Bears suffer devastating Cole Kmet injury: ‘I don’t have the words’

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The Bears are bracing to be without vetearn tight end Cole Kmet for a significant period after he had to be carted off the field in the fourth quarter Thursday night with a right knee injury.

Bears coach Ben Johnson said after the 30-24 home win over the Patriots that “I don’t think it looked very good,” but added that the team will learn more Friday with more tests coming.

Kmet’s injury particularly affected star quarterback Caleb Williams.

“It was tough,” Williams said. “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. He’s the longest-tenured Bear, I believe.

“He’s been through it, and it’s challenging, it’s tough and I’ll be with him, I’ll be right there with him through every step of whatever the injury is. Cole’s been there for me every step of the way through the first year, the second year and now through this year. I could only do the same for him.”

Kmet, 27, suffered the injury with roughly 5:40 remaining and the Bears leading 27-21 after catching a pass on second down and running toward the first-down marker.

Two Patriots defenders met him short of the stick toward the sideline, with one appearing to clip his right leg, and he immediately grabbed his right knee after being tackled.

He flashed a thumbs up while being carted off the field, and quickly would be ruled out for the remainder of the game.

Kmet tallied three catches for 28 yards.

The seventh-year backup used to serve as the team’s starting tight end but has shifted to a complementary role after the team selected Colston Loveland in the first round last year.

He’s tallied just 10 catches for 87 yards and one touchdown this season, although he had logged 62.2 percent of offensive snaps, according to Pro Football Reference.