Bears Defensive End Montez Sweat Suspended Two Games for PED Violation

Packers quarterback Jordan Love torched the Chicago Bears' defense in Green Bay's 31-7 win at Lambeau Field, and now defensive coordinator Dennis Allen will be without one of his premier players. 

Defensive end Montez Sweat has been suspended for the next two games for violating the NFL's Performance-Enhancing Substances Policy. Sweat will miss this Sunday's road game against the Atlanta Falcons and the Thursday night matchup at Soldier Field against the New England Patriots. 

Sweat will be able to return to the team on Oct. 23, the Friday after the Patriots game. The Bears also announced the team has activated defensive lineman Shemar Turner off the Reserve/PUP list. 

With Sweat missing the new two games, the Bears could use all the help they can get on the defensive line. Turner last played in the Week 8 game against the Baltimore Ravens last season. He tore his ACL in that game, ending his rookie year. The former second-round pick from Texas A&M finished with six total tackles. 

Sweat is the team's high-paid player on the Bears' roster, with his four-year, $98 million contract, and $25.08 million salary cap hit for the 2026 season. Sweat has the 16th-highest average per year salary among edge rushers, but he hasn't produced like one of the top players at his respective position through the first five weeks of the year.

According to Pro Football Focus, Sweat has 13 total quarterback pressures and two sacks in 183 total defensive snaps. He's currently tied with six other defensive ends with the 42nd most pressure in the league. His 9.6 win percentage ranks 28th in the NFL. 

Even though defensive lineman Dayo Odeyingbo left Sunday's game against the Packers early with a quad injury, he still has the most quarterback pressures on the team with 14. Sweat is second, followed by linebacker Devin Bush's 10 total QB pressures. 

Allen needed more production from the team's highest-paid player, but that will have to wait until Sweat returns from his suspension. 

Not that anytime is good one to leave the team, but the Bears enter an important stretch of their season. The 31-7 loss dropped the Bears to 3-2 on the season and 0-2 in the NFC North. 

The Bears can't afford to lose the Week 6 game to the Falcons, especially with three prime-time games next up on the schedule. 

Sweat's suspension is just the latest test for a Bears team that has had a lot thrown their way to begin the 2026 NFL season.