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Bears Defensive End Montez Sweat Suspended Two Games Over Performance-Enhancing Substance Violation

The NFL suspended Chicago Bears defensive end Montez Sweat two games without pay for violating the league's performance-enhancing substances policy. He will miss Sunday's game at Atlanta and the Oct. 22 home game against New England.

By admin Oct. 13, 2026 · 7:42 PM ET 1 min read

Football defensive linemen in plain dark uniforms lined up in a three-point stance at the line of scrimmage, seen from behind at field level in a brightly lit night stadium; no faces visible.

The NFL has suspended Chicago Bears defensive end Montez Sweat for two games without pay for violating the league’s performance-enhancing substances policy, the team announced Tuesday.

Sweat, 30, will miss Sunday’s game at the Atlanta Falcons and the Oct. 22 home game against the New England Patriots. He will be eligible to return for Week 8, when the Bears visit the Seattle Seahawks on Monday Night Football on Nov. 2.

An empty modern football stadium interior at dusk, with a lit green field, tiered empty stands and glowing floodlights under a dark cloudy sky.

The announcement came two days after a 31-7 loss to the Green Bay Packers dropped Chicago to 3-2. Sweat has two sacks and seven tackles through five games after leading the Bears with 10 sacks in 2025.

Turner activated to fill the roster spot

The Bears activated defensive lineman Shemar Turner off the physically unable to perform list to take Sweat’s place on the 53-man roster. Turner, a second-round pick in the 2025 draft, tore his ACL last October and has not played this season.

Helmeted football players in plain gray practice gear running drills on an outdoor practice field, seen from behind at a distance, with no faces visible.

Sweat was a 2019 first-round pick by Washington, was traded to Chicago in 2023, and signed a four-year, $98 million extension with the Bears. He was a Pro Bowl selection in 2023. Across 114 career games, all starts, he has 59 sacks, 314 tackles and 15 forced fumbles.

A modern stadium exterior at night illuminated with architectural lighting, with a glowing city skyline in the distance under dark clouds; no signage or people visible.

Chicago is also without starting quarterback Caleb Williams, who has missed three games with a hamstring strain. Sweat’s suspension is the second announced by the NFL this week after the league suspended 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw one game for a helmetless headbutt.

Reporting based on coverage by Reuters and Fox Sports.

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