Bears defensive end Montez Sweat has been suspended two games by the NFL for violating its performance-enhancing drug policy.
He will be eligible to return to the Bears on Oct. 23, the day after their game against the Patriots.
Sweat has two sacks and seven tackles this season. He is the team’s highest-paid player, posting a $25.08 million salary cap hit this season.
Sweat had 10 sacks last season in what Bears coach Ben Johnson considered his best year.
With Sweat gone, the Bears will have to dig even deeper into an already-thin defensive end position. Dayo Odeyingbo left Sunday’s loss to the Packers with a quad injury, while Austin Booker posted two sacks of Jordan Love, both near the end of the first half.
The Bears traded a second-round pick to the Commanders for Sweat three years ago and in a matter of days gave him a four-year, $98 million contract extension.
