The Chicago Bears defeated the New England Patriots, 30-24, in a statement win on Thursday Night Football. But they suffered a massive blow with tight end Cole Kmet going down with a knee injury late in the game.
Kmet suffered a knee injury midway through the fourth quarter after hauling in an 8-yard pass on the team's second-to-last possession. Kmet was carted off the field but gave a thumbs up to the Soldier Field crowd as he was taken to the locker room. Still, it wasn't an encouraging sign for one of the Bears' fan-favorite players and underrated contributors on offense, especially as he was immediately ruled out of the game.
There's concern about Kmet's status moving forward. But what's the latest on his injury?
Cole Kmet injury update
The Bears offense suffered a big loss with tight end Cole Kmet suffering a knee injury late in the fourth quarter after catching an 8-yard pass. Kmet was carted off the field and immediately ruled out of the game. After the game, head coach Ben Johnson said the team would know more Monday after the severity of Kmet's injury, although he admitted that "it didn't look good." Kmet has been a crucial part of the Bears' offense, even though it's come less as a pass catcher and more as a blocker lately. In Thursday's win over the Patriots, Kmet caught three passes for 28 yards, but he also played a key role as a blocker.
How much time will Cole Kmet miss?
It's currently unknown how much time Cole Kmet will miss after his knee injury. In the moment, it didn't look good -- and head coach Ben Johnson admitted as much after the game -- but the team will do more tests to determine the severity and how much time he'll miss.
Who will play in Cole Kmet's absence?
Regardless of how long Cole Kmet misses, Colston Loveland will continue to see action in the passing game and as a blocker. But with Kmet's absence, it will give more opportunities for third-round rookie Sam Roush, who's seen limited action and has had some early struggles in his first season. But the additional reps will be valuable for Roush's development in the long-term.
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Latest update on Bears TE Cole Kmet's knee injury