Bears DE Montez Sweat says banned substance was unintentional

Edge rusher rejoined 5-2 Chicago at practice Tuesday.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated 44m1 min read

Bears DE Montez Sweat said Tuesday he unintentionally took a banned substance that led to a two-game suspension for viol Via @AdamSchefter on X

What happened: Chicago Bears defensive end Montez Sweat addressed reporters Tuesday for the first time since completing a two-game suspension under the NFL's performance-enhancing substances policy, stating he ingested the prohibited substance unknowingly, per Adam Schefter and Courtney Cronin. Sweat returned to the practice field with his teammates following a four-day team break.

Why it matters: Getting the 2019 first-round pick (26th overall) back in the rotation reinforces Chicago's pass rush ahead of the Nov. 10 NFL trade deadline. Sweat recorded 53 tackles and 10 sacks across 17 games for the Bears in 2025, per ESPN.

By the numbers: Chicago sits at 5-2 (No. 5 seed, two-game winning streak) following a 30-24 victory on Oct. 22, with Sweat having missed two games during his league suspension.

What to watch: Sweat returns to full eligibility on the active roster as the Bears prepare for their upcoming regular-season schedule.

Sources

@AdamSchefter 2026-10-28T11:12:00.564964+00:00

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Bears DE Montez Sweat says banned substance was unintentional

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