The Chicago Bears took another hit on Tuesday, and this one may say plenty about Montez Sweat’s long-term outlook in Chicago.
Sweat will miss the next two games after being suspended for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing substances policy. The timing does the Bears a small favor, at least on paper, because their next two matchups come in a tight span: Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons, then a Thursday night meeting with the New England Patriots to open Week 7.
Because Sweat is a first-time offender and received a two-game suspension, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk noted that the test likely involved a stimulant, diuretic, or masking agent.
The financial fallout is immediate. Sweat will forfeit his next two game checks, which add up to about $2.3 million.
But the hit goes beyond this season’s paycheck. According to Spotrac, the remaining $12.7 million of Sweat’s 2026 salary is no longer guaranteed.
His 2027 money - $21 million total, built from an $18.9 million base salary, a $2 million roster bonus, and a $100,000 workout bonus - was never fully guaranteed and still isn’t.
That’s where the suspension starts to feel bigger than a two-game absence.
After Bears head coach Ben Johnson called 2025 the best season of Sweat’s career, this year has looked nothing like that version of him. Through Week 6, Sweat’s overall Pro Football Focus grade ranks 81st out of 106 qualifying edge rushers. He hasn’t stood out as either a pass rusher or a run defender, and the numbers line up with what has shown up on the field.
David Haugh of 104.3 The Score had already been questioning Sweat’s production over the previous couple of games, and the suspension only sharpened that criticism. Haugh said he expects more from Sweat in terms of snaps and output, especially for the money, and argued that Sweat has still never fully lived up to the standard since arriving in Chicago.
. @DavidHaugh on Bears defensive end Montez Sweat’s suspension: "If he’s going to be sitting out the next two games, how will you tell?
Because it seems like he took off the last two games. He’s been rather invisible." pic.twitter.com/2oZ6qmFTHy
Once the suspension ends, Sweat’s future figures to remain under a microscope. As things stand, the Bears could move on next offseason and free up $21 million in cap space.
If his play doesn’t improve, that would be an easy call. And even if he does bounce back a bit, the chance to redirect that money elsewhere could still make the decision just as simple.
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