Bears’ Ben Johnson Offers Blunt Response on Montez Sweat

Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson offered a blunt reaction to defensive end Montez Sweat's NFL suspension for violating the league's performance-enhancing drug policy. Johnson emphasized a "next man up" mindset on Wednesday, noting that the team needs available players to win. Sweat's two-game suspension sidelines him for upcoming matchups against the Atlanta Falcons and New England Patriots.

According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, Sweat's representation is exploring an appeal to recategorize the violation under the substance abuse policy rather than the PED policy. The current ruling costs Sweat around $2.3 million in lost game checks and reportedly voids future guarantees on his contract, including $12.7 million for 2026.