soldier Field crowd as he left the field. The team ruled him out for the rest of the game a short while later.
"I don't think it looked very good," Bears head coach Ben Johnson said afterward.
The 27-year-old Kmet is in his seventh season with the Bears. Through seven games this season he has 10 receptions for 87 yards and a touchdown. Against the Patriots, he made three catches for 28 yards before exiting.