The Bears’ highest paid defensive player just failed a PED test.
Montez Sweat has had a rough year for an overachieving Chicago Bears defense to start the 2026 season. Sweat is expected to be the team’s best passer rusher an overall anchor on the defensive line, but he only has two solo tackles all year. Now Chicago is going to be without Sweat for the next two games after he failed a test for Performance Enhancing Drugs.
The NFL suspended Sweat for two games on Tuesday for violating the league’s PED agreement, according to Chicago Tribune reporter Brad Biggs. That means the Bears will be without him for their Week 6 matchup with the Atlanta Falcons and their Week 7 Thursday Night Football showdown with the New England Patriots.
Sweat has two sacks on the year for the Bears, and he’s been credited with seven total tackles and two solo tackles thus far. Sweat has the biggest cap hit on the Bears’ defense at more than $25 million this season. He recorded 10 sacks last year as Chicago reached the NFC Divisional Round of the playoffs.
Will Caleb Williams be back before Sweat? The QB was questionable last week as he recovers from a hamstring strain.
We’ll update this story as it develops.