Montez Sweat to make Chicago Bears debut on Sunday

After the Chicago Bears traded a 2024 second-round pick to the Washington Commanders on Tuesday for defensive end Montez Sweat, there was some question about whether or not Sweat would be active for the team’s game against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.

When speaking with reporters on Wednesday, Sweat seemed to indicate that he would be able to play on Sunday while Bears head coach Matt Eberflus did not commit.

On Thursday, Bears’ defensive line coach Travis Smith confirmed that Sweat will indeed be active on Sunday and make his Bears’ debut.

Newly acquired defensive end Montez Sweat is expected to make his debut for the team on Sunday when the Chicago Bears play the New Orleans Saints.

For the Bears fans who are wondering why Sweat may not be active on Sunday or have a limited role, this is not Madden. It is rare for a player to be acquired mid-season and be brought up to speed immediately with his new team to the point that he is aware of the responsibilities of his position.

It seems that the Bears will have a very elementary approach with Sweat with his playing time against the Saints on Sunday. The expectation should be to see Sweat in most pass-rush situations where the goal is simply to get to the quarterback. Think back to the approach that the Bears had with Khalil Mack when he made his debut with the team a week after being acquired in 2018.

Regardless, this is not a Chase Claypool situation where the Bears first need to see how the fit is before deciding whether or not there should be a contract extension. For the Sweat trade, there is no scenario where the trade makes sense if the team does not sign the defensive end to a contract extension.