Bears’ Montez Sweat suspended 2 games for violating NFL’s performance-enhancing drug policy
Chicago Bears defensive end Montez Sweat has received a two-game suspension without pay for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drug policy. He will miss games against the Atlanta Falcons and New England Patriots, leaving Chicago short of a key player on a defensive line already facing personnel concerns.
The NFL did not disclose what substance Sweat tested positive for, and the 30-year-old is due to be reinstated on 23 October. Dayo Odeyingbo left the Bears’ recent loss to Green Bay with a quad injury, while Shemar Turner has returned from the physically unable to perform list after recovering from a torn ACL. Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen cautioned that Turner is unlikely to handle a full workload immediately; Sweat has recorded seven tackles and two sacks in five games this season.
- Montez Sweat was suspended for two games without pay.
- He will miss Chicago’s games against Atlanta and New England.
- The Bears have defensive line injury and depth concerns.
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Montez Sweat is a defensive end for the Chicago Bears, an American football team in the NFL. Defensive ends line up near the edge of the defensive line and try to pressure the opposing team’s quarterback and stop running plays.
NFL players are subject to rules restricting performance-enhancing drugs, and a violation can lead to a suspension without pay. Sweat’s absence matters to Chicago because the defensive line is already managing injuries and players returning from injury, and teams rely on that unit to disrupt opponents’ attacks.