Bears DE Montez Sweat Speaks on Suspension: 'It Was Accidental'

Chicago Bears defensive end Montez Sweat is back at Halas Hall after serving a two-game suspension for violating the NFL's Performance-Enhancing Substances Policy. 

He spoke to the media after practice and started off by apologizing to his teammates and fanbase, but is set on moving forward. When asked if he saw the suspension coming, the 30-year-old pass rusher made it clear the situation was unintended. 

"Yeah, it definitely was accidental," Sweat told reporters at Halas Halas. "It was a surprise. But you take a lick on the chin and keep moving forward."

Sweat called it "devasting" that he missed the last two games against the Atlanta Falcons and New England Patriots, and he recalls what it was like talking with head coach Ben Johnson about the situation.  

“It was tough," Sweat said. "Nobody wants to go look someone in the eye after you’ve done something detrimental like that to the team, but those are things you have to do to move forward.”

Despite the Bears' highest paid player, with a $25.08 million cap hit this season, missing the last two weeks, the defense has still found ways to apply pressure on the quarterback. 

According to Next Gen Stats, the Bears finished with two sacks and 15 total quarterback pressures in the 30-24 win over the Patriots. A week earlier, Chicago's defense got after Falcons quarterback Michael Penix, finishing with five sacks and 18 quarterback pressures. While Sweat was suspended, former seventh-round pick Daniel Hardy say more playing time, finishing with 1.5 sacks and nine quarterback pressures against Atlanta and New England.

In five games played, Sweat has two sacks and 10 total quarterback pressures. Nickel cornerback Kyler Gordon leads the team with four sacks, despite only playing 48 total defensive snaps. 

Sweat has plenty to prove for the remainder of this season and will have to do so without certainty in his contract. According to Spotrac, Sweat forfeited $2.3 million of his 2026 salary in his two-game suspension, and the remaining $12.7 million of his salary for his year is "now unsecured, as the PED suspension voided all future guarantees. Sweat is due a non-guaranteed $21 million in 2027."

“I take everything that comes with it," Sweat said on his future contract with the team. "The only thing I can do now is just look forward and continue to play.”

The Bears' defensive end mentioned he will go back to his regular routine, but he didn't feel like he needed to change his process, with this being his eighth year in the league and first violation. 

“I’m really in a good place right now," Sweat said. "It’s kind of just behind me. It’s new to y’all, [but] old to me. I’m just ready to move forward.”